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Population & Demographics•Series ID: 5.3.AUS.A•1971–2025

Standardised Death Rate - Historical Data

Annual mortality rate per 1,000 estimated resident population from ABS Deaths registrations.

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Current Statistics & Historical Records

Latest Reading (2025)
6.82
Prev (2024): 6.88-0.06
Highest Recorded (1971)
8.50

Recorded in 1971

Lowest Recorded (2020)
6.29

COVID-19 pandemic shock & 0.10% cash rate floor

Long-Run Mean (1971–2025)
7.04

55 annual observations · Annual

Standardised Death Rate - Historical Series (1971–2025)

Deaths per 1,000

Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, or toggle between full annual history (1971–2025) and recent annual releases.

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Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (5.3.AUS.A) Latest: 6.82 Deaths per 1,000 (2025)

Standardised Death Rate by Decade (1971–2025)

Decade averages, peaks, and troughs across Australian economic cycles

1970s1971–1979
7.98
High (1971):8.50
Low (1979):7.30
1980s1980–1989
7.32
High (1982):7.60
Low (1984):7.10
1990s1990–1999
6.96
High (1992):7.10
Low (1998):6.80
2000s2000–2009
6.65
High (2002):6.90
Low (2005):6.50
2010s2010–2019
6.53
High (2015):6.68
Low (2018):6.35
2020s2020–2025
6.82
High (2022):7.34
Low (2020):6.29

Standardised Death Rate - Historical Table (1971–2025)

Unit: Deaths per 1,000 · Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (5.3.AUS.A)

Download full CSV (55 rows) ↓
YearDeath Rate (Deaths per 1,000)Year Range (Low – High)Historical Context / Year Snapshot
20256.826.82Disinflation & monetary policy recalibration
20246.886.88 The Australian Economy in 2024 →
20236.886.88 The Australian Economy in 2023 →
20227.347.34Post-pandemic inflation surge & rapid RBA tightening cycle
20216.686.68 The Australian Economy in 2021 →
20206.296.29COVID-19 pandemic shock & 0.10% cash rate floor
20196.686.68 The Australian Economy in 2019 →
20186.356.35 The Australian Economy in 2018 →
20176.546.54 The Australian Economy in 2017 →
20166.556.55 The Australian Economy in 2016 →
20156.686.68 The Australian Economy in 2015 →
20146.546.54 The Australian Economy in 2014 →
20136.406.40 The Australian Economy in 2013 →
20126.506.50 The Australian Economy in 2012 →
20116.606.60China mining investment & Terms of Trade supercycle peak
20106.506.50 The Australian Economy in 2010 →
20096.506.50 The Australian Economy in 2009 →
20086.806.80Global Financial Crisis (GFC) & emergency rate cuts
20076.606.60 The Australian Economy in 2007 →
20066.506.50 The Australian Economy in 2006 →
20056.506.50 The Australian Economy in 2005 →
20046.606.60 The Australian Economy in 2004 →
20036.706.70 The Australian Economy in 2003 →
20026.906.90 The Australian Economy in 2002 →
20016.706.70 The Australian Economy in 2001 →
20006.706.70Introduction of the 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
19996.806.80 The Australian Economy in 1999 →
19986.806.80 The Australian Economy in 1998 →
19977.007.00 The Australian Economy in 1997 →
19967.107.10 The Australian Economy in 1996 →
19956.906.90 The Australian Economy in 1995 →
19947.107.10 The Australian Economy in 1994 →
19936.906.90RBA formalises 2–3% inflation targeting
19927.107.10 The Australian Economy in 1992 →
19916.906.90Early 1990s recession ("The recession we had to have")
19907.007.00Monetary tightening peak (17.5% Cash Rate)
19897.407.40 The Australian Economy in 1989 →
19887.307.30 The Australian Economy in 1988 →
19877.207.20October 1987 sharemarket crash
19867.207.20 The Australian Economy in 1986 →
19857.507.50 The Australian Economy in 1985 →
19847.107.10 The Australian Economy in 1984 →
19837.207.20Float of the Australian Dollar & Prices and Incomes Accord
19827.607.60Early 1980s recession & drought
19817.307.30 The Australian Economy in 1981 →
19807.407.40 The Australian Economy in 1980 →
19797.307.30 The Australian Economy in 1979 →
19787.607.60 The Australian Economy in 1978 →
19777.707.70 The Australian Economy in 1977 →
19768.008.00 The Australian Economy in 1976 →
19757.807.80 The Australian Economy in 1975 →
19748.408.401974 wage explosion & stagflation peak
19738.208.20First OPEC oil shock
19728.308.30 The Australian Economy in 1972 →
19718.508.50 The Australian Economy in 1971 →

Related Australian Economic Statistics

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38.42025
Natural Population Increase (Births Minus Deaths)Population & Demographics · 1981–2026
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27.92M2026 Q1
 Compare Death Rate against another indicator →

Source Information & Methodology

Primary Institution:
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
Dataset / Publication:
Deaths, Australia - Crude Death Rate
Series / Table ID:
ABS Dataflow DEATHS_SUMMARY (5.3.AUS.A)
Release Frequency:
Annual
Licence:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

• Primary source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) - Deaths, Australia - Crude Death Rate (ABS Dataflow DEATHS_SUMMARY).

• Observation frequency: Annual. Annual table values represent calendar year-end observations.

• Series coverage spans 1971 to 2025 (55 annual observations).

APA Citation:Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2026). Deaths, Australia - Crude Death Rate (Dataflow DEATHS_SUMMARY: 5.3.AUS.A). Retrieved October 2026 from https://data.api.abs.gov.au

Frequently Asked Questions: Standardised Death Rate

What is the current Standardised Death Rate?
As of 2025, the latest recorded Standardised Death Rate is 6.82 (Deaths per 1,000), compared with 6.88 in 2024.
What is the highest and lowest Standardised Death Rate ever recorded in Australia?
Across the historical series (1971–2025), the highest observation was 8.5 (Deaths per 1,000) in 1971, while the lowest was 6.29 (Deaths per 1,000) in 2020. The long-run historical average is 7.04.
Where is the official Standardised Death Rate data sourced from?
This series is compiled from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (Deaths, Australia - Crude Death Rate, Series ID: 5.3.AUS.A) and is updated on a annual basis under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).