Dementia Leads Australia's Causes of Death for a Second Year: Learn dementia, leading cause and account for

News date: 27 October 2026 | English level: B1–B2 | Topics: health, Australian society

Dementia is a word you will see often in Australian news right now. On 27 October, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its causes of death data for 2025. The figures show that more than one in ten deaths in Australia are linked to dementia, and that dementia is the country's leading cause of death for the second year in a row.

This story is also a great way to learn the English for describing data: how big a share something makes up (account for), passing something (overtake), where something comes in a list (rank), and the lowest level since records began. You will use these phrases in work presentations, TOEIC reading and IELTS Writing Task 1.

If you are getting ready for a working holiday in Australia, or you have older family members and may one day need to talk to doctors and nurses in English, this lesson covers everything from the short article and vocabulary to sentence patterns and a dialogue.

Note: The figures in this lesson are based on data released by the ABS on 27 October 2026. If the data is updated later, please check the ABS website. This is English-learning content and is not medical advice.

Sources: ABS, Causes of Death, Australia, 2025 and ABC News report, 27 October.

Try listening once with the player at the top of the page before you read anything. Listen for three key points: What share of deaths in Australia does dementia make up? In which year did it first become the leading cause of death? How is the picture different for men and women? Then read the full English article below, and finish with the plain-English summary in the next section.

English Level: Intermediate (B1–B2) | Topic: Health, Australia

Dementia Remains Australia's Leading Cause of Death

Dementia is now behind more than one in ten deaths in Australia. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), released on 27 October, show that 188,421 deaths were registered in 2025. Of these, 19,019 were caused by dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. That is 10.1 per cent of all deaths, the first time the share has gone above 10 per cent.

Dementia first overtook heart disease as the country's leading cause of death in 2024, and it kept the top spot in 2025. Ischaemic heart disease came second with 16,228 deaths. The rest of the top five were cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke, lung cancer, and long-term lung diseases, in that order.

The picture looks different for men and women. Dementia has been the top cause of death for women since 2016, and about 61 per cent of the people who died from it were female. For men, heart disease is still number one, while dementia ranks second.

There is some good news, too. The death rate from heart disease fell to its lowest level since official records began in 1968. Dementia, on the other hand, is more common in older people, and in 2025 the median age at death in Australia was 81.9.

The English article above is an original learning text written from official ABS statistics and ABC News reporting. It is not a word-for-word copy of any news report.

More than 1 in 10 people who died in Australia in 2025 died from dementia. The ABS counted 188,421 deaths, and 19,019 of them were from dementia (this includes Alzheimer's disease). That is 10.1%, the first time it has gone over 10%.

Dementia became the number-one cause of death in 2024, ahead of heart disease, and it stayed number one in 2025. Heart disease was second, with 16,228 deaths. Next came stroke and similar diseases, lung cancer, and long-term lung diseases.

Men and women are different. For women, dementia has been the top cause of death since 2016, and about 61% of people who died from dementia were women. For men, heart disease is still first and dementia is second.

There is good news too: fewer people are dying from heart disease than at any time since 1968. Dementia mostly affects older people, and in 2025 the middle age at death in Australia was 81.9.

Here are 11 words and phrases from the article that you can use for health news and for describing data.

1. dementia (n.) a brain condition affecting memory and thinking

Pronunciation: /dɪˈmenʃə/

Dementia is a general term for a group of conditions, not one single disease.

In the news: Dementia is now behind more than one in ten deaths.
More than 10% of deaths are now caused by dementia.

Example: My grandmother has dementia, so our family takes turns visiting her on weekends.
Family members share the job of visiting her.

2. Alzheimer's disease (n.) the most common type of dementia

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.

In the news: dementia, including Alzheimer's disease
The dementia figure also counts Alzheimer's disease.

Example: The nurse explained the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease in simple English.
The nurse used easy words to explain how the two are different.

3. leading cause (n. phr.) main or number-one cause

In the news: the country's leading cause of death
The thing that causes the most deaths in the country.

Example: Poor time management is a leading cause of stress for many office workers.
Bad time management is one of the main reasons office workers feel stressed.

4. account for (phr. v.) make up (a share or percentage)

It can also mean "to explain" or "give a reason for". Look at what follows: a share, or something that needs explaining.

In the news: Dementia accounted for 10.1 per cent of all deaths.
10.1% of all deaths were from dementia.

Example: Rent accounts for almost half of my monthly salary.
Almost half of my salary goes on rent.

5. register (v.) officially record

In the news: 188,421 deaths were registered in 2025.
188,421 deaths were officially recorded in 2025.

Example: Remember to register for the TOEIC test early.
Here register means "sign up".

6. overtake (v.) pass, get ahead of

In the news: Dementia first overtook heart disease in 2024.
In 2024, dementia passed heart disease for the first time.

Example: For many young people, online shopping has overtaken going to the mall.
Young people now shop online more than they go to the mall.

7. keep the top spot (phr.) stay in first place

In the news: It kept the top spot in 2025.
It was still number one in 2025.

Example: Our team kept the top spot in the sales ranking for three months.
Our team was first in sales three months in a row.

