AGE-SPECIFIC DEATH RATES
From relatively high rates of death in infancy, death rates decline sharply through childhood. In 2008 the lowest age-specific death rates (ASDRs) in Australia were experienced by males and females aged 5-9 years and 10-14 years. ASDRs begin to increase from around 15 years of age, for both males and females. For all age groups to 85 years and over, ASDRs are higher for males than females.
For 2008, males aged 15-19 years had an ASDR of 0.5 deaths per 1,000 male population, while females of the same age experienced 0.2 deaths per 1,000 female population. Male ASDRs increase gradually until around age 40-44 years, where they begin to increase more quickly throughout the older age groups (graph 2.5). Age-specific death rates for females aged 15-29 years are relatively low and constant. Steady increases in female ASDRs are evident beyond 35-39 years of age and continue throughout the older age groups (graph 2.6).
Over the past 20 years death rates have declined overall for both males and females for all ages. The largest proportional decreases in male ASDRs have occurred in the 10-14 year age group (down 62%), followed by males aged 15-19 years (down 58%) and 20-24 years (down 54%). For females, the 1-4 years age group has experienced the largest proportional decrease (down 56%), followed by females aged 10-14 years (down 52%) and 20-24 years (down 51%).
2.5 Age-specific death rates (a), Males-1988 and 2008
2.6 Age-specific death rates (a), Females-1988 and 2008
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