3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia, 2013 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/03/2015   
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LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH BY SEX

Ischaemic heart diseases (I20-I25) were the leading cause of death for both males and females in 2013, accounting for 11,016 and 8,750 deaths respectively. This reflects a sex ratio of 126 male deaths per 100 female deaths. Tables 2.3 and 2.4 below, list the top ten leading causes of death for males and females for 2013.

2.3 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH(a), Males, 2013(b)(c)
Cause of death and ICD-10 code
Rank
Males
Persons
Ischaemic heart diseases (I20-I25)
1
11 016
19 766
Trachea, bronchus and lung cancer (C33-C34)
2
4 995
8 217
Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69)
3
4 181
10 549
Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47)
4
3 799
7 148
Dementia and Alzheimer disease (F01, F03, G30)
5
3 656
10 933
Prostate cancer (C61)
6
3 112
3 112
Blood and lymph cancer (including leukaemia) (C81-C96)
7
2 355
4 094
Colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus cancer (C18-C21)
8
2 332
4 234
Diabetes (E10-E14)
9
2 298
4 328
Intentional self-harm (X60-X84)(d)
10
1 885
2 520
(a) Causes listed are the leading causes of death for all deaths registered in 2013, based on WHO recommended tabulation of leading causes. See Explanatory Notes 34-35 for further information.
(b) Causes of death data for 2013 are preliminary and subject to a revisions process. See Explanatory Notes 52-54 and Technical Note,Causes of Death Revisions, 2011 and 2012.
(c) See Explanatory Notes 70-95 for further information on specific issues relating to 2013 data.
(d) Excludes Sequelae of suicide (Y87.0) as per the WHO recommended tabulation of leading causes. Care needs to be taken in interpreting figures relating to suicide. See Explanatory Notes 87-93.

2.4 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH(a), Females, 2013(b)(c)
Cause of death and ICD-10 code
Rank
Females
Persons
Ischaemic heart diseases (I20-I25)
1
8 750
19 766
Dementia and Alzheimer disease (F01, F03, G30)
2
7 277
10 933
Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69)
3
6 368
10 549
Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47)
4
3 349
7 148
Trachea, bronchus and lung cancer (C33-C34)
5
3 222
8 217
Breast cancer (C50)
6
2 862
2 892
Diabetes (E10-E14)
7
2 030
4 328
Colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus cancer (C18-C21)
8
1 902
4 234
Heart failure (I50-I51)
9
1 827
3 244
Blood and lymph cancer (including leukaemia) (C81-C96)
10
1 739
4 094
(a) Causes listed are the leading causes of death for all deaths registered in 2013, based on WHO recommended tabulation of leading causes. See Explanatory Notes 34-35 for further information.
(b) Causes of death data for 2013 are preliminary and subject to a revisions process. See Explanatory Notes 52-54 and Technical Notes, Causes of Death Revisions, 2011 and 2012.
(c) See Explanatory Notes 70-95 for further information on specific issues relating to 2013 data.


The remaining leading causes of death vary between the sexes, in part due to gender-specific causes such as prostate cancer.

Of the leading causes of death for males in Table 2.2, above, those with a higher proportion of male to female deaths included:
  • Intentional self-harm (suicide, (X60-X84)) - 74.8% and 297 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers (C33-C34) - 60.8% and 155 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Blood and lymph cancers (including leukaemia) (C81-C96) - 57.5% and 135 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Ischaemic heart disease (I20-I25) - 55.7% and 126 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Colon and rectum cancers (C18-C21) - 55.1% and 123 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47) - 53.1% and 113 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Diabetes (E10-E14) - 53.1% and 113 male deaths for every 100 female deaths.

Of the leading causes of death for females in Table 2.3, above, those with a higher proportion of female to male deaths included:
  • Dementia and Alzheimer disease (F01, F03, G30) - 66.6% and 50 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69) - 60.4% and 66 male deaths for every 100 female deaths
  • Heart failure (I50-I51) - 56.3% and 78 male deaths for every 100 female deaths.