There were 472 deaths among children aged 1–14 in 2012. This age group experienced the lowest mortality rate of any age group in 2012 (12 deaths per 100,000 population aged 1-14 ; or 1 death for every 8,475 children aged 1–14). The death rate among children decreased by 41% since 1997 (from 20 deaths per 100,000; Figure 5.1).
Nearly half (48%) of all child deaths in 2012 were considered potentially avoidable, for example, deaths from land transport accidents.
Source: AIHW National Mortality Database (Table S1, 524KB XLS).
Injury and poisoning were among the leading causes of death in this age group: land transport accidents accounted for 14% of child deaths in 2010–2012 and accidental drowning and submersions accounted for 6.6% (Table 5.1).
In 2010–2012, boys accounted for more than two-thirds (65%) of land transport deaths and three-quarters (77%) of drowning deaths in children aged 1–14.
| Rank |
Cause of death |
Deaths |
Per cent |
| 1 |
Land transport accidents (injury)
see fact sheet and GRIM book. |
201 |
13.8 |
| 2 |
Perinatal & congenital (other) |
130 |
8.9 |
| 3 |
Accidental drowning (injury)
see fact sheet and GRIM book. |
97 |
6.6 |
| 4 |
Brain cancer (cancer) |
85 |
5.8 |
| 5 |
Cerebral palsy & related (other) |
67 |
4.6 |
Notes:
- Colours indicate broad cause of death category.
blue = chronic disease, orange = cancer, purple = injury & poisoning, green = other cause of death.
- Injury and poisoning death data should be interpreted with caution due to the potential for revision (see Source data).
Source: AIHW National Mortality Database (Table S2, 524KB XLS).