Lexi Webster
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, also known as First Nations people, are the native population of Australia. They are not one group but hundreds of groups with distinct languages, histories, and cultural traditions. In 2021, there were an estimated 984,000 First Nations people in Australia, representing around 3.8% of the total population. This was an increase from 2.4% in 2001, 2.5% in 2006, 3.0% in 2011, and 3.3% in 2016. The Indigenous population had declined to a low of 74,000 in 1933, but by 1995, numbers had returned to pre-colonisation levels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | 983,700-984,000 |
| Percentage of the total Australian population | 3.8% |
| Median age | 24 years |
| Percentage of people under 15 years of age | 33.1%-34% |
| Percentage living in major cities | 38% |
| Percentage living in remote and very remote areas | 15.4%-18% |
| State with the highest population | New South Wales (339,700-34.5%) |
| State with the second-highest population | Queensland (273,100-27.8%) |
| State with the lowest population | Australian Capital Territory (1.0%) |
| State with the highest proportion of Indigenous residents | Northern Territory (30.8%-31%) |
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What You'll Learn
Aboriginal Australians' genetic makeup
The genetic makeup of Aboriginal Australians is a complex and evolving area of study. The Aboriginal Australians are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, collectively referred to as "Australasians". They are also closely related to the Ancient Ancestral South Indians, the Andamanese people, and East Asian peoples.
Genetic studies have revealed that Aboriginal Australians descended from an Eastern Eurasian population wave during the Initial Upper Paleolithic period, populating the Asia-Pacific region via a southern route dispersal. This wave expanded into South and Southeast Asia and then diverged into various groups, including the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians and Ancient Ancestral South Indians. This divergence is estimated to have occurred 62,000 to 75,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest continuous populations outside Africa.
Aboriginal Australians share genetic inheritance with ancient Asians, but not with more modern peoples. They have some similarities with Papuans, but have been isolated from Southeast Asia for millennia. This isolation is attributed to the rising sea levels that separated Australia from New Guinea around 10,000 years ago, as well as the possible early flooding of the Carpentaria basin, which left an uninhabitable strip of land connecting the two regions.
The most common Y-chromosome haplogroups among Aboriginal Australians are C1b2, followed by haplogroups S and M, which are also prevalent among Papuans. A 2001 study of the Warlpiri people in the Northern Territory concluded that they descended from ancient Asians, reinforcing the idea of ancient Aboriginal isolation. Additionally, genetic studies have shown that Aboriginal Australians have a lower proportion of European alleles compared to Asians, indicating a multiple dispersal model.
In the 2021 Census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprised 3.8% of Australia's population, with a total population of 983,700. Over a third of this population lived in major cities, while the remaining lived in inner and outer regional, remote, and very remote areas of Australia.
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Aboriginal Australians' population history
Aboriginal Australians are believed to have descended from a population wave that migrated from the Persian plateau during the Initial Upper Paleolithic period. They are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, collectively referred to as "Australasians". There is evidence that Aboriginal Australians may carry ancestry from an earlier human diaspora that originated 75,000 to 62,000 years ago.
The ancestors of present-day Aboriginal Australians migrated from Southeast Asia by sea during the Pleistocene epoch, making them among the first in the world to complete sea voyages. They settled in large sections of the Australian continental shelf when sea levels were lower, and Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea were part of the same landmass, known as Sahul. As sea levels rose, the people on the Australian mainland and nearby islands became isolated.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the ancestors of today's Aboriginal Australians first migrated to the continent 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, and genetic studies suggest that the peopling of Australia happened between 43,000 and 60,000 years ago. They may have one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth, with oral histories passed down by the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land and ancient rock art that shows their culture's endurance.
At the time of British settlement, there were over 200 distinct Aboriginal languages spoken across Australia. Aboriginal societies were generally mobile or semi-nomadic, moving with the changing seasons and food availability. However, some groups had permanent settlements and practised agriculture. The greatest population density was in the southern and eastern regions of the continent, particularly in the River Murray valley.
The arrival of British colonists had a devastating impact on Indigenous Australian populations, with introduced diseases and violent conflict causing a sharp decline in numbers. Protectionist policies aimed at segregating and controlling Aboriginal communities further exacerbated the situation. The Indigenous population reached a low of 74,000 in 1933, but recovery began in the 1930s, and by 1995, population numbers had returned to pre-colonisation levels. In 2010, there were around 563,000 Indigenous Australians, and this number continued to grow.
In the 2021 census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprised 3.8% of Australia's population, with a total of 983,700 individuals. The median age was 24 years, and one-third were under 15 years old. New South Wales had the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, followed by Queensland and Western Australia. Over a third of this population lived in major cities, and the remaining lived in inner and outer regional, remote, and very remote areas.
