It was the 13^th highest among all Australian local government areas, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's annual report on deaths in Australia.

It was one of just two Victorian shires among the 20 Australian local government areas with the highest death rate.

Read more: Highest obesity rate in state found in Central Goldfields

But the biggest killers throughout central Victoria are the same five chronic diseases.

A total 196 people died in the Central Goldfields in 2018, giving it a death rate of 751.6 per 100,000.

Its death rate was more than 100 people per 100,000 higher than anywhere else in central Victoria.

Among Victorian LGAs Central Goldfields fell short only of Yarriambiack Shire, which had a death rate of 804 deaths per 100,000.

Greater Bendigo's death rate was just 568.8 deaths per 100,000.

Mount Alexander had the lowest death rate in central Victoria, with 456.9 deaths per 100,000.

Coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, dementia including Alzheimer's disease, and cerebrovascular disease were the biggest killers in central Victoria.

Australia wide these were the biggest cause of death in 2018 for both men and women.

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In the Central Goldfields these accounted for more than a third of all deaths between 2014 and 2018, a total 371 of 900.

Campaspe had the second highest death rate in central Victoria, with 615 deaths per 100,000 in 2018. A total of 416 people died.

In the Macedon Ranges 304 people died in 2018. In Mount Alexander 168 people died. In Loddon 71 people died.

About 158,500 deaths were registered in Australia in 2018.

The majority of these were among older people. People over the age of 75 accounted for 66 per cent of deaths.

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