Health in Brisbane, Australia: official figures
12,514 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Brisbane in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.19 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Brisbane local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Brisbane?
7,523 deaths were registered in the City of Brisbane in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 5.1 per 1,000 people, 10th lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have a long-term health condition?
36.4% of residents of the City of Brisbane reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 8th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have mental health problems?
9.1% of residents of the City of Brisbane had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, 13th lowest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have arthritis?
6.3% of residents of the City of Brisbane had arthritis at the 2021 Census, 7th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have asthma?
7.8% of residents of the City of Brisbane had asthma at the 2021 Census, 13th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have diabetes?
3.6% of residents of the City of Brisbane had diabetes at the 2021 Census, joint 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have heart disease?
3.4% of residents of the City of Brisbane had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, joint 10th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have cancer?
2.7% of residents of the City of Brisbane had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, joint 9th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have dementia?
0.6% of residents of the City of Brisbane had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint 7th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have lung disease?
1.3% of residents of the City of Brisbane had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, joint 9th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane need help with daily activities?
4.6% of residents of the City of Brisbane 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, below the national figure (5.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 14.3% of people living in households in the City of Brisbane 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 Brisbane have private health insurance?
About 39 in every 100 residents of the City of Brisbane had private health insurance in 2021-22 (499,429 people reported cover; Australia 34), 6th highest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane are unpaid carers?
10.6% of residents of the City of Brisbane gave unpaid help to a person with a disability at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (11.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Brisbane compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Brisbane ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Toowoomba | 5.4 |
| 15 | Melbourne | 5.4 |
| 16 | Greater Adelaide | 5.3 |
| 17 | Brisbane | 5.1 |
| 18 | Gold Coast | 4.9 |
| 19 | Canberra | 4.9 |
| 20 | Greater Sydney | 4.9 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Brisbane ranks 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Hobart | 38.9% |
| 22 | Greater Perth | 37.5% |
| 23 | Greater Melbourne | 36.6% |
| 24 | Brisbane | 36.4% |
| 25 | Adelaide | 35.6% |
| 26 | Greater Darwin | 35.5% |
| 27 | Greater Sydney | 34.9% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Brisbane ranks 19 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Canberra | 10.0% |
| 17 | Greater Adelaide | 9.8% |
| 18 | Sunshine Coast | 9.4% |
| 19 | Brisbane | 9.1% |
| 20 | Adelaide | 9.0% |
| 21 | Sydney | 8.5% |
| 22 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 8.5% |
More on Brisbane: 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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