The following are key figures on births, perinatal deaths, and sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) in Australia*:
- There were 303,029 births in Australia in 2018 (3)
- There were 2,834 perinatal deaths (3), including 718 neonatal deaths (deaths within 28 days of birth) and 2,116 stillbirths.
- In 2018 there were 112 deaths classified as sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), which includes sudden infant death and fatal sleeping accidents (1).
- 66 children aged 0-4 years died from drowning, accidents and poisoning (4).
References:
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019). 3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia, 2018. ABS, Canberra Includes calculations prepared by Red Nose and confirmed by the ABS.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003). SIDS in Australia 1981-2000: A statistical overview. ABS, Canberra & Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001 - ) .3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia, 2001-. ABS, Canberra
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Australia 2017 and 2018. Perinatal statistics series no. 38. Cat. no. PER 115. Canberra: AIHW.
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019). GRIM (General Record of Incidence of Mortality). Books 2017: All external causes of morbidity and mortality. Canberra: AIHW. Note: Data for all external causes of mortality are from the ICD-10 (V01-Y98).
5. Explanatory note from the ABS: “Data with small values have been randomly assigned to protect the confidentiality of individuals. As a result, some totals will not equal the sum of their components”.
* the latest data available for 2018.
Historical Data
Stats, facts and definitions
Stillbirth and sudden death in infancy and childhood, Australia