Health in Newcastle, Australia: official figures
1,867 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Newcastle in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.43 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Newcastle local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Newcastle?
1,567 deaths were registered in the City of Newcastle in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 6.7 per 1,000 people, the highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have a long-term health condition?
43.8% of residents of the City of Newcastle reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 7th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have mental health problems?
12.5% of residents of the City of Newcastle had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, 4th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have arthritis?
9.4% of residents of the City of Newcastle had arthritis at the 2021 Census, 12th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have asthma?
9.6% of residents of the City of Newcastle had asthma at the 2021 Census, joint 7th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have diabetes?
4.6% of residents of the City of Newcastle had diabetes at the 2021 Census, joint 11th highest of 31 areas, below the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have heart disease?
4.2% of residents of the City of Newcastle had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, 10th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have cancer?
2.9% of residents of the City of Newcastle had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, joint 14th lowest of 31 areas, about the same as the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have dementia?
1.0% of residents of the City of Newcastle had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint 2nd highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle have lung disease?
1.9% of residents of the City of Newcastle had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, joint 13th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle need help with daily activities?
6.4% of residents of the City of Newcastle 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 Newcastle have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 19.7% of people living in households in the City of Newcastle 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 Newcastle have private health insurance?
About 38 in every 100 residents of the City of Newcastle had private health insurance in 2021-22 (65,629 people reported cover; Australia 34), 7th highest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Newcastle are unpaid carers?
12.1% of residents of the City of Newcastle 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 Newcastle compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Newcastle ranks 1 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)
Newcastle ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Central Coast | 45.8% |
| 5 | Albury-Wodonga | 45.6% |
| 6 | Toowoomba | 44.5% |
| 7 | Newcastle | 43.8% |
| 8 | Geelong | 43.5% |
| 9 | Townsville | 43.5% |
| 10 | Greater Hobart | 43.2% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Newcastle ranks 4 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 Newcastle: 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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