Ruqayyah Snyder
As of 2021, there were 983,700 Indigenous Australians, comprising 3.8% of the country's total population. The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous Australians relative to total population size, with 30.8% of its residents identifying as Indigenous. However, in terms of absolute numbers, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia combined are home to three-quarters of the Indigenous population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Indigenous population in Australia | 983,700-984,000 |
| Percentage of total Australian population | 3.8% |
| Median age | 24 |
| Percentage under 15 years old | 33.1% |
| Percentage living in major cities | 33.9% |
| Percentage living in inner regional Australia | 24.8% |
| Percentage living in outer regional Australia | 19% |
| Percentage living in remote Australia | 6% |
| Percentage living in very remote Australia | 9.4% |
| State/Territory with the highest proportion of Indigenous people | Northern Territory (30.8%) |
| State with the largest number of Indigenous people | New South Wales |
| Territory with the largest number of Indigenous people | Northern Territory |
| State with the lowest number of Indigenous people | Australian Capital Territory |
| State with the second-lowest number of Indigenous people | South Australia |
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What You'll Learn
The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous people
The Northern Territory has a large Indigenous population, with over 983,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recorded in the 2021 Census, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population. The median age of the Indigenous population in the Northern Territory is 24 years, with one-third (33.1%) under 15 years of age. This is in contrast to the non-Indigenous population, which has a median age of 38 years and only 17.9% under 15.
The Northern Territory's Indigenous population maintains strong connections to culture, language, and traditional lands. They contribute significantly to environmental management, economic development, and cultural identity. The ongoing colonisation of Australia has negatively impacted many Indigenous communities, and the federal government has committed funds to address the disadvantages faced by these communities.
The Northern Territory's Indigenous population has a relatively young age structure, with larger proportions of people aged 29 and under compared to the non-Indigenous population. The Indigenous population is also more likely to live in remote and very remote areas, and only a minority (around one in five) live in these remote regions.
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New South Wales has the largest number of Indigenous people
New South Wales is one of the eastern states of Australia where almost two-thirds of Indigenous people live. More specifically, over a third of the Indigenous population (333,900 people) lived in three regions: Central and North Coast, New South Wales (116,100 people), followed by Brisbane, Queensland (70,200 people), and Perth, Western Australia (66,300 people).
The number of Indigenous Australians has been increasing over the years, with the 2021 Census recording an increase in the number of people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in all states and territories. Between 2016 and 2021, the largest increases were in New South Wales (up 28.6%).
The Indigenous population in Australia has a relatively young age structure, with larger proportions of people aged 29 and under. As of 30 June 2021, an estimated one-third (34%) of the Indigenous population was under 15, compared with 17% of non-Indigenous people in the same age group. The median age of Indigenous people has also been increasing, from 21 in 2011 to 24 in 2021.
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Queensland has the second-largest Indigenous population
Queensland, a state in northeastern Australia, has the second-largest Indigenous population. Queensland is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It has a population of over 5.5 million, with ten of Australia's thirty largest cities located in the state. The capital and largest city in the state is Brisbane, which is Australia's third-largest city. Queensland was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians, with the Torres Strait Islands inhabited by Torres Strait Islanders. The Aboriginal ownership of Queensland is thought to predate 50,000 BC, and early migrants are believed to have arrived via boat or land bridge across the Torres Strait.
In 2021, 812,728 people self-identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin in the Australian Census, 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. Queensland has a significant Indigenous population, with the median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the state increasing over the last decade. In 2021, the median age was 23 years, up from 22 years in 2016 and 20 years in 2011. The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 75 years and over in 2021 was larger than in 2011 (1.6% compared to 1.0%).
The Queensland Local Government Area (LGA) with the most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was Brisbane, followed by Moreton Bay and Townsville. In 2021, 52.4% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland were aged under 25 years, down from 56.5% in 2011. In terms of housing, in 2021, most (81.2%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland lived in appropriately sized dwellings, with no overcrowding. As for education, in 2021, 3.0% of people aged 25 years and over in the Indigenous population in Queensland were attending university or other higher education institutions, up from 2.3% in 2011.
