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 DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population comprises around 2.5% of the Australian population and is relatively young:
- At June 2006, the estimated resident Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was 517,000 people, or 2.5% of the total Australian population.
- In 2006, the Indigenous population had a median age of 21.0 years compared with 37.0 years for the non-Indigenous population.
- Indigenous females have higher fertility, with an estimated total fertility rate of 2.52 babies per woman, compared with 1.97 babies per woman for all Australian females.
- At June 2006, most Indigenous people lived in non-remote areas with an estimated 32% of people living in major cities, 43% in regional areas, and 25% in remote areas.
Indigenous Australians have lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians:
- At the national level for 2005–2007, the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy was 11.5 years for males and 9.7 years for females.
- Life expectancy at birth for Indigenous males is estimated to be 67.2 years, compared with 78.7 years for non-Indigenous males.
- Life expectancy at birth for Indigenous females is estimated to be 72.9 years, compared with 82.6 years for non-Indigenous females.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language and culture is being maintained:
- In 2008, 19% of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over and 13% of Indigenous children (aged 3–14 years) spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
- More Indigenous people are identifying with a clan, tribal or language group, 62% in 2008 up from 54% in 2002.
- 70% of Indigenous children (aged 3–14 years) and 63% of Indigenous people aged 15 years or over were involved in cultural events, ceremonies or organisations in 2008.
Socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous Australians continue to improve, but remain below those for non-Indigenous Australians:
- More Indigenous people completed Year 12 - 22% of people aged 15 years and over in 2008, up from 18% in 2002.
- More Indigenous people completed non-school qualifications - 40% of people aged 25–64 years in 2008, up from 32% in 2002.
- The unemployment rate for Indigenous Australians fell from 23% in 2002 to 17% in 2008, but remained more than three times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Australians (5% in 2008).
 EDUCATION
Educational attainment among Indigenous Australians continues to increase.
- Apparent school retention rates for Indigenous full-time students from Year 7/8 to Year 12 increased from 35% in 1999 to 45% in 2009.
- Nationally, the proportion of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over completing Year 12 increased from 18% in 2002 to 22% in 2008. The rate of Year 12 completion has also improved in all states and territories.
- More Indigenous people are completing non-school qualifications, 40% of 25–64 year olds in 2008, up from 32% in 2002.
- More Indigenous young people were fully engaged in work and/or study in 2008. Just over half (54%) of Indigenous young people aged 15–24 years were either working full-time, studying full-time, or both working and studying; up from 47% in 2002.
Higher levels of educational attainment are associated with better health outcomes:
- In 2008, 59% of Indigenous people aged 15–34 years who had completed Year 12 reported excellent/very good self-assessed health compared with 49% of those who had left school early (Year 9 or below). For Indigenous people aged 35 years and over, the rates were 43% and 25% respectively.
- The likelihood of smoking also decreased with higher levels of schooling, 34% of Indigenous people aged 15–34 years who had completed Year 12 were current daily smokers compared with 68% of those who had left school early. For Indigenous people aged 35 years and over, the rates were 36% and 48% respectively.
 ADULT HEALTH
Indigenous Australians have poorer self-assessed health and were more likely to report higher levels of psychological distress than non-Indigenous Australians:
- In 2008, 44% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over reported excellent/very good health and 22% reported fair/poor health.
- Indigenous people were twice as likely as non-Indigenous people to report fair/poor health. This gap has remained unchanged since 2002.
- Nearly one-third (32%) of Indigenous people aged 18 years and over had experienced high/very high levels of psychological distress, which was more than twice the rate for non-Indigenous people.
Both tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are major health risk factors. Latest results show a decline in Indigenous smoking rates, while alcohol consumption remains steady:
- Between 2002 and 2008, the proportion of Indigenous current daily smokers fell from 49% to 45%, representing the first significant decline in smoking rates since 1994. However, Indigenous people remained twice as likely as non-Indigenous people to be current daily smokers.
- Around one in six Indigenous people aged 15 years and over (17%) drank alcohol at chronic risky/high risk levels, similar to the rate reported in 2002 (15%).
 MOTHERS' AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH
There are a number of positive findings in relation to maternal health and factors affecting childhood development including high rates of breastfeeding and physical activity among Indigenous children:
- In 2008, the majority of birth-mothers of Indigenous children aged 0–3 years (87%) had regular check-ups while pregnant (at least one every two months).
- According to the 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, three-quarters (76%) of Indigenous children aged 0–3 years had been breastfed.
- Three out of every four Indigenous children aged 4–14 years (74%) were physically active for at least 60 minutes everyday, though the proportion was higher for those who lived in remote areas (84%).
- The proportion of children aged 0–14 years who lived in a household where members usually smoked inside the house decreased from 29% in 2004–05, to 21% in 2008.
- Most Indigenous children aged 0–14 years brushed their teeth at least once a day (71%). However, 25% of children aged 10–14 years had a tooth or teeth filled because of dental decay and 20% of children aged 5–9 years had experienced dental decay.
- Eye or sight problems and ear or hearing problems were experienced by 7% and 9% of Indigenous children aged 0–14 years respectively in 2008.
This page last updated 21 July 2011
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