Cancer mortality rates continue to fall, although the disease accounted for 30% of all deaths in 2013, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.  

In 2013, there were 44,108 deaths from cancer.

The latest data shows the mortality rate for all cancers is decreasing from 199 deaths per 100,000 people in 1968 to 166 per 100,000 last year.

Between 1994 and 2013, the mortality rate from all cancers combined decreased significantly by 2.5 deaths per 100,000 persons per year.

The most common cancers are bowel and prostate in males, and breast, lung and melanoma of the skin in females.

For males, the death rate from cancer decreased by 3.8 deaths per 100,000 per year between 1994 and 2013.

The data shows the death rate for females from all cancers decreased by 1.6 deaths per 100,000 females per year during the same period.