Summary
This report profiles causes of death over the twentieth century for males and females, at four levels of analysis.
First, total mortality statistics are presented as death rates, along with life expectancy.
The second level of analysis follows trends over the century for five major broad causes of death (each corresponding to the chapter level of the International Classification of Diseases) and two other broad conditions, with some reference to the more specific conditions they comprise.
The third level follows 20 of those specific conditions in more detail, showing their trends across all ages and within selected age groups.
The fourth level of analysis examines eight age groups, from infants to those aged 85 years or over, to show their death rates, their main causes of death, and how they have changed over time.
Note: in the statistics below, unless an age range is specified, death rates apply across all ages and are age-standardised (see Box 1.3, Chapter 1).
Summary of findings
- Success stories
- Areas of concern
- General findings
1. Introduction
- Mortality over the twentieth century
- Why take a century-long view?
- Mortality data and their uses
- How mortality data are collected and compiled
- How this report presents the data
- The challenge of changing classification
- The world wars and mortality statistics
- Indigenous mortality
- Other mortality information
2. Life expectancy
- Life expectancy at specific ages
- The changing rate of change
- Sex differences
- Population age distribution
3. All-cause mortality
- Trends in all-cause mortality
- Contribution to total deaths by age group
4. Broad causes of mortality
- The changing contribution to overall mortality
- Trends and patterns of broad causes of mortality
5. Specific causes of mortality
- Introduction
- Contribution of specific causes to total deaths
- Trends in major specific causes across the century
- Diarrhoea, for ages 0-4 years
- Septicaemia
- Tuberculosis
- Lung cancer, from 1945
- Colorectal cancer, from 1922
- Female breast cancer
- Prostate cancer, from 1922
- Stomach cancer, from 1922
- Cancers of the cervix and uterus, from 1920
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Ischaemic heart disease, from 1950
- Senility
- Conditions originating in the perinatal period and congenital conditions, for ages 0-4 years
- Motor vehicle accident deaths, from 1924
- Suicide, for ages 15 years or over
- SIDS, for age under 1 year
- HIV/AIDS
- Meningococcal infection
- Viral hepatitis
- Diabetes
6. Trends within age groups: total mortality and main causes
- Infancy and early childhood, 0-4 years
- Childhood, 5-14 years
- Young adults, 15-24 years
- Parent age, 25-44 years
- Middle age, 45-64 years
- Retirement age, 65-84 years
- Old age, 85 years or over
Appendix A: Collection and classification of mortality data
Appendix B: Tables
Appendix C: The Standard Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
End matter: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Symbols; Glossary; References; List of tables; List of figures; List of boxes