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Malignant neoplasms (cancers) and ischaemic heart disease were the leading causes of death for Tasmanians in 2002, accounting for 1,179 and 769 deaths respectively.

Malignant neoplasms were responsible for 33.3% of male deaths and 25.8% of female deaths.

Diseases of the circulatory system, which include ischaemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, brought about the deaths of 1,508 persons in 2002, accounting for 37.9% of deaths recorded in that year. Some 34.5% of male deaths (702) and 41.4% of female deaths (806) were attributable to these diseases.

Deaths from cerebrovascular diseases (including strokes) were more common for females than males, resulting in 223 female deaths (11.5% of female deaths), compared to the lower figure of 144 male deaths (7.1% of male deaths) in 2002.

Diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 343 deaths in 2002. There were 183 male (9.0% of males) and 160 female (8.2% of females) deaths from diseases of the respiratory system.

There were 70 deaths (1.8% of all deaths) attributed to intentional self-harm (suicide) in Tasmania in 2002. Of these, 54 (77.1%) were males and 16 (22.9%) were females. Males aged from 25 to 39 years accounted for 32.9% of all deaths from intentional self-harm, with 23 deaths.

There were 44 deaths (1.1% of all deaths) from transport accidents in Tasmania in 2002. Of these, 29 (65.9%) were males and 15 (34.1%) were females. Males aged from 15-29 years accounted for 22.7% of all deaths from transport accidents in 2002, with 10 deaths.

There were 98 deaths (2.5% of all deaths) from diabetes mellitus in Tasmania in 2002. Of these, 56 (57.1%) were males and 42 (42.9%) were females. People aged 65 years and over accounted for 88.8% of all deaths from diabetes mellitus, with 87 deaths.

	LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, Tasmania - 2002
		Males	Females	Total
Cause of death		no.	no.	no.
Mental and behavioural disorders		29	51	80
Diseases of the nervous system		53	76	129
Diseases of the respiratory system		183	160	343
Diseases of the digestive system		63	69	132
Diseases of the genitourinary system		26	37	63
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases		75	60	135
	Diabetes mellitus	56	42	98
Neoplasms		695	513	1,208
	Malignant neoplasms	677	502	1,179
Diseases of the circulatory system		702	806	1,508
	Ischaemic heart diseases	399	370	769
	Cerebrovascular diseases	144	223	367
External causes of morbidity and mortality		139	94	233
	Transport accidents	29	15	44
	Intentional self-harm	54	16	70
Other causes of death		69	79	148
Total		2,034	1,945	3,979
(a) Includes certain infectious and parasitic diseases, diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism, diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, diseases of the ear and mastoid process, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, certain conditions originating in the perinatal period, congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities. Source: Causes of Death, Australia (cat. no. 3303.0).