8. rank (v.) be in a certain position in a list

In the news: For men, dementia ranks second.
For men, dementia is in second place.

Example: This café ranks first on my list of quiet places to study.
This café is my favourite quiet place to study.

9. since records began (phr.) since data was first collected

In the news: its lowest level since official records began in 1968
The lowest it has been since official data started in 1968.

Example: This was the hottest summer since records began.
No summer on record has been hotter.

10. median (adj. / n.) the middle value

Median is not the same as average: the median is the number exactly in the middle when you put all the numbers in order.

In the news: the median age at death was 81.9
Half of the people who died were younger than 81.9 and half were older.

Example: The median age of the students in my evening class is about 30.
The middle age of the students in the class is about 30.

11. be more common in (phr.) happen more often in a group

In the news: Dementia is more common in older people.
Older people get dementia more often.

Example: Back pain is more common in people who sit at a desk all day.
People who sit at a desk all day get back pain more often.

Almost every sentence in this story is about numbers. Here they are in one table, ready to use in reports and presentations:

Tip: percent (American English) and per cent (British and Australian English) mean the same thing. Australian government sources and media usually write per cent.

All three patterns come from the article, and they are very useful for reporting data and for writing.

Pattern 1: A is behind + share + of B (A causes that share of B)

Original: Dementia is now behind more than one in ten deaths in Australia.

Key point: In the news, be behind something often means "is the cause of". As well as per cent, writers often use easy fractions like one in ten.

Try it: Online orders are now behind one in three of our sales.
A third of our sales now come from online orders.

Pattern 2: the first time + present perfect

Original: …the first time the share has gone above 10 per cent.

Key point: When the first time is followed by a clause, we usually use the present perfect (has / have + past participle) to stress that it is the first time up to now.

Try it: This is the first time I have given a presentation in English.
I have never given an English presentation before.

Pattern 3: For A, …, while B … (contrasting two groups)

Original: For men, heart disease is still number one, while dementia ranks second.

Key point: Here while does not mean "during the time that". It shows contrast, like whereas, and is good for comparing two sets of data or two choices.

Try it: For me, speaking is the hardest part, while my friend finds writing more difficult.
Speaking is hardest for me, but writing is hardest for my friend.

Scenario: Two colleagues, Amy and Kevin, talk about the news over lunch.

English Conversation

• Amy: Did you see the news? Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia.
• Kevin: Really? I thought heart disease was number one.
• Amy: It was, but dementia overtook it in 2024. Now it accounts for more than 10 per cent of all deaths.
• Kevin: That's a lot. My grandfather has dementia, so this hits close to home.
• Amy: I'm sorry to hear that. Is it hard to talk with his doctors?
• Kevin: Sometimes. I'm moving to Melbourne next year, and I want to learn some medical English before I go.
• Amy: Good idea. Start with the basics, like how to register at a clinic.
• Kevin: Thanks. I'll put that on my list.

Key phrases

• Did you see the news? A natural way to start talking about a story you have read.
• I thought … was number one. Use this when new information surprises you.
• It was, but … Agree that something used to be true, then explain what changed.
• That's a lot. A simple reaction to a big number.
• this hits close to home This affects me personally or feels very real to me.
• I'm sorry to hear that. A kind, polite reply when someone shares bad news.
• Start with the basics Begin with the simplest, most important things.
• I'll put that on my list. I'll remember to do that.

hit close to home means something feels personal or directly affects you. If you will need to see a doctor or buy insurance when you first arrive in Australia, read OSHC vs OVHC: health insurance in Australia first.

Now test how well you understood the article. Try not to look back at it. Choose your answer and press confirm to see the explanation.

Understanding words like account for, rank and overtake is only the first step. You have really learned them when you can use them naturally in a presentation or a meeting.

Ambitious Learner's one-to-one online English lessons are planned around your level and goals. You can practise explaining charts in English, or practise real situations for a working holiday in Australia, such as registering at a clinic or describing symptoms. To get ready before you go, see How to prepare your English for a working holiday in Australia.

For questions about lessons or booking a trial class, please contact us on our official LINE account.

• Australian workplace burnout survey: another Australian data story, with words like burnout and exhaustion.
• Health checklist for older travellers: English for prescriptions and insurance.
• OSHC vs OVHC: health insurance in Australia: understand your insurance before you see a doctor in Australia.
• How to prepare your English for a working holiday in Australia: key English to get ready before you go.

• Australian Bureau of Statistics: Causes of Death, Australia, 2025 (released 27/10/2026)
• ABC News: Dementia deaths surpass one in 10 to remain Australia's leading cause of death (27/10/2026)
• Australian Bureau of Statistics: Dementia is Australia's leading cause of death (2024 data)

Facts checked on 29/10/2026. Figures are based on data released by the ABS on 27/10/2026. The ABS gives the female share of dementia deaths as 61.1%; the article says about 61 per cent. This is English-learning content and is not medical advice. The English article, example sentences, dialogue and quiz in this lesson are original teaching material written by Ambitious Learner, not word-for-word translations of news reports.