The infant mortality rate in Australia in 2008 was 4.1 per 1,000 births. This has been reducing over the years, and the rate for the last 10 years is shown below:
- 5.0 1998
- 5.7 1999
- 5.2 2000
- 5.3 2001
- 5.0 2002
- 4.8 2003
- 4.7 2004
- 5.0 2005
- 4.7 2006
- 4.2 2007
- 4.1 2008
The infant mortality rate is based on the deaths of children up to 1 year old.
For deaths of children during the first week, the mortality rate is:
- 2.6 1998
- 3.0 1999
- 2.8 2000
- 3.0 2001
- 2.7 2002
- 2.7 2003
- 2.6 2004
- 3.0 2005
- 2.7 2006
- 2.5 2007
- 2.2 2008
The Median age of all deaths in Australia is:
- 77.9 years for Males
- 83.9 years for Females
Median Definition: Half of all deaths will be below the age of 77.9 for Males and half will be above the age of 77.9
Australian Bureau of Statistics November 25, 2009
Death rates in Australia have remained steady over recent years, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The standardised death rate was 6 deaths per 1,000 people in 2008 – unchanged since 2005. Twenty years ago, the rate was 9 deaths per 1000 people.
There were 143,900 deaths (73,500 men and 70,400 women) registered in 2008.
There was a small increase (1.9%) in the number of infant deaths from 2007, but this reflects a higher number of births. The actual infant mortality rate has decreased slightly, from 4.2 deaths per 1,000 births in 2007 to 4.1 in 2008.
Infant mortality rates for Indigenous Australians were around twice the rates for all Australians.
Further details are available in Deaths, Australia, 2008 (cat. no. 3302.0) available for free download from the ABS website .
Regional, state and territory information is also available.Media Note: The standardised death rate removes the effect of different age structures in different populations.