Dementia deaths mark grim milestone in latest figures

Key points

• Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, became Australia's leading cause of death in 2024, overtaking coronary heart disease. Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows it killed more than 19,000 people last year, accounting for over 10 per cent of all deaths for the first time.
• Women made up 61 per cent of dementia deaths. Dementia Australia chief executive Tanya Buchanan called for greater recognition and funding, saying an estimated 446,500 people are living with the disease.
• Suicide remained the leading cause of premature death in 2025, with more than 3000 deaths.