Do men and women in Australia die from different alcohol-caused diseases?
In general, men are more likely to die from alcohol-caused diseases than women. Both men and women are most likely to die from alcoholic liver disease, followed by mental and behavioural disorders.
Among men, mental and behavioural disorders account for 22% of alcohol-caused deaths; alcoholic liver disease account for 62%; accidental poisonings account for 8%; and other causes account for 7%.
Among women, mental and behavioural disorders account for 18% of alcohol-caused deaths; alcoholic liver disease accounts for 72%; accidental poisonings account for 5%; and other causes account for 5%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Causes of Death, Australia 2021.
Please note: Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
The proportion of alcohol-caused deaths reported in this FAQ may not reflect the true proportions. Data were not available for all alcohol-caused diseases. Proportions reported are based on the following alcohol-caused diseases: mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use; alcoholic liver disease; accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol; intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol; poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent; evidence of alcohol involvement in morbidity/mortality determined by blood alcohol level; evidence of alcohol involvement in morbidity/mortality determined by level of intoxication.
Alcohol-Caused Disease: A disease, disorder or condition which was directly caused by the individual’s own alcohol consumption.
Diseases classified as directly caused by alcohol use include: mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use; alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome; degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol; special epileptic syndromes; alcoholic polyneuropathy; alcoholic myopathy; alcoholic cardiomyopathy; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic liver disease; alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis; alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis; maternal care for (suspected) damage to fetus from alcohol; fetus and newborn affected by maternal use of alcohol; fetal alcohol syndrome (dysmorphic); finding of alcohol in blood; alcohol toxicity; accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol; intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol; poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent; evidence of alcohol involvement in morbidity/mortality determined by blood alcohol level; evidence of alcohol involvement in morbidity/mortality determined by level of intoxication.