Health in Sydney, Australia: official figures
1,677 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Sydney in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 0.73 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Sydney local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Sydney?
883 deaths were registered in the City of Sydney in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 4.8 per 1,000 people, joint 3rd lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have a long-term health condition?
32.8% of residents of the City of Sydney reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 2nd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have mental health problems?
8.5% of residents of the City of Sydney had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, 11th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have arthritis?
3.9% of residents of the City of Sydney had arthritis at the 2021 Census, 3rd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have asthma?
6.5% of residents of the City of Sydney had asthma at the 2021 Census, 7th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have diabetes?
2.2% of residents of the City of Sydney had diabetes at the 2021 Census, 2nd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have heart disease?
2.0% of residents of the City of Sydney had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, 2nd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have cancer?
1.9% of residents of the City of Sydney had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, joint 2nd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have dementia?
0.3% of residents of the City of Sydney 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 Sydney have lung disease?
0.9% of residents of the City of Sydney had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, 3rd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney need help with daily activities?
2.7% of residents of the City of Sydney 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 Sydney have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 8.0% of people living in households in the City of Sydney 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 Sydney have private health insurance?
About 40 in every 100 residents of the City of Sydney had private health insurance in 2021-22 (86,678 people reported cover; Australia 34), 5th highest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney are unpaid carers?
6.5% of residents of the City of Sydney 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 Sydney compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Sydney ranks 23 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Greater Sydney | 4.9 |
| 21 | Greater Melbourne | 4.9 |
| 22 | Sunshine Coast | 4.8 |
| 23 | Sydney | 4.8 |
| 24 | Greater Perth | 4.8 |
| 25 | Adelaide | 4.6 |
| 26 | Perth | 4.5 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney ranks 30 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)
Sydney ranks 21 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Sunshine Coast | 9.4% |
| 19 | Brisbane | 9.1% |
| 20 | Adelaide | 9.0% |
| 21 | Sydney | 8.5% |
| 22 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 8.5% |
| 23 | Gold Coast | 8.4% |
| 24 | Greater Perth | 8.4% |
More on Sydney: 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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