Leslie Massey
Aboriginal Australians, along with Torres Strait Islanders, are the Indigenous people of Australia. Together, they make up 3.8% of the country's population, according to the 2021 Census. This amounts to about 984,000 people, though the real number may be higher as First Nations people are undercounted in census data. Aboriginal Australians are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, and they may have one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total population | 983,700-984,000 |
| % of total Australian population | 3.8% |
| Median age | 24 years |
| % of population under 15 years | 33.1% |
| % of population over 65 years | 5.4% |
| Top 3 states by population | New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia |
| % of population in top 3 states | 74.5% |
| State with highest proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | Northern Territory (30.8%) |
| State with lowest proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | Victoria (1.2%) |
| Median age in Northern Territory | 27 years |
| Median age in New South Wales and Queensland | 23.4 years |
| Languages spoken at home | 167 |
| % of population speaking Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language | 9.5% |
| % living in major cities | 33.1%-38% |
| % living in remote or very remote areas | 15.4% |
| % living without 2 or more essentials for a decent standard of living | 40% |
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What You'll Learn
- Aboriginal people comprised 3.8% of Australia's population in 2021
- Aboriginal people are undercounted in census data
- The median age of the Aboriginal population is 24 years
- Aboriginal people face economic and health disadvantages
- Aboriginal people are over-represented in the Australian criminal justice system
Aboriginal people comprised 3.8% of Australia's population in 2021
Aboriginal Australians, along with Torres Strait Islanders, comprised 3.8% of Australia's population in 2021. This amounts to around 983,700 people, with 91.4% identifying as Aboriginal, 4.2% as Torres Strait Islanders, and 4.4% identifying with both groups. The Aboriginal population in Australia is estimated to be around 745,000 individuals or 3% of the total population.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has a younger age structure than the non-Indigenous population, with larger proportions of young people and smaller proportions of older people. One-third (33.1%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians were under 15 years of age, compared to 17.9% of non-Indigenous people in the same age group. The median age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 24 years, up from 23 years in 2016 and 21 years in 2011.
Aboriginal Australians have a long and complex history in the country, with archaeological and genetic evidence suggesting that their ancestors first migrated to the continent between 50,000 and 75,000 years ago. They are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, collectively referred to as "Australasians". The term "Aboriginal" has been used to describe the indigenous people of Australia since at least the 16th century, derived from the Latin words "ab" and "origo", meaning "first or earliest known, indigenous".
Despite their deep connection to the land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have faced significant challenges and disadvantages due to colonisation. The ongoing colonisation of Australia continues to negatively impact their communities, with higher rates of incarceration, poverty, and health issues compared to the wider Australian community. Additionally, they were not mentioned in the Australian Constitution, reflecting a long history of exclusion and discrimination.
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Aboriginal people are undercounted in census data
Aboriginal people in Australia have been historically and consistently undercounted in census data. This is due to several factors, including deliberate exclusion, varying government definitions of Aboriginal identity, and the unique nature of each census.
Firstly, it is important to acknowledge the historical context of Aboriginal people's inclusion and exclusion in census data. Prior to the establishment of Aboriginal reserves in the 1860s, Victorian censuses often excluded Aboriginal people, particularly those who were not permanently settled. After the 1860s, most Aboriginal people lived on these reserves and were included in census counts. However, Section 127 of the Constitution Act 1900 explicitly stated that "Aboriginal natives shall not be counted", further complicating the consistency of data collection.
Secondly, the definition of who is considered Aboriginal has varied over time. Aboriginal people of mixed ancestry, for example, may have been counted in one census and excluded from another. This inconsistency in classification further contributes to the undercounting of Aboriginal people in census data.
Additionally, each census is unique and captures the population in different ways. For instance, the 2021 Census had greater participation and a higher response rate to the question on Indigenous status, which may have contributed to the increase in counts of people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. However, it is important to note that the Census only measures relationships within households and cannot capture relationships that exist outside of them. This limitation can lead to the exclusion of certain individuals from the data.
Furthermore, the quality of the census data is measured by various factors, including the overall response rate, item response rates, and the Post Enumeration Survey (PES). The PES for the 2021 Census estimated that there should have been 983,257 people counted as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, reflecting a net undercount of 170,752 people or a rate of 17.4%.
The undercounting of Aboriginal people in census data has significant implications for understanding the true size and distribution of this population. It also impacts the accuracy of demographic factors such as age structure and median age. For instance, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has a younger age structure than the non-Indigenous population, with higher birth rates and lower life expectancy.
In conclusion, it is evident that Aboriginal people in Australia are undercounted in census data due to historical exclusion, inconsistent definitions, and the limitations of census methodologies. This undercounting has consequences for understanding the demographic characteristics and distribution of this population.
