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Source: Whether reported using an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language at home (LNGP)
Information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples including language and ancestry
Source: Whether reported using an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language at home (LNGP)
2016 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|
New South Wales | 216,176 | 278,043 |
Victoria | 47,788 | 65,646 |
Queensland | 186,482 | 237,303 |
South Australia | 34,184 | 42,562 |
Western Australia | 75,978 | 88,693 |
Tasmania | 23,572 | 30,186 |
Northern Territory | 58,248 | 61,115 |
Australian Capital Territory | 6,508 | 8,949 |
Australia(b) | 649,171 | 812,721 |
Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from table totals.
There have been significant increases in the number of people identifying as having Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin between censuses. Increases in the population are influenced by demographic factors such as births, deaths and migration, and by non-demographic factors including changes in whether or not a person identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in each Census, the identification of children or others who have had their form completed by parents or someone else on their behalf, and the impact of communications and collection procedures. Changes in Indigenous status between censuses can affect the interpretation of Census data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is important to remember that Indigenous status is collected through self-identification and any change in how a person chooses to identify will affect the count of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Census.
Source: Indigenous status (INGP)
Articles and information papers that related to this topic include:
Housing Statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Language Statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Learn how Census data helps community groups, businesses and governments make important decisions.
First Nations radio services are a well-known and respected source of essential information, news and stories for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
Community broadcasters play an important role in keeping their listeners informed in some of the most remote parts of Australia.
First Nations Media Australia uses Census data about communities to help keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people informed.
First Nations Media Australia’s Media Operations Manager, Jennifer Nixon, an Amnatyerr, Kaytetye and Alyawarr woman, said they keep an eye on what is changing in regions and communities by keeping up to date with Census data.
“Census data shows where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are and where communities are growing. We then look at whether people in that area have enough media services to keep them informed,” Jennifer said.
Census data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages was critical when broadcasters needed to get COVID-19 health messages out to remote communities.
“Understanding how many mob speak different languages in a region was used to target public health messages to those listeners,” Jennifer said.
Jennifer wants Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to complete the Census, so First Nations radio services can provide more targeted and relevant information to their listeners across Australia.
“We want to make sure we’re looking after you, and the Census is a way of collecting information about everyone across Australia, all at once,” Jennifer said.
See more Census stories.
The questions from the 2021 Census are output into variables. To see descriptions of the variables, including data use considerations, relevant to this topic see the 2021 Census dictionary: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Other relevant data downloads can be found on the following pages:
Disability and carers - core activity need for assistance
Service with the Australian Defence Force
To access more 2021 Census data, see Search Census data or to build your own data sets, see Census data tools.
Explore other ABS data:
Table 9. Equivalised weekly household income for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households by state and territory
Households and families: The average size of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in 2011 was updated to correct a small rounding error.
Health: Data in graph for Long-term health conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people corrected.
Table 3. Housing suitability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households by state and territory