Key figures for June 2026

  • 89
    Road deaths in June 2026
    6.7% lower than the average for June over the previous 5 years
  • 1,325
    Road deaths in past 12 months
    0.2% higher than the same time last year
  • 4.8
    Deaths per 100,000 people in the past 12 months
    1.3% lower than the same time last year
  • 512
    Vulnerable road user deaths in the past 12 months
    2.6% higher than the same time last year.

Monthly and annual deaths

Monthly fatalities over the last 5 years
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2021979510085791031077984104941021,129
20229311195101104937693120881031051,182
20231038911292102871071021271021111181,252
202497106111111969712299931111311171,291
2025108821191141309711411697126981081,309
202610810311013412289666

 

Annual deaths - past 12 months
12 months ending JuneNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
2022280243293851555145151,167
2023290265268931753831101,170
2024338287295100176255681,285
202534829629284199465081,323
20263502693231071933632151,325
Latest per cent change0.6%-9.1%10.6%27.4%-3.0%-21.7%-36.0%87.5%0.2%

 

Annual deaths - calendar year to date
Year to dateNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
Jan to Jun 20251781481363810224213650
Jan to Jun 20261771261535811117159666
Latest per cent change-0.6%-14.9%12.5%52.6%8.8%-29.2%-28.6%200.0%2.5%

National fatality rate

For the 12 months ending June 2026, the national road fatality rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people. This rate is 1.3% lower than the same time last year.

The fatality rate was 4.7 for the 12 months ending December 2025 and was 0.1% lower compared to the previous calendar year.

Fatality rate - past 12 months
12 months ending JuneNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
20223.43.75.64.75.69.018.03.34.5
20233.54.05.05.16.26.612.12.14.4
20244.04.25.35.36.04.421.61.74.8
20254.14.25.24.46.68.019.01.74.8
20264.13.85.75.66.36.212.03.14.8
Latest per cent change-0.6%-10.6%8.8%26.1%-5.1%-22.1%-37.0%85.2%-1.3%

 

Fatality rate - calendar year
Calendar yearNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
20213.43.55.35.56.06.214.12.44.4
20223.43.65.63.96.38.720.53.94.5
20234.14.35.06.35.55.812.00.84.7
20243.94.15.44.76.35.423.02.34.7
20254.14.15.44.66.07.414.31.94.7
Latest per cent change6.1%0.7%-0.1%-3.3%-4.3%38.0%-37.9%-19.2%-0.1%

State comparison

Total deaths

For the 12 months ending June 2026, the states that experienced the most road deaths were New South Wales with 350 (0.6% increase on previous 12 months), followed by Queensland with 323 (10.6% increase). Australian Capital Territory had the lowest number of deaths in the past 12 months, with 15 (87.5% increase).

So far in 2026, the greatest number of deaths have occurred in New South Wales with 177 (0.6% decrease), followed by Queensland with 153 deaths (12.5% increase).

Monthly deaths by state/territory
Current monthNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
June 202534152231535097
June 2026211717111265089
Latest per cent change-38.2%13.3%-22.7%266.7%-20.0%100.0%0.0%0.0%-8.2%

 

Annual deaths by state/territory - past 12 months
12 months ending JuneNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
2022280243293851555145151,167
2023290265268931753831101,170
2024338287295100176255681,285
202534829629284199465081,323
20263502693231071933632151,325
Latest per cent change0.6%-9.1%10.6%27.4%-3.0%-21.7%-36.0%87.5%0.2%

 

Annual deaths by state/territory - calendar year to date
Year to dateNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
Jan to Jun 20251781481363810224213650
Jan to Jun 20261771261535811117159666
Latest per cent change-0.6%-14.9%12.5%52.6%8.8%-29.2%-28.6%200.0%2.5%

Fatality rate

Fatality rates more accurately describe the risk of death within jurisdictions by adjusting for population. The fatality rate for Northern Territory reached 12.0 per 100,000 people for the 12 months ending June 2026 (37.0% decrease from the previous year). Western Australia had the second highest rate at 6.3 per 100,000 people (5.1% decrease from the previous year), 1.9 times lower than that of Northern Territory. Australian Capital Territory reported the lowest fatality rate, at 3.1 deaths per 100,000 people (85.2% increase from the previous year).

Fatality rate by state/territory - past 12 months
12 months ending JuneNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
20223.43.75.64.75.69.018.03.34.5
20233.54.05.05.16.26.612.12.14.4
20244.04.25.35.36.04.421.61.74.8
20254.14.25.24.46.68.019.01.74.8
20264.13.85.75.66.36.212.03.14.8
Latest per cent change-0.6%-10.6%8.8%26.1%-5.1%-22.1%-37.0%85.2%-1.3%

 

Fatality rate by state/territory - calendar year
Calendar yearNSWVICQLDSAWATASNTACTTotal
20213.43.55.35.56.06.214.12.44.4
20223.43.65.63.96.38.720.53.94.5
20234.14.35.06.35.55.812.00.84.7
20243.94.15.44.76.35.423.02.34.7
20254.14.15.44.66.07.414.31.94.7
Latest per cent change6.1%0.7%-0.1%-3.3%-4.3%38.0%-37.9%-19.2%-0.1%

Deaths by demographics and circumstances

Road users

Road deaths are grouped by vehicle type and position to describe deaths by road user type. By this measure, deaths were most frequently drivers, with 577 in the 12-month period ending June 2026 (a 3.0% decrease compared to the previous 12 months). Motorcyclists were the next most highly represented, with 263 deaths in the period (1.9% decrease).

