People with a long-term health condition

At the 2021 Census, People with a long-term health condition across Australia was 27.7%. The share of people who reported one or more selected long-term health conditions — a question first asked in the 2021 Census.

Share of people with one or more selected long-term health conditions. It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

It is the Census's broadest read on chronic ill-health and, alongside age, helps anticipate demand for health services.

Worth knowing: Conditions are self-reported from a set list, so the figure reflects what people recognised and chose to record.

Across the 2,385 SA2 areas with data, People with a long-term health condition ranges from 0.0% to 52.4%, with a typical (median) area at 28.1%.

Not directly — definitions or boundaries changed between censuses, so year-to-year changes in People with a long-term health condition should be read with caution.

Use the interactive map to compare People with a long-term health condition down to block (sa1) and statistical area 2 (sa2) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.