Injury trends

Emergency Department presentations

Between 2018–19 and 2023–24, rates of emergency department (ED) presentations for injury decreased by an annual average of 1.9%, with age-standardised rates (ASR) ranging from 7,722.2 per 100,000 population in 2018–19 to 6,908.6 in 2023–24 (Figure 1). The presentation rate for injuries to EDs in 2023–24 was 5.8% lower than the previous 5-year average rate of 7,336.3 per 100,000 population.

The number of ED presentations for injury decreased from 1,913,638 to 1,824,454 between 2018–19 and 2023–24. However, in the last 3 years, ED presentations for injury have increased, with about 20,000 more cases in 2023–24 compared to 2021–22.

For ED presentations overall (for all conditions including injuries), age-standardised rates were higher in 2023–24 (33,270 per 100,000 population) than in 2019–20 (32,010 per 100,000 population), however declined over the 4 years, from 2020–21, from a high of 33,960 per 100,000 population. The number of ED presentations overall increased from 8,236,159 in 2019–20 to 9,018,401 in 2023–24 (Table 2.2, Emergency department care 2023–24).

Figure 1: Number and age-standardised rate of ED presentations for injuries, Australia, 2018–19 to 2023–24

Figure 1 shows numbers and age-standardised rates of injury ED presentations from 2018–19 to 2023–24.

Notes:

  1. Numbers and age-standardised rates of ED presentations are represented in columns and as a line graph by financial years.
  2. Columns are case counts, while the line graph represents age-standardised rates per 100,000 population.

Sources: AIHW National Non-admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Database and ABS National, state and territory population.

Injury hospitalisations

Over the past decade, the likelihood of being hospitalised with an injury has remained relatively stable, with ASRs ranging from 1,949.9 to 2,130.5 per 100,000 population (Figure 2). During the same period, the number of injury hospitalisations rose from 477,961 to 575,345.

Between 2022–23 and 2023–24, the age-standardised rate of injury hospitalisations increased (Figure 2). From 2017–18 to 2023–24 the age-standardised rate of injury hospitalisations fell by an annual average of 0.2%. The noticeable fluctuation in hospitalisation cases seen between 2020 and 2022 is likely related to disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Figure 2: Number and age-standardised rate of injury hospitalisations by financial years 2014–15 to 2023–24, Australia

Figure 4 shows numbers and age-standardised rates of injury hospitalisations from 2014–15 to 2023–24.

Notes:

  1. Numbers of hospitalisations are represented in columns, and age standardised rates per 100,000 population as a line graph by financial years.
  2. Break in series between 2016–17 and 2017–18. See technical notes for detail.

Sources: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database and ABS National, state and territory population.

Injury deaths

Over the past decade, the likelihood of dying from an injury remained relatively stable, with age-standardised rates ranging from 45.8 per 100,000 population in 2013–14 to 48.5 in 2022–23. During the same period the number of injury deaths rose from 11,874 to 15,332.

Between 2013–14 and 2022–23, there was an average annual increase in the death rate of 0.7% (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Number and age-standardised rate of injury deaths by financial years 2013–14 to 2022–23, Australia

Figure 5 shows the number and age-standardised rate of injury deaths from 2013–14 to 2022–23. ASR is relatively stable, but numbers have gradually increased over time.

Notes:

  1. Numbers and age standardised rates of injury deaths are represented in columns by financial years.
  2. Columns are case counts of injury deaths, while the line graph represents age-standardised rates per 100,000 population.

Sources: AIHW National Mortality Database and ABS National, state and territory population.

For more details, see Supplementary data tables.

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