Dementia is now Australia's second biggest killer, overtaking stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says Alzheimer's disease and other dementia accounted for about 11,000 deaths in 2013, an increase of more than five per cent more over the previous year.

The ABS says the number dying of dementia will continue to grow as life expectancy increases.

The leading cause of death in Australia is heart disease, which accounted for almost 20,000 deaths in 2013.

DEATHS IN AUSTRALIA:
* 147,678 reported in 2013.
* More than 8000 died from lung cancer in 2013, a 13 per cent increase since 2004.
* Colon cancer, blood cancers, prostate, breast, pancreatic and skin cancers among Australia's 20 leading causes of death.
* More men (75,782) died in 2013 than women (71,896)
* Suicide remains leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44.

Source: ABS: "Causes of Death, Australia, 2013"