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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%).