Health in Melbourne, Australia: official figures
1,030 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Melbourne in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 0.54 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Melbourne local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Melbourne?
524 deaths were registered in the City of Melbourne in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 5.4 per 1,000 people, joint 13th highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have a long-term health condition?
30.6% of residents of the City of Melbourne reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have mental health problems?
8.1% of residents of the City of Melbourne had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, joint 5th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have arthritis?
3.0% of residents of the City of Melbourne had arthritis at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have asthma?
6.3% of residents of the City of Melbourne had asthma at the 2021 Census, 5th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have diabetes?
1.9% of residents of the City of Melbourne had diabetes at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have heart disease?
1.6% of residents of the City of Melbourne had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have cancer?
1.5% of residents of the City of Melbourne had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have dementia?
0.3% of residents of the City of Melbourne had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have lung disease?
0.5% of residents of the City of Melbourne had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne need help with daily activities?
2.3% of residents of the City of Melbourne 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 Melbourne have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 7.8% of people living in households in the City of Melbourne 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 Melbourne have private health insurance?
About 33 in every 100 residents of the City of Melbourne had private health insurance in 2021-22 (52,353 people reported cover; Australia 34), 12th lowest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne are unpaid carers?
6.3% of residents of the City of Melbourne 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 Melbourne compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Melbourne ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Greater Darwin | 5.6 |
| 13 | Greater Brisbane | 5.4 |
| 14 | Toowoomba | 5.4 |
| 15 | Melbourne | 5.4 |
| 16 | Greater Adelaide | 5.3 |
| 17 | Brisbane | 5.1 |
| 18 | Gold Coast | 4.9 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Melbourne 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 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)
Melbourne ranks 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Gold Coast | 8.4% |
| 24 | Greater Perth | 8.4% |
| 25 | Greater Melbourne | 8.1% |
| 26 | Melbourne | 8.1% |
| 27 | Perth | 8.1% |
| 28 | Cairns | 7.9% |
| 29 | Greater Sydney | 6.6% |
More on Melbourne: 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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