Health in Wollongong, Australia: official figures
2,208 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Wollongong in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.61 births per woman, above the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Wollongong local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Wollongong?
1,718 deaths were registered in the City of Wollongong in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 5.6 per 1,000 people, joint 11th highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have a long-term health condition?
42.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 13th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have mental health problems?
10.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, joint 13th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have arthritis?
10.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong had arthritis at the 2021 Census, 10th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have asthma?
8.6% of residents of the City of Wollongong had asthma at the 2021 Census, 15th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have diabetes?
5.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong had diabetes at the 2021 Census, 7th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have heart disease?
4.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, joint 12th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have cancer?
3.2% of residents of the City of Wollongong had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, joint 10th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong have dementia?
1.0% of residents of the City of Wollongong 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 Wollongong have lung disease?
2.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, joint 7th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong need help with daily activities?
6.7% of residents of the City of Wollongong 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 Wollongong have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 17.2% of people living in households in the City of Wollongong 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 Wollongong have private health insurance?
About 35 in every 100 residents of the City of Wollongong had private health insurance in 2021-22 (75,658 people reported cover; Australia 34), 13th highest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Wollongong are unpaid carers?
13.1% of residents of the City of Wollongong 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 Wollongong compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Wollongong ranks 11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Geelong | 5.7 |
| 9 | Darwin | 5.7 |
| 10 | Hobart | 5.7 |
| 11 | Wollongong | 5.6 |
| 12 | Greater Darwin | 5.6 |
| 13 | Greater Brisbane | 5.4 |
| 14 | Toowoomba | 5.4 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Wollongong ranks 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Greater Hobart | 43.2% |
| 11 | Greater Wollongong | 42.7% |
| 12 | Sunshine Coast | 42.5% |
| 13 | Wollongong | 42.1% |
| 14 | Greater Adelaide | 40.7% |
| 15 | Greater Brisbane | 40.3% |
| 16 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 40.2% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Wollongong ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Townsville | 10.4% |
| 12 | Greater Wollongong | 10.2% |
| 13 | Greater Brisbane | 10.1% |
| 14 | Wollongong | 10.1% |
| 15 | Canberra-Queanbeyan | 10.0% |
| 16 | Canberra | 10.0% |
| 17 | Greater Adelaide | 9.8% |
More on Wollongong: 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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