Causes of death statistics are key to understanding Australian society and health.
The use of these statistics for demographic and health purposes provides significant information for the formulation and monitoring of health and other social policies. For example, causes of death information provide insights into the diseases and factors contributing to reduced life expectancy.
In Australia causes of death statistics are recorded as both underlying cause i.e. the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death; and multiple cause i.e. all causes and conditions reported on the death certificate that contributed, were associated with or were the underlying cause of the death.