MND Australia

MND research statistics

The first table below shows the Australian mortality rates for MND as the underlying cause of death. The second table shows the mortality rates for MND as associated cause of death.

Table One: Australian mortality rates for MND as the underlying cause of death

  • Data from 1979–1996 are adjusted to ICD10 standards using *comparability factor 1.13.
  • Please note that some historical figures have been updated in line with recent updates from the AIHW. 
  • The mortality data in the AIHW National Mortality Database were provided by the Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the National Coroners Information System.

AIHW and ABS data are available only for deaths. 

Year
Sex
Mortality
Mean Age at Death (years)
Age-standardised death rate per 100,000
Percent all causes of death
2022Male46870.62.960.47%
Female32571.61.840.36%
Combined79371.02.370.42%
2021Male45170.12.960.50%
Female32871.51.910.40%
Combined77970.72.400.45%
2020Male43969.72.970.52%
Female30571.31.830.40%
Combined74470.42.370.46%
2019
Male44469.13.110.51%
Female34471.02.160.43%
Combined78869.92.600.47%
2018
Male39469.52.840.47%
Female30269.81.940.39%
Combined69669.62.360.43%
2017
Male35969.32.620.43%
Female30070.51.950.38%
Combined65969.92.260.41%
2016
Male39869.13.000.48%
Female32271.22.160.42%
Combined72070.12.560.45%
2015
Male38969.63.060.48%
Female30071.02.070.39%
Combined68970.22.520.43%
2014
Male34169.22.730.43%
Female26071.91.840.34%
Combined60170.32.260.39%
2013
Male38969.63.250.51%
Female32571.72.330.45%
Combined71470.52.760.48%
2012
Male39070.43.300.52%
Female28871.82.130.40%
Combined67871.02.660.46%
2011
Male39169.03.430.52%
Female28671.92.140.40%
Combined67770.22.740.46%
2010
Male36668.73.310.50%
Female28270.32.230.40%
Combined64869.42.710.45%
2009
Male36667.83.350.51%
Female23372.41.860.34%
Combined59969.62.570.43%
2008Male34368.43.240.47%
Female26871.12.210.38%
Combined61169.62.690.42%
2007Male34168.43.350.48%
Female25471.72.130.38%
Combined59569.82.690.43%
2006Male29469.12.980.43%
Female23971.42.080.37%
Combined53370.12.480.40%
2005Male27369.72.860.41%
Female22671.01.970.36%
Combined49970.32.350.38%
2004Male27368.12.930.40%
Female23470.62.130.36%
Combined50769.32.480.38%
2003Male27567.42.960.40%
Female25570.42.330.40%
Combined53068.92.630.40%
2002Male29469.53.280.43%
Female20770.31.940.32%
Combined50169.82.540.37%
2001Male28068.83.280.42%
Female19170.71.820.31%
Combined47169.62.440.37%
2000Male25368.93.080.38%
Female20472.51.970.33%
Combined45770.52.440.36%
1999Male25168.33.050.37%
Female18470.01.840.30%
Combined43569.02.370.34%
1998Male23168.62.970.34%
Female20071.62.030.33%
Combined43170.02.430.34%
1997Male17566.72.240.26%
Female19269.42.010.31%
Combined36768.12.100.28%
1996Male21167.42.820.31%
Female13070.01.390.21%
Combined34168.42.010.26%
1995Male20966.62.790.32%
Female16370.31.780.328
Combined37268.22.240.30%
1994Male20466.92.820.30%
Female15170.61.680.25%
Combined35568.42.180.28%
1993Male19167.9
2.660.29%
Female14470.01.640.25%
Combined33568.82.080.28%
1992Male17667.12.580.27%
Female14971.21.720.26%
Combined32569.02.100.26%
1991Male15067.72.280.23%
Female13268.71.550.24%
Combined28268.21.840.24%
1990Male18366.72.700.28%
Female12167.61.490.22%
Combined30467.02.020.25%
1989Male17265.82.710.26%
Female14868.91.850.26%
Combined32067.32.210.26%
1988Male17867.22.870.27%
Female11066.61.400.20%
Combined28867.02.030.24%
1987Male13666.42.190.21%
Female13467.31.710.25%
Combined27066.81.900.23%
1986Male11965.91.990.19%
Female11969.51.550.23%
Combined23867.71.740.21%
1985Male15464.12.530.24%
Female11668.81.560.21%
Combined27066.12.000.23%
1984Male11763.31.990.20%
Female9467.6
1.340.19%
Combined21165.21.630.19%
1983Male12163.72.080.20%
Female10168.31.410.20%
Combined22265.81.710.20%
1982Male11663.92.070.18%
Female11467.81.640.22%
Combined23065.81.820.20%
1981Male10863.21.950.18%
Female9268.61.370.19%
Combined20065.71.650.18%
1980Male12765.42.400.21%
Female8865.11.320.18%
Combined21565.31.780.20%
1979Male10764.92.020.18%
Female7165.61.100.15%
Combined17865.21.490.17%

Table Two: Australian mortality rates for MND as the associated cause of death and the total number of deaths of people with MND

The following table shows the Australian mortality rates for MND as the associated cause of death and the total number of deaths of people with MND. 

Associated causes are defined by the AIHW as other diseases or conditions that contributed to the death but which were not recorded as the underlying cause. 

  • Data on underlying causes of death up to and including 2005 are from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2006. GRIM (General Record of Incidence of Mortality) Books. AIHW: Canberra. 
  • Data on underlying causes of death from 2006–2020 are from the Analysis of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Mortality Database. 
  • All data on associated causes of death are from the Analysis of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Mortality Database.

Note: The mortality data in the AIHW National Mortality Database were provided by the Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the National Coroners Information System.


Deaths with MND as underlying cause

Deaths with MND as associated cause

Total deaths of all people with MND*

Percent of all causes of death with MND as either underlying or associated cause

2022
7931058980.47%
2021
779568350.49%
2020
744608040.50%

2019

788

80

868

0.52%

2018

696

64

760

0.47%

2017

659

76

735

0.45%

2016

720

77

797

0.50%

2015

689

71

760

0.48%

2014

601

80

681

0.44%

2013

714

76

790

0.53%

2012

678

117

795

0.54%

2011

677

113

790

0.54%

2010

648

113

761

0.53%

2009

599

138

737

0.52%

2008

611

129

740

0.51%

2007

595

110

705

0.51%

2006

533

130

663

0.50%

2005

499

110

609

0.47%

2004

507

116

623

0.47%

2003

530

115

645

0.49%

2002

501

108

609

0.46%

2001

471

121

592

0.46%

20004571025590.44%
19994351025370.42%
19984311135440.43%
19973671264930.38%

 *All MND deaths is the sum of deaths listed with MND as an underlying cause or as an associated cause. 

Prevalence of MND in Australia 

To annually update the prevalence and number of Australians living with MND is difficult. MND is not a notifiable disease so the numbers of those living with MND in Australia are estimates only. 

In 2015, a report commissioned by MND Australia estimated there were 2,094 Australians living with MND. Sixty per cent of those were male and 40 per cent female. The highest prevalence rate was reported in males aged between 75 and 84. At this time, the prevalence was estimated to be 8.7 per 100,000 Australians, or 1 in 11,434 Australians.

If the 2015 figure of 8.7 per 100,000 Australians is applied to 2023 preliminary population figures, we can estimate that there are currently 2,318 Australians living with MND.