Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is a significant and growing part of the country's cultural fabric. As of 2021, the Indigenous population was estimated to be around 984,000, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population. This number surged past one million by 2022, and by 2031, it is expected to reach 1.2 million, with a significant proportion under the age of 14. The Indigenous population is relatively young, with a median age of 24 years in 2021, and the community is experiencing a baby boom despite an overall dip in Australian birth rates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 800,000+ as of 2021; over 1 million as of 2022 |
| % of total Australian population | 3.8% as of 2021; 3.2% as of 2022 |
| Median age | 24 years as of 2021 |
| Proportion under 15 years old | 33.1% as of 2021 |
| Proportion under 24 years old | 50% as of 2021 |
| States with the largest populations | New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia |
| States with the highest proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people relative to total population | Northern Territory (30.8%), New South Wales, and Queensland |
| Number of languages spoken | Over 150 as of 2021 |
| Number of unique language groups | Hundreds |
| Number of people who speak an Indigenous language | 76,978 as of 2021 |
| Number of people who identify as Aboriginal | 91.4% of Indigenous Australians |
| Number of people who identify as Torres Strait Islander | 4.2% of Indigenous Australians |
| Number of people who identify as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | 4.4% of Indigenous Australians |
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What You'll Learn
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population surpasses 1 million
Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has surpassed 1 million people, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This milestone was likely passed in 2022, with Brisbane and Perth expected to be the fastest-growing areas over the next seven years.
The First Nations population is relatively young, with a median age of 24 years as of 2021. About half of the First Nations people were under 24 years old, and about one-third were under the age of 15. This is in contrast to the non-Indigenous population, where less than one-fifth were under 15. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is expected to continue growing, reaching 1.2 million by 2031, with 31% under the age of 14.
New South Wales currently has the largest share of the First Nations population, with 339,700 people as of 2021, followed by Queensland with 273,100, and Western Australia with 120,000. These three states comprise almost three-quarters of the total First Nations population. However, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory are projected to experience the highest growth in the coming years, while the Northern Territory is expected to have the slowest growth.
The increase in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population cannot be wholly explained by demographic factors. While the birth rate is higher among First Nations communities, there are also other factors at play, such as migration and net identification change. The ABS data shows that the number of people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the census has increased, contributing to the overall population growth.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia is diverse, comprising hundreds of groups with their own distinct languages, histories, and cultural traditions. As the population continues to grow, it is important to ensure that the health, welfare, and well-being of these communities are prioritized and that their cultural and social factors are taken into account.
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Population growth in New South Wales and Queensland
New South Wales (NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia, with a population of around 7.4 million, making it the most populous of all Australian states. The capital of New South Wales is Sydney, which is also the most populous city in Australia. The population of New South Wales is projected to reach 8.51 million by the end of June 2025. The population growth rate in New South Wales has been consistent over the last 13 years, ranging from 0.94% to 1.65%. The main occupations of people living in New South Wales are professionals (22.7%), clerical and administrative workers (15.1%), managers (13.3%), and technicians and trade workers (13.2%).
The Aboriginal population in Australia surpassed one million in 2022, with the majority residing in New South Wales. In 2021, there were an estimated 984,000 Aboriginal people in Australia, representing 3.8% of the population. By 2031, the Aboriginal population in Australia is expected to reach 1.2 million, with 31% under the age of 14. Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory are projected to have the fastest growth in the Aboriginal population, while the Northern Territory is expected to have the slowest.
Queensland is a state in Australia that borders New South Wales to the south. The population of Queensland is growing, and it is one of the four states that accounted for more than 93% of Australia's growth in 2014. Queensland became a separate colony in 1859. The Aboriginal population in Queensland is expected to grow, with Brisbane being one of the fastest-growing areas for the Aboriginal community.
The Aboriginal population in New South Wales and Queensland is expected to continue growing. In 2021, about 3 in 5 Aboriginal people lived in these two states. New South Wales will likely continue to have the largest share of the Aboriginal population, but it is projected to decrease over time. The growth in the Aboriginal population in Queensland is attributed to interstate migration and an increase in births.
