Potentially avoidable deaths
Potentially avoidable deaths are deaths among people younger than 75 due to conditions that could have been prevented within the present health care system. They include deaths from conditions that are potentially preventable through individualised care and/or treatable through existing primary or hospital care. Potentially avoidable deaths serve as an indicator of the health of Australians and the performance of the healthcare system (Department of Health 2020, AIHW 2024).
In 2023, there were 28,112 potentially avoidable deaths accounting for almost half (48%) of all deaths for people aged less than 75. Of these deaths, 63% were male and 37% were female.
Over the period 1997 to 2023 the potentially avoidable age-standardised death rate fell by 50% (from 193 to 97 deaths per 100,000, respectively). The downward trends were similar for males (50%) and females (49%) (Figure 6.1). An increase in the potentially avoidable age-standardised death rate occurred in 2022, which should be considered in the context of higher overall mortality in that year.
Figure 6.1 Rates of potentially avoidable deaths by sex, 1997-2023
The side-by-side line graph shows between 1997 and 2023 there was an overall reduction in the age-standardised rate of potentially avoidable deaths, for both males and females.
| Year | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 252.9 | 136.2 |
| 1998 | 240.4 | 127.5 |
| 1999 | 232.9 | 121.0 |
| 2000 | 218.0 | 119.4 |
| 2001 | 210.4 | 113.9 |
| 2002 | 201.8 | 110.4 |
| 2003 | 194.6 | 104.3 |
| 2004 | 183.4 | 99.5 |
| 2005 | 175.3 | 94.5 |
| 2006 | 168.1 | 92.5 |
| 2007 | 163.5 | 91.5 |
| 2008 | 163.7 | 91.4 |
| 2009 | 159.4 | 89.8 |
| 2010 | 152.6 | 84.9 |
| 2011 | 148.0 | 84.4 |
| 2012 | 140.4 | 79.8 |
| 2013 | 140.9 | 78.1 |
| 2014 | 141.9 | 80.2 |
| 2015 | 142.9 | 79.7 |
| 2016 | 139.9 | 77.1 |
| 2017 | 139.1 | 76.1 |
| 2018 | 134.5 | 73.6 |
| 2019 | 135.5 | 73.1 |
| 2020 | 128.7 | 69.6 |
| 2021 | 126.0 | 69.0 |
| 2022 | 131.9 | 72.6 |
| 2023 | 126.1 | 69.2 |
Notes:
- Year refers to year of registration of death. Deaths registered in 2020 and earlier are based on the final version of cause of death data; deaths registered in 2021 are based on the revised version; deaths registered in 2022 and 2023 are based on the preliminary version. Revised and preliminary versions are subject to further revision by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- Potentially avoidable deaths are deaths from conditions that are potentially preventable through individualised care and/or treatable through existing primary or hospital care. They are classified using nationally agreed definitions based on cause of death for people aged less than 75 (AIHW National Healthcare Agreement: PI 16 – Potentially avoidable deaths, 2022).
- Rates are expressed as deaths per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the estimated resident population at 30 June for each year. Age-standardised rates are directly standardised to the Australian estimated resident population at 30 June 2001.
Source AIHW National Mortality Database; Table S5.1
In 2023, the leading causes of potentially avoidable deaths include:
- coronary heart disease (22%), suicide (12%), and bowel cancer (8%) for males
- breast cancer (16%), coronary heart disease (11%), and COPD (11%) for females.
Figure 6.2 Number and per cent of potentially avoidable deaths, by broad and specific causes of death, sex, 2023
The tree map shows diseases of the circulatory system, external causes of death, and cancers were the leading groups of potentially avoidable causes of death in 2023. Coronary heart disease, suicide, COPD and bowel cancer were the leading specific causes of potentially avoidable deaths in 2023.
Notes:
- Causes of death for 2023 are preliminary and are subject to revision. Interpret deaths due to suicide, accidental poisoning and falls with caution. For more information, see Methodology in ABS Causes of death publication.
- Potentially avoidable deaths are deaths from conditions that are potentially preventable through individualised care and/or treatable through existing primary or hospital care. They are classified using nationally agreed definitions based on cause of death for people aged less than 75 (AIHW National Healthcare Agreement: PI 16–Potentially avoidable deaths, 2022).
- The leading 20 specific causes overall of potentially avoidable death are presented in this figure. Other specific causes are grouped as 'other' within their respective broad group.
Source: AIHW National Mortality Database; Tables S5.2 & S5.3.
For information on potentially avoidable deaths by population types (First Nations, Remoteness area and Socioeconomic area), see Variation in deaths between population groups.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) National Healthcare Agreement: PI 16–Potentially avoidable deaths, 2022- external site opens in new window. METEOR website, accessed 20 February 2025.
Department of Health (Department of Health and Aged Care) (2020) 2020–25 National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA)- external site opens in new window. Department of Health and Aged Care website, accessed 20 February 2025.