Fatal vs. non-fatal burden

Burden of disease estimates are one of the few population health measures which combine health loss from living with, and dying prematurely from illness and injury.

The contribution of fatal and non-fatal burden to the total burden experienced in Australia differs by age, sex and disease. Some disease groups such as cancers, contribute substantial fatal burden, whilst diseases which don’t usually cause death, such as back pain, contribute substantial non-fatal burden.

Use the interactive graphs to explore the contribution of fatal burden (YLL) and non-fatal burden (YLD) to the total burden of disease (DALY) in Australia by sex, age group and disease or injury for the most recent year (2023). Results for 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2018 are included for comparison. 

Figure 3.2: Fatal and non-fatal burden in Australia

This interactive visualisation compares the amount and proportion of fatal vs. non-fatal burden, by year, sex, age, disease group and disease.