Death, disease and diversity in Australia, 1951 to 2000

Abstract

There has been a substantial decline in mortality in Australia during the 20th century, with a major improvement in life expectancy. There has been a broad "health transition", from a pattern of high mortality from infectious diseases to one of lower overall mortality from non-communicable diseases and injury. From 1951, trends in death rates from major causes were evident, with the rise and partial fall of two epidemics (coronary heart disease and stroke, and lung cancer). This overall picture masks significant inequalities in health for Indigenous people and the socioeconomically disadvantaged.