The latest mortality data highlights the difference in mortality rates between the sexes, with 461.9 deaths per 100,000 males compare to 330.2 deaths per 100,000 females.

Men are up to twice as likely to die from preventable illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Men are three times as likely to die in a car crash and more than twice as likely to kill themselves.

Heart Foundation medical director Professor Norman Sharpe said it is a gap that will continue to widen as a “new wave” of health problems caused by obesity start showing up in the statistics.

More on Stuff: Mortality data makes grim reading for men.

Canterbury Men’s Centre manager Donald Pettitt said men’s health problems were part of a legacy of neglect by the public health system.

“Australia introduced a National Male Health Policy in 2010 and the same thing was needed to fix health disparities here”, he said.