3302.0 - Deaths, Australia, 2014 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/11/2015   
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MEDIA RELEASE
12 November 2015
Embargo: 11:30 am (Canberra Time)
123/2015
Life Expectancy and Deaths Hit Historic Highs

Life expectancy and death numbers hit historic highs in 2014, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Aussie males and females born today have the highest estimated life expectancy ever recorded in Australia. And the good news is both men and women can expect to celebrate their 80th birthday milestone.

"There are only six other countries worldwide where both men and women have a life expectancy over 80 years," said Beidar Cho from the ABS. "These countries are Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Iceland, Israel and Sweden."

"Australia has a higher life expectancy, at both the male and female level, than many similar countries to ours, such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America."

In Australia, male life expectancy at birth rose to 80.3 years in 2014 from 80.1 in 2013 and female life expectancy also increased to 84.4 years from 84.3.

"The two territories tell contrasting stories about mortality in Australia," said Ms Cho. "In 2014, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest life expectancy for both males and females while the Northern Territory had the lowest."

The national number of registered deaths rose 4.0 per cent to 153,580 in 2014 from 147,678 in 2013 and is indicative of Australia's growing and ageing population.

Further details are in Deaths, Australia, 2014 (cat. no. 3302.0). State, territory and sub-state information is also available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au

Media notes:
  • Standardised death rates enable the comparison of death rates between populations with different age structures by relating them to a standard population (currently, the age distribution of all persons in the Australian population as at 30 June 2001).
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.


DEATHS, SUMMARY STATISTICS - Selected years

Average annual change
(%)
Annual change
(%)
2004(a)
2013(b)
2014(c)
2004-2014
2013-2014

Australia(d)
Deaths
no.
132 508
147 678
153 580
1.5
4.0
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
4.7
3.6
3.4
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
6.4
5.4
5.5
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
78.1
80.1
80.3
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
83.0
84.3
84.4
Median age at death
years
79.5
81.7
81.8
New South Wales
Deaths
no.
46 440
50 396
52 320
1.2
3.8
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
4.6
3.7
3.5
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
6.5
5.4
5.5
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
78.0
80.0
80.2
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
83.3
84.3
84.4
Median age at death
years
79.7
82.0
82.1
Victoria
Deaths
no.
32 522
35 916
38 042
1.6
5.9
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
4.5
2.9
2.8
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
6.2
5.1
5.3
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
78.5
80.7
81.1
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
83.3
84.7
84.7
Median age at death
years
80.2
82.7
82.5
Queensland
Deaths
no.
24 514
27 901
28 704
1.6
2.9
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
5.2
4.6
4.4
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
6.6
5.5
5.5
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
77.8
79.6
79.9
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
82.9
84.1
84.2
Median age at death
years
78.9
80.2
80.7
South Australia
Deaths
no.
11 629
12 804
13 262
1.3
3.6
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
3.2
3.2
2.6
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
6.3
5.5
5.5
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
78.0
80.0
80.1
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
83.1
84.3
84.3
Median age at death
years
80.2
82.7
83.0
Western Australia
Deaths
no.
11 184
13 414
13 787
2.1
2.8
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
3.9
2.4
2.5
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
6.0
5.2
5.2
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
78.6
80.3
80.5
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
83.3
84.8
84.9
Median age at death
years
78.7
80.4
80.3
Tasmania
Deaths
no.
3 892
4 444
4 476
1.4
0.7
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
3.6
3.6
5.2
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
7.1
6.5
6.4
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
76.7
78.8
78.8
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
81.8
82.6
82.5
Median age at death
years
79.3
80.9
80.7
Northern Territory
Deaths
no.
893
1 097
1 168
2.7
6.5
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
10.7
7.4
5.2
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
8.7
8.4
8.1
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
72.3
74.9
75.4
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
78.0
79.2
78.9
Median age at death
years
57.1
64.2
63.3
Australian Capital Territory
Deaths
no.
1 423
1 700
1 813
2.5
6.6
Infant mortality rate(e)
rate
6.9
2.9
2.3
Standardised death rate(f)
rate
5.7
4.8
4.9
Life expectancy at birth - Males
years
79.7
81.7
81.4
Life expectancy at birth - Females
years
83.9
85.0
85.2
Median age at death
years
77.6
80.5
81.7

(a) Death rates for 2004 have been calculated using revised and recast 30 June 2004 estimated resident population based on results from the 2011 Census and are final.
(b) Death rates for 2013 have been calculated using revised 30 June 2013 estimated resident population based on results from the 2011 Census.
(c) Death rates for 2014 have been calculated using preliminary 30 June 2014 estimated resident population based on results from the 2011 Census.
(d) Includes Other Territories.
(e) Infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
(f) Deaths per 1,000 standard population. Standardised death rates use the age distribution of total persons in the Australian population at 30 June 2001 as the standard population.