Queensland has a notable Indigenous population and has received internal migration from other states and territories, contributing to its overall population growth. The state has a diverse geographical landscape, featuring tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges, and beaches, along with semi-arid and desert regions.
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Western Australia has the third-largest Indigenous population
The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous Australians relative to total population size (30.8%). The Australian Capital Territory, on the other hand, has the smallest proportion, with only 0.9% to 1.0% of Australia's Indigenous population.
The Indigenous population of Australia has been increasing over the years. The 2016 Census recorded 812,728 people who self-identified as Indigenous Australians, representing 3.2% of the total population. This number increased to 983,700 in the 2021 Census, comprising 3.8% of the total population. This increase is partly attributed to changing identification in the Census and other demographic factors.
The Indigenous population of Australia consists of two distinct groups: Aboriginal Australians from the mainland and its islands, including Tasmania, and the Torres Strait Islanders from the seas between Queensland and Papua New Guinea. The median age of Indigenous Australians is 24 years, and one-third (33.1%) are under 15 years old.
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Tasmania has the smallest Indigenous population
According to the 2016 Australian census, the state of Queensland has the largest Indigenous population in Australia, with 232,668 people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This represents 5.2% of Queensland's total population. The census also revealed that the Indigenous population is growing at a faster rate than the non-Indigenous population, with a 29.5% increase in the number of Indigenous Australians between 2006 and 2016, compared to a 13.4% increase for non-Indigenous Australians.
While Queensland is home to the largest number of Indigenous people, the Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous residents relative to its total population. As of 2016, there were 71,905 Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, comprising 30.3% of the state's total population. This is significantly higher than any other state or territory in Australia.
In contrast, Tasmania has the smallest Indigenous population, both in terms of total numbers and as a proportion of the state's population. As of the 2016 census, there were only 23,158 Indigenous people in Tasmania, representing just 4.4% of the state's total population. This is not surprising given Tasmania's history of colonial settlement and its devastating impact on the local Indigenous communities. The "Black War" of the 1820s and 1830s resulted in a significant loss of life for the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and led to the removal and dispersal of many survivors. By the late 1830s, the Indigenous population of Tasmania had been drastically reduced, and those who remained were largely confined to isolated reserves.
Despite this tragic history, the Indigenous population of Tasmania has shown resilience and gradual growth over time. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of Indigenous people in Tasmania increased by 17.5%, which is a positive sign. Various initiatives and programs have been implemented in recent years to support and promote the cultural revival and well-being of Tasmania's Indigenous communities. These include efforts to protect and revive Indigenous languages, promote cultural heritage, and improve access to education and healthcare services.
The low proportion of Indigenous people in Tasmania compared to other states and territories highlights the unique challenges and opportunities facing these communities. It also underscores the importance of continued reconciliation efforts, cultural preservation, and the promotion of Indigenous rights and well-being. By recognizing and addressing the specific needs and aspirations of Tasmania's Indigenous populations, there is an opportunity to foster a more inclusive and culturally rich society that values and celebrates the diversity of Australia's First Nations peoples.
Tasmania's small Indigenous population also serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for truth-telling and reconciliation. It is important to acknowledge and learn from the historical injustices inflicted upon Indigenous communities, not only in Tasmania but throughout Australia. By doing so, we can work towards a more just and equitable future for all Australians, where the unique cultural heritage and contributions of Indigenous peoples are respected and valued.
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Frequently asked questions
The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous people relative to total population size (30.8%), followed by New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia, which are home to a combined 74.5% of the Indigenous population.
As of 30 June 2021, there were 983,700 Indigenous Australians, representing 3.8% of the total population. This is an increase from the 2016 estimate of 798,400, which represented 3.3% of the population.
The Indigenous population of Australia was poorly covered in historical records. The recorded Indigenous population declined to approximately 93,000 by 1900, but this was only a partial count, as desert Aboriginal peoples were not counted at all until the 1930s.
The Indigenous population in Australia has a relatively young age structure, with a median age of 24 years and one-third of the population under 15 years old. Additionally, almost two-thirds of Indigenous people live in Australia's eastern states, and 40% live without two or more essentials for a decent standard of living.
