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DEATHS AND MORTALITY RATES

• There were 140,800 deaths registered in Australia in 2009, approximately 3,200 (2.2%) fewer than the number registered in 2008 (143,900).
• The standardised death rate (SDR) decreased to 5.7 deaths per 1,000 standard population in 2009, down from 6.1 in 2008.
• Over the past 20 years, SDRs have decreased for all states and territories.
• The highest SDR in 2009 was in the Northern Territory (7.9 deaths per 1,000 standard population), while the lowest was in the Australian Capital Territory (5.4 deaths per 1,000 standard population).
• Over the past 20 years, death rates have declined for both males and females for all age groups. The largest proportional decreases in male age-specific death rates over this period occurred for ages 10-14 years (down 58%) and 15-19 years (down 54%). For females, the 1-4 years age group experienced the largest proportional decrease (down 54%), followed by females aged 5-9 years (down 50%).

• Over the past 20 years, life expectancy at birth has improved by 6.0 years for males and 4.3 years for females. Based on current mortality rates, a boy born in 2007-2009 can expect to live 79.3 years, while a girl can expect to live 83.9 years.
• According to United Nations estimates for 2005-10, Australia's life expectancy at birth is ranked among the highest in the world.

• In 2009, there were 1,300 infant deaths (deaths of children less than one year of age) registered in Australia, 2.9% more than the number registered in 2008 (1,200).
• The infant mortality rate in 2009 was 4.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a small increase on the rate in 2008 (4.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births).

• There were 2,400 deaths registered in Australia in 2009 where the deceased person was identified as being of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or both origins (Indigenous).