Health in Townsville, Australia: official figures
2,454 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Townsville in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.74 births per woman, above the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Townsville local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Townsville?
1,428 deaths were registered in the City of Townsville in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 6.2 per 1,000 people, 2nd highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have a long-term health condition?
43.5% of residents of the City of Townsville reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, joint 8th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have mental health problems?
10.4% of residents of the City of Townsville had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, 11th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have arthritis?
8.8% of residents of the City of Townsville had arthritis at the 2021 Census, 14th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have asthma?
8.1% of residents of the City of Townsville had asthma at the 2021 Census, joint 16th highest of 31 areas, about the same as the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have diabetes?
4.6% of residents of the City of Townsville 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 Townsville have heart disease?
4.0% of residents of the City of Townsville had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, 14th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have cancer?
3.0% of residents of the City of Townsville had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, 16th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have dementia?
0.7% of residents of the City of Townsville had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint 10th lowest of 31 areas, about the same as the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have lung disease?
2.0% of residents of the City of Townsville had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, joint 11th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville need help with daily activities?
5.9% of residents of the City of Townsville 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 Townsville have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 16.5% of people living in households in the City of Townsville 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 Townsville have private health insurance?
About 28 in every 100 residents of the City of Townsville had private health insurance in 2021-22 (55,973 people reported cover; Australia 34), 3rd lowest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville are unpaid carers?
11.2% of residents of the City of Townsville 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 Townsville compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Townsville ranks 2 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)
Townsville ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Toowoomba | 44.5% |
| 7 | Newcastle | 43.8% |
| 8 | Geelong | 43.5% |
| 9 | Townsville | 43.5% |
| 10 | Greater Hobart | 43.2% |
| 11 | Greater Wollongong | 42.7% |
| 12 | Sunshine Coast | 42.5% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Townsville ranks 11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Central Coast | 11.0% |
| 9 | Toowoomba | 10.9% |
| 10 | Hobart | 10.6% |
| 11 | Townsville | 10.4% |
| 12 | Greater Wollongong | 10.2% |
| 13 | Greater Brisbane | 10.1% |
| 14 | Wollongong | 10.1% |
More on Townsville: 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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