Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

• 812,728 people identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin in the 2021 Census – up 25.2% (163,557 people) from 2016.
• 76.2% of the increase was in the 0-19 year age cohort.
• 43.5% of the increase was due to demographic factors – births, deaths and migration.

Overview of ABS collections used in Closing the Gap and National Government Reporting

• Over 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were spoken in 2021.
• 76,978 (9.5%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported speaking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language in 2021, up from 63,754 (9.8%) in 2016.
• Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole) was the most commonly spoken language.

• As at 30 June 2021 there were 984,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population.
• This is an increase of 185,600 people (23.2%) since 30 June 2016. 
• One-third (33.1%) of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was under 15 years of age.

• Home ownership increased to 42.3% of households in 2021, up from 39.6% in 2016.

• Four in five people (81.4%) lived in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings in 2021, up from 78.9% in 2016.

• The median weekly rent was $300 in 2021, while the median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,721.

• 812,728 people identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in 2021 – up from 649,171 in 2016
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 3.2% of the total population – up from 2.8% in 2016
• Nearly two-thirds of people lived in NSW (34.2%) and Queensland (29.2%) in 2021

• 812,728 people identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, representing 3.2 per cent of the total population.
• Of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people counted: 91.4 per cent identified as Aboriginal; 4.2 per cent identified as Torres Strait Islander; 4.4 per cent identified as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• The median age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has increased. In 2021, the median was 24 years, up from 23 years in 2016, 21 years in 2011.
• Most (89.1 per cent) people who identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander at the Indigenous status question reported an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ancestry in 2021.
• There were 167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages used at home in 2021 by 76,978 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The most widely reported language groups used were Arnhem Land and Daly River Region Languages (14.5 per cent) and Torres Strait Island Languages (12.0 per cent).

• 49% of people aged 25-34 had a certificate III level or above qualification in 2018-19, up from 28% in 2008.
• 3,708 people had a postgraduate degree level qualification in 2016, up from 682 in 2001.
• 26% of people aged 20+ years in 2014-15 wanted to study in the last 12 months but did not.

Estimates and projections of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population for 2006 to 2031. Includes projections by sex and age groups.

• Life expectancy at birth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males – 71.6 years.
• Life expectancy at birth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females – 75.6 years.
• Increased by 2.5 years and 1.9 years respectively since the period from 2010 to 2012. 

Statistics on Torres Strait Islander people living in the Torres Strait region

Data highlighting the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to celebrate the 2018 NAIDOC week theme: "Because of her, we can!"

Provides insights into the contemporary social and economic situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Trends in smoking prevalence, initiation and quitting among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population for the period 1994 to 2014–15

Outlines revisions to alcohol data by risk level from the 2002 and 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Surveys