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First Nations population is relatively young
The First Nations population in Australia is relatively young. In 2021, the median age for First Nations people was 24 years, up from 23 years in 2016 and 21 years in 2011. By comparison, the median age of non-Indigenous Australians is higher, with one in five (17.9%) aged under 15.
The First Nations population in Australia has been increasing. In 2021, there were an estimated 984,000 First Nations people, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population. This is an increase from 2016, when the Indigenous population was estimated to be 649,200. By 2024, the First Nations population had surged past one million people, with Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory projected to have the highest growth rates. By 2031, the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is expected to reach 1.2 million, with 31% under the age of 14.
There are several factors contributing to the growth of the First Nations population. One factor is the higher birth rates among First Nations communities, which is referred to as a "baby boom". Another factor is migration, with more Indigenous people returning to Australia from overseas than leaving between 2016 and 2021. Additionally, there has been a net identification change, with more people choosing to identify as Indigenous in the census.
The First Nations population is not evenly distributed across Australia. In 2021, three-quarters (74.5%) lived in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia combined. New South Wales had the largest First Nations population, with 339,700 people, followed by Queensland with 273,100 people. However, the Northern Territory had the highest proportion of First Nations people relative to its total population size (30.8%), while Victoria had the lowest (1.2%).
While the First Nations population is growing, it is important to note that they experience significantly poorer health and wellbeing outcomes compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. The average life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is around eight years shorter than that of the non-Indigenous population.
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Health and wellbeing outcomes are poorer for Indigenous Australians
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia surpassed 1 million in 2022, with the majority residing in New South Wales. They comprise hundreds of groups with distinct languages, histories, and cultural traditions.
Indigenous Australians face barriers to accessing health services, including availability, cost, and a lack of culturally appropriate options. Social determinants, such as employment, income, education, and housing, also play a role in the health disparities. Additionally, health risk factors like smoking contribute to the gap in health outcomes.
To address these disparities, the Australian government has implemented strategies, programs, and initiatives. They work in partnership with Indigenous communities to develop culturally appropriate healthcare decisions and policies, aiming to improve health and wellbeing. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap encourages collaboration between governments and Indigenous organisations to make culturally-sensitive decisions.
Improving Indigenous health is a national priority, and efforts are being made to enhance health services and improve access to comprehensive, culturally appropriate primary healthcare. Research highlights the importance of cultural determinants of health, including family/community, cultural identity, and self-determination, in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
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The Indigenous Regions with the largest populations
The Aboriginal population in Australia surpassed one million in 2022, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. By 2031, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is expected to reach 1.2 million, with 31% under the age of 14.
New South Wales is likely to continue to have the largest share of the First Nations population, although its proportion is projected to decrease over the next few years. Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory are expected to experience the fastest growth.
In 2021, the Indigenous Regions with the largest populations were Tamworth (6,201 people) and Wyong (10,983 people) in New South Wales, and Kalgoorlie (2,228 people) in Western Australia. The IREGs with the highest proportion of people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander were North-Western New South Wales (18.6%) and Dubbo (15.7%).
In Western Australia, the IARE of Rockingham had the largest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with 3,579 individuals. The WA IARE with the highest proportion of Indigenous people was Fitzroy River, with 92.6% of its population identifying as Indigenous, followed by Warburton with 84.3%.
It is worth noting that the Indigenous population of Australia is much younger than the non-Indigenous population, with a median age of 21 years compared to 37 years for non-Indigenous Australians. Additionally, the largest Aboriginal communities – the Pitjantjatjara, the Arrernte, the Luritja, and the Warlpiri – are all from Central Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2021, the Aboriginal population in Australia was estimated to be between 800,000 and 984,000, representing 3.2% to 3.8% of the total population. By 2024, the Aboriginal population had surpassed 1 million people.
Over a third of the Aboriginal population (33.8% to 40.8%) live in major cities in Australia.
New South Wales has the largest Aboriginal population, with 339,700 people as of 2021.
The median age of Aboriginal people in Australia was 24 years as of 2021.