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The median age of the Aboriginal population is 24 years
The Aboriginal population in Australia is relatively young compared to the non-Indigenous population. As of 30 June 2021, the median age of the Aboriginal population, including the Torres Strait Islander population, was 24 years. This is a one-year increase from the median age of 23 in 2016 and 21 in 2011.
The younger median age of the Aboriginal population can be attributed to higher birth rates and lower life expectancy compared to the non-Indigenous population. In 2021, one-third (33.1%) of the Aboriginal population was under 15 years old, while only 17.9% of non-Indigenous people were in the same age group. Additionally, 5.4% of the Aboriginal population was 65 years or older, compared to 17.2% of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
The life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is challenging to determine accurately due to difficulties in identifying Indigenous deaths and quantifying the population at risk. However, a 2019 report by the Close the Gap campaign revealed that the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians was widening rather than closing. As of 2016-2017, the life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women was 71.6 and 75.6 years, respectively.
The Aboriginal population in Australia has a history of colonisation, massacres, armed conflicts, and removal policies that have impacted their numbers. Before the arrival of British settlers, the Indigenous population was estimated to be between 318,000 and over 3,000,000. By 1900, the recorded Indigenous population had declined to approximately 93,000, and children of Aboriginal descent were forcibly removed from their families until the 1970s. Today, the Aboriginal population in Australia numbers around 983,700 people, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population.
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Aboriginal people face economic and health disadvantages
According to the 2021 Australian Census, 812,728 people self-identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, representing 3.2% of the total population of Australia. Of these Indigenous Australians, 91.4% identified as Aboriginal, 4.2% identified as Torres Strait Islander, and 4.4% identified with both groups. However, the Australian government stated that as of 30 June 2021, there were 983,700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, constituting 3.8% of the total population.
Aboriginal Australians face significant economic and health disadvantages due to systemic discrimination and the historical impact of colonisation. In the state of Victoria, for example, Aboriginal people suffer from lower household incomes and employment rates compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. This economic disadvantage is a direct result of their historical treatment, as Tom Calma, the former Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner, stated: "Indigenous peoples are not merely 'disadvantaged citizens'. The poverty and inequality that they experience is a contemporary reflection of their historical treatment as peoples."
Colonisation also created substantial barriers to improving the health of Aboriginal people. The removal of their children, commonly referred to as the "stolen generations," led to the widespread destruction of families and communities. Additionally, infectious diseases brought by European colonists caused a population collapse, and massacres and conflicts over resources further contributed to the decline of the Aboriginal population.
Today, Aboriginal people in New South Wales, Australia, face inequalities in healthcare treatment and outcomes. The availability, connectedness, and reliability of healthcare services are significant concerns for these communities. However, there are government and local community initiatives that support access to healthcare services for Aboriginal people, including financial assistance, transportation options, and culturally respectful care.
Cultural identity and self-determination have been identified as having a positive impact on the health and well-being outcomes of Aboriginal people. Connection to culture, family, and community, as well as participation in community activities and events, are essential for improving the health of Aboriginal individuals. Self-determination, at a broader level, is necessary for Aboriginal people to pursue their cultural, social, and economic rights.
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Aboriginal people are over-represented in the Australian criminal justice system
Aboriginal Australians make up 3.2% of the total population of Australia, according to the 2021 census. This amounts to 812,728 people who self-identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin. However, the Australian government stated that as of June 30, 2021, there were 983,700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, representing 3.8% of the total population. The increase in the Aboriginal population is not solely due to demographic factors. The Aboriginal community has a younger age structure, with higher birth rates and lower life expectancy than the non-Indigenous population.
Unemployment is a key risk factor for justice system involvement, and Aboriginal unemployment stands at 14%, more than double the non-Aboriginal rate. Poor mental health is another contributing factor, with 72% of Aboriginal men and 92% of Aboriginal women in prison having received a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness. Substance abuse is also prevalent among Aboriginal offenders. These issues are compounded by the social and economic exclusion of the Aboriginal community, as well as the loss of culture, family, and purpose.
To address this over-representation, the Australian government has implemented the Closing the Gap framework, which aims to reduce disadvantages among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap includes 17 national socio-economic targets, three of which relate directly to crime and justice. These targets aim to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal adults and young people in the criminal justice system and address the needs of Aboriginal female and young victims of violence.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 30 June 2021, there were 983,700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population.
It is estimated that the Indigenous population prior to European settlement ranged from 318,000 to more than 3,000,000.
One-third (33.1%) of the Aboriginal population in Australia is under 15 years old.
The median age of the Aboriginal population in Australia is 24 years.
New South Wales has the largest Aboriginal population, with 339,700 people.
