Rates of death due to all-causes were generally lower among the ADF populations when compared with rates for the Australian population of the same age. The leading causes of death were similar between ADF populations and the Australian population, but differed by age; among men aged 16-29 and 30-49, the leading causes of death were generally external, whereas leading causes of death among men aged 50 years and over were due to chronic diseases. Suicide, land transport accidents and accidental poisoning, featured prominently as leading causes of death in men aged 16–29 while coronary heart disease, and various types of cancer featured prominently as leading causes of death in men age 50 and over.