During the 12 months to June 30, 1995, 76 deaths in custody were reported throughout Australia; 13 of these were Aboriginal people, and three were women. The number of deaths during the year was substantially lower than that reported for the previous financial year (n=87). Seventy-two percent occurred in prison custody, and 28 percent occurred in police custody or in custody- related police operations. The ages of those who died ranged from 18 to 75 years. The most frequent cause of death for both non- Aboriginal and Aboriginal people was hanging, followed in frequency by death from illness and from injuries. Compared with last year, a greater number of Aboriginal people died as a result of self-inflicted hanging than from disease. The number of Aboriginal deaths in police custody during the year was equal to the lowest reported since 1980, and no Aboriginal people died in police lockups during the year. 13 tables and 4 figures