Standardised mortality in Australia

The numbers of deaths increase, whilst mortality rates decline.

Why were the numbers of deaths in Australia higher in 2021 than in the previous year?

Three factors influence death counts in a population:

• Population size: a larger group is more likely to experience people dying.
• Age structure: mortality risks increase with age, so older populations have more deaths.
• Mortality rates within age groups: in age bands, these rates…