Health in Darwin, Australia: official figures
1,115 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Darwin in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.43 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Darwin local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Darwin?
392 deaths were registered in the City of Darwin in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 5.7 per 1,000 people, joint 8th highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have a long-term health condition?
33.9% of residents of the City of Darwin reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 4th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have mental health problems?
5.6% of residents of the City of Darwin had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have arthritis?
5.3% of residents of the City of Darwin had arthritis at the 2021 Census, joint 4th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have asthma?
5.5% of residents of the City of Darwin had asthma at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have diabetes?
3.9% of residents of the City of Darwin had diabetes at the 2021 Census, joint 11th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have heart disease?
2.5% of residents of the City of Darwin had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, 5th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have cancer?
2.0% of residents of the City of Darwin had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, 5th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have dementia?
0.4% of residents of the City of Darwin had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint 4th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin have lung disease?
1.1% of residents of the City of Darwin had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, 5th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin need help with daily activities?
3.6% of residents of the City of Darwin 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 Darwin have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 9.3% of people living in households in the City of Darwin 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 Darwin have private health insurance?
About 35 in every 100 residents of the City of Darwin had private health insurance in 2021-22 (30,467 people reported cover; Australia 34), 12th highest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Darwin are unpaid carers?
9.1% of residents of the City of Darwin 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 Darwin compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Darwin ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Bendigo | 5.8 |
| 7 | Greater Hobart | 5.8 |
| 8 | Geelong | 5.7 |
| 9 | Darwin | 5.7 |
| 10 | Hobart | 5.7 |
| 11 | Wollongong | 5.6 |
| 12 | Greater Darwin | 5.6 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Darwin ranks 28 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Adelaide | 35.6% |
| 26 | Greater Darwin | 35.5% |
| 27 | Greater Sydney | 34.9% |
| 28 | Darwin | 33.9% |
| 29 | Perth | 33.8% |
| 30 | Sydney | 32.8% |
| 31 | Melbourne | 30.6% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Darwin ranks 31 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Greater Melbourne | 8.1% |
| 26 | Melbourne | 8.1% |
| 27 | Perth | 8.1% |
| 28 | Cairns | 7.9% |
| 29 | Greater Sydney | 6.6% |
| 30 | Greater Darwin | 5.9% |
| 31 | Darwin | 5.6% |
More on Darwin: 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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