Road user
12 months ending JuneDriverPassengerPedestrianMotorcyclistPedal cyclistTotal
2022553200147222361,167
2023535192154245391,170
2024579209167278341,285
2025595208192268391,323
2026577218196263531,325
Latest per cent change-3.0%4.8%2.1%-1.9%35.9%0.2%

Motorcyclist and Pedal cyclist categories include pillion passengers

Totals may include unknown values

Age group

In the 12-month period ending June 2026, 30.0% of road deaths were aged 25 to 44 years (397 deaths). This was followed by 24.2% of deaths for those aged 45 to 64 years (320 deaths).

Comparing the change in deaths by age group for the most recent 12 months compared to previous:

  • The cohort with the greatest decrease in deaths was people aged 65 to 79 years, with 38 fewer deaths (17.4% decrease from 219 to 181 deaths).
  • The cohort with the greatest increase in deaths was people aged 25 to 44 years, with 14 more deaths (3.7% increase from 383 to 397 deaths).
Age group (years)
12 months ending June0 to 1516 to 2425 to 4445 to 6465 to 7980+Total
202254218323298173961,167
2023452133632931531031,170
2024532213863132071031,285
2025522153833372191131,323
2026642273973201811231,325
Latest per cent change23.1%5.6%3.7%-5.0%-17.4%8.8%0.2%

Totals may include unknown values

Gender

In the past year, around 2.9 times more males than females were involved in fatal crashes. In the 12 months to June 2026, 982 males died in crashes, compared to 343 females. The road death count for males decreased from 989 to 982 in the past 12 months (0.7% decrease) compared to female road deaths, which increased from 333 to 343 deaths (3.0% increase).

Gender
12 months ending JuneMaleFemaleTotal
20228822841,167
20238463231,170
20249892941,285
20259893331,323
20269823431,325
Latest per cent change-0.7%3.0%0.2%

Totals may include unknown values

Remoteness area

The majority of road deaths in the last 12 months (488 deaths, 36.8%) occurred in major cities areas. Very remote regions made up the smallest proportion of road deaths at 2.9%, reporting 38 deaths.

In recent years, remoteness area has not been routinely provided, resulting in a significant increase in Unknown remoteness area. We suggest caution interpreting findings from this chart, as total deaths in all other regions may be underreported.

Remoteness area
12 months ending JuneMajor citiesInner regionalOuter regionalRemoteVery remoteUnknownTotal
20224003752636652111,167
2023435395240405191,170
2024445423283775251,285
20254674273025255201,323
20264884052764638721,325
Latest per cent change4.5%-5.2%-8.6%-11.5%-30.9%260.0%0.2%

Totals may include unknown values

Fatal crashes

Road crashes are a leading cause of death and hospitalised injuries in Australia. It’s important to understand their underlying factors, especially crashes that result in at least one fatality.

Single and multiple vehicle crashes

Most fatal crashes involve a single vehicle, totalling 707 crashes in the past 12 months ending June 2026 (57.5% of all fatal crashes). There were 522 fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles (8.7% decrease from previous year).

There has been a 9.1% increase for single-vehicle crashes, from 648 to 707 fatal crashes in the 12 months ending June 2026.

Crash type (number of vehicles involved in crash)
12 months ending JuneSingleMultipleTotal
20226594191,078
20236024751,079
20246525221,178
20256485721,223
20267075221,229
Latest per cent change9.1%-8.7%0.5%

Totals may include unknown values

Speed limit

Of all fatal road crashes in the past 12 months, 26.6% (327) happened in 100 km/h zones (9.2% decrease from previous year). This was followed by 277 fatal crashes in 60 to 75 km/h zones (14.0% decrease from previous year). Fatal crashes in 50 km/h zones had the greatest increase, with 33 more deaths (25.6% increase from 129 to 162 deaths).

Speed limit (km/h)
12 months ending June≤ 405060 to 7580 to 90100≥ 110Total
2022221222751693501291,078
2023321212921763131391,079
2024311512912123431411,178
2025301293222173601391,223
2026411622772043271431,229
Latest per cent change36.7%25.6%-14.0%-6.0%-9.2%2.9%0.5%

Totals may include unknown values

Explore the data

Explore the monthly deaths data in dashboard format. The dashboard allows further drilling down by categories such as age group, jurisdiction and road user. 

Definitions

Road death

A person who dies within 30 days as a result of injuries received in an unintended crash on a public road.

Fatal injuries are coded using the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) system. For more details, see ICD-10 Version 2010(Opens in a new tab/window)

Fatality rate

The fatality rate allows for easier like-for-like comparison between states and territories and other sub-groups as it is not affected by differences in the sizes of the populations. In particular, it refers to the count of road deaths in the last 12 months divided by the resident population at the midpoint of that period, multiplied by 100,000. Population estimates are sourced from ABS' national, state and territory population statistics. The midpoint population may be interpolated if necessary.

Fatal crash

A crash reported to police resulting from the movement of at least one road vehicle on a public road and involving at least one death that is not the result of a pre-meditated act.

Vulnerable Road User

Road users not in a car, bus or truck, generally including pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists. Can also include children 7 years and under, the elderly and users of mobility devices.

About the data

We collect the data from each state and territory and collate them in the Australian Road Deaths Database.

The raw data are obtained from:

Download data

CKAN Data Catalogue:

Note: If CKAN is offline, refer to file downloads above.

Limitations

Road deaths from recent months are preliminary and are subject to revision.

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