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Aboriginal Australians' languages
Aboriginal Australians make up about 3.8% of the country's population, according to the 2021 census. This amounts to 983,700 people, with the greatest population density in the southern and eastern regions of the continent, particularly in the River Murray valley. New South Wales has the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, followed by Queensland and Western Australia.
The Aboriginal Australian languages are a unique language group with no known genetic connections to non-Australian languages. At the time of European contact, it is estimated that there were between 200 and 300 distinct Aboriginal languages spoken in Australia and a few small offshore islands. However, many of these languages have become extinct due to the encroachment of colonial society on Indigenous cultures.
In the late 18th century, there were over 250 distinct First Nations Peoples social groupings, each with their own language or variety. By the early 21st century, fewer than 150 Aboriginal languages remained in daily use, with the majority being highly endangered. As of 2020, 90% of the barely more than 100 surviving languages are considered endangered. Only 13 languages are still being transmitted to children, and these are located in the most isolated areas.
Most Australian languages belong to the Pama-Nyungan family, although this classification is disputed by some linguists. The Pama-Nyungan family includes languages such as Tiwi and Anindilyakwa, spoken on small offshore islands, as well as the Western Torres Strait language. The remaining languages, spoken in the far north, are classified as "non-Pama-Nyungan", although this does not imply a valid genealogical relationship.
There has been a recent resurgence of ethnic pride among Aboriginal peoples, and government programs have been established to assist them in maintaining and becoming literate in their languages. Bilingual education has been successfully implemented in some communities.
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Aboriginal Australians' living standards
Aboriginal Australians, also known as Indigenous Australians, are the native people of Australia. They share a complex genetic history, with evidence suggesting that they have genetic inheritance from ancient Asian peoples. They are most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, and are collectively referred to as "Australasians".
In the 2021 census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprised around 3.8% of Australia's population, with a total of about 983,700 individuals. The median age of this population was 24 years, with a relatively younger age structure compared to the non-Indigenous population. New South Wales had the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, followed by Queensland and Western Australia. These three states accounted for almost three-quarters of the total Indigenous population.
Historically, Indigenous Australians have faced significant social and economic inequalities due to a legacy of dispossession, injustice, and discriminatory policies. They are over-represented in lower income bands, with 35% of Indigenous adults living in households in the bottom 20% of household income distribution in 2021. The median personal income for Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over in the same year was $540 per week, with 43% earning under $500. This disparity is even more pronounced in remote areas, where Indigenous people comprise a larger proportion of the population and face additional challenges.
The overall low income of Aboriginal people has been widely acknowledged, and it is associated with various factors such as lower educational attainment and employment opportunities. Health surveys indicate that Indigenous Australians in rural and isolated areas experience higher rates of adverse health outcomes, including low birth weight, infections, mortality, psychological distress, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, inadequate living conditions and overcrowding contribute to the health disparities faced by Indigenous peoples in remote communities.
While extensive government funding and programs have been dedicated to improving Indigenous well-being, the social and economic inequalities persist. The recent resurgence in the Indigenous population may indicate a recovery towards pre-colonial population levels, but the legacy of historical injustices continues to impact the living standards of Aboriginal Australians.
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Aboriginal Australians' representation in the justice system
Aboriginal Australians made up 3.8% of Australia's population as of the 2021 census. They have a long history of facing segregation and control, with the Commonwealth government agreeing to move towards assimilation policies in 1937, which aimed to integrate Aboriginal persons into white communities. This led to an increase in the number of children being forcibly removed from their homes and placed with white families or institutions.
Today, Aboriginal Australians continue to face over-representation in the justice system. In 2020, the Aboriginal imprisonment rate in New South Wales was nearly 10 times the non-Aboriginal rate. This disparity is even more pronounced among youth, with Aboriginal youth in Victoria being 14 times more likely to be under justice supervision compared to non-Aboriginal youth in 2016-17.
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) found that the high rates of deaths in custody were directly related to underlying factors such as poor health, low employment and education levels, dysfunctional families and communities, and past government policies. These factors have resulted in a disadvantaged and unequal position for Aboriginal people in wider society, leading to increased interactions with the criminal justice system.
To address this issue, the Australian government has implemented the Closing the Gap framework, which aims to reduce disadvantages and achieve equal life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The framework includes targets to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal adults and young people in the criminal justice system by at least 15% and 30%, respectively.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2021, Indigenous Australians make up 3.8% of the country's population. This equates to around 984,000 people.
New South Wales is home to 339,700 Indigenous Australians, making it the state with the highest Indigenous population.
The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous people relative to its total population size, with around 30.8% of its population identifying as Indigenous.
The Indigenous population of Australia reached a low of 74,000 in 1933.
There were around 563,000 Indigenous Australians in 2010.
