Health in Ballarat, Australia: official figures
1,516 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Ballarat in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.68 births per woman, above the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Ballarat local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Ballarat?
1,007 deaths were registered in the City of Ballarat in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 6.1 per 1,000 people, 3rd highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have a long-term health condition?
46.9% of residents of the City of Ballarat reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 2nd highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have mental health problems?
13.1% of residents of the City of Ballarat had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, the highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have arthritis?
10.5% of residents of the City of Ballarat had arthritis at the 2021 Census, joint 6th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have asthma?
11.4% of residents of the City of Ballarat had asthma at the 2021 Census, the highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have diabetes?
5.2% of residents of the City of Ballarat had diabetes at the 2021 Census, joint 4th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have heart disease?
4.7% of residents of the City of Ballarat had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, joint 5th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have cancer?
3.4% of residents of the City of Ballarat had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, joint 5th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have dementia?
0.8% of residents of the City of Ballarat had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint 14th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have lung disease?
2.4% of residents of the City of Ballarat had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, 2nd highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat need help with daily activities?
7.4% of residents of the City of Ballarat said they needed help with core activities (self-care, mobility or communication) because of a disability, long-term health condition or old age at the 2021 Census, above the national figure (5.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 20.8% of people living in households in the City of Ballarat had a disability in 2018 (a modelled estimate from the 2018 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat have private health insurance?
About 29 in every 100 residents of the City of Ballarat had private health insurance in 2021-22 (33,822 people reported cover; Australia 34), 4th lowest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Ballarat are unpaid carers?
14.2% of residents of the City of Ballarat gave unpaid help to a person with a disability at the 2021 Census, above the national figure (11.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Ballarat compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Ballarat ranks 3 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle | 6.7 |
| 2 | Townsville | 6.2 |
| 3 | Ballarat | 6.1 |
| 4 | Cairns | 5.9 |
| 5 | Central Coast | 5.8 |
| 6 | Bendigo | 5.8 |
| 7 | Greater Hobart | 5.8 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Ballarat ranks 2 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bendigo | 47.2% |
| 2 | Ballarat | 46.9% |
| 3 | Newcastle-Maitland | 46.0% |
| 4 | Central Coast | 45.8% |
| 5 | Albury-Wodonga | 45.6% |
| 6 | Toowoomba | 44.5% |
| 7 | Newcastle | 43.8% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Ballarat ranks 1 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballarat | 13.1% |
| 2 | Newcastle-Maitland | 12.6% |
| 3 | Bendigo | 12.6% |
| 4 | Newcastle | 12.5% |
| 5 | Albury-Wodonga | 12.2% |
| 6 | Greater Hobart | 11.6% |
| 7 | Geelong | 11.1% |
More on Ballarat: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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