Five year high of Aussie deaths abroad

The number of Australian deaths overseas reached a five-year high in 2015.

Department of Foriegn Affairs' statistics show 1369 Australians died abroad last year with Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, US and the Netherlands topping the list.

It was a reminder to travellers about the importance of taking out travel insurance and avoiding the burden and expense of making funeral arrangements and repatriation that falls on family members, it said.