Dementia has accounted for more than 10% of all deaths for the first time, while the number of people dying from asthma is at decade-high levels, new data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals.

There were 188,421 deaths registered in 2025. Of these, 19,019 deaths were caused by dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, the ABS deaths data released on Tuesday shows. It has been the leading cause of death in Australia since 2024 .

The other leading causes of death in 2025 were ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases (such as stroke), lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.

Dementia Australia’s chief executive, Prof Tanya Buchanan, said there was an urgent need to act on dementia, given it was a leading public health issue.

“The data underlines the critical need for more recognition and funding to support people living with dementia, their families and carers,” Buchanan said.

There are an estimated 446,500 Australians currently living with dementia, and a further…