Census of Population and Housing - Counts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Latest release

2021, 2016 and 2011 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Census counts and age distributions for selected geographies and national counts to 1971.

Reference period
2021

Key statistics

  • 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

50 years since the 1971 Census

The 2021 Census marks 50 years since the 1971 Census – the first Census to include all Australians following the 1967 Referendum. The 1967 Referendum changed the Constitution to allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be included in official Census population counts. 

In 1971, 115,953 people identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the Census. In 2021, that number grew to 812,728 people.

National snapshot

In 2021:

  • 812,728 people identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander – up from 649,171 in 2016. This represents a 25.2% increase
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 3.2% of the total population – up from 2.8% in 2016 and 2.5% in 2011.

Figure 1. Change in Census Counts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 2011-2021

Figure 1. Change in Census Counts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 2011-2021. In the 2011 Census, 548,368 people or 2.5% of the total population identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. In the 2016 Census, that number increased to 649,171 (2.8% of the total population). In the 2021 Census, 812,728 people or 3.2% of the total population identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
In the 2011 Census, 548,368 people or 2.5% of the total population identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. In the 2016 Census, that number increased to 649,171 (2.8% of the total population). In the 2021 Census, 812,728 people or 3.2% of the total population identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Indigenous status

Of the 812,728 people who identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin in 2021:

  • 91.4% identified as Aboriginal
  • 4.2% identified as Torres Strait Islander
  • 4.4% identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Where people lived

Just over one-third (34.2%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in New South Wales in 2021. A further 29.2% lived in Queensland and 10.9% lived in Western Australia.

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who lived in the Northern Territory decreased from 9.0% in 2016 to 7.5% in 2021.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 3.1 in ‘Australia’ from ‘Data downloads’.

State and Territory intercensal change

All states and territories recorded an increase in the number of people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander between 2016 and 2021. The increases between 2016 and 2021 were larger than those recorded between 2011 and 2016.

Between 2016 and 2021, the largest increases were in:

  • Australian Capital Territory (up 37.5%)
  • Victoria (up 37.4%)
  • New South Wales (up 28.6%).
Table 1. Census counts and intercensal change by State/Territory, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 2011-2021
2011 (no.)2016 (no.)2021 (no.)Change between 2011 and 2016 (%)Change between 2016 and 2021 (%)
New South Wales172,625216,176278,04325.228.6
Victoria37,99247,78865,64625.837.4
Queensland155,826186,482237,30319.727.3
South Australia30,43234,18442,56212.324.5
Western Australia69,66475,97888,6939.116.7
Tasmania19,62523,57230,18620.128.1
Northern Territory56,77958,24861,1152.64.9
Australian Capital Territory5,1846,5088,94925.537.5
Australia(a)548,368649,171812,72818.425.2

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

  a. Includes Other Territories (Jervis Bay, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island).

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 2 in ‘Australia’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Age and sex profile

Between 2016 and 2021:

  • there were minor changes in the age distribution. All age groups reported very small changes (less than 0.8 percentage points)
  • median age increased from 23 years to 24 years
  • the ratio of males to females was steady. In 2016 there were 98.5 males per 100 females. In 2021 there were 98.7 males per 100 females.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 4.1 in ‘Australia’ from ‘Data downloads’.

New South Wales

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales (NSW) increased from 216,176 in 2016 to 278,043 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 3.4% of all people in NSW in 2021.

One-third (32.7%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW lived in Greater Sydney in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

Victoria

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria increased from 47,788 in 2016 to 65,646 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 1.0% of all people in Victoria in 2021.

Half (50.2%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria lived in Greater Melbourne in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

Queensland

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland increased from 186,482 in 2016 to 237,303 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 4.6% of all people in Queensland in 2021.

One-third (32.4%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland lived in Greater Brisbane in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

The Torres Strait Region

South Australia

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia (SA) increased from 34,184 in 2016 to 42,562 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 2.4% of all people in SA in 2021.

Over half (55.8%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in SA lived in Greater Adelaide in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

Western Australia

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia (WA) increased from 75,978 in 2016 to 88,693 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 3.3% of all people in WA in 2021.

Almost half (47.4%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in WA lived in Greater Perth in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

Tasmania

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania increased from 23,572 in 2016 to 30,186 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 5.4% of all people in Tasmania in 2021.

Just over one-third (37.2%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania lived in Greater Hobart in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

Northern Territory

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory (NT) increased from 58,248 in 2016 to 61,115 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 26.3% of all people in the NT in 2021.

Nearly one-quarter (23.8%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the NT lived in Greater Darwin in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Local Government Areas

Australian Capital Territory

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) increased from 6,508 in 2016 to 8,949 in 2021.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 2.0% of all people in the ACT in 2021.

Age and sex profile

Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas and Indigenous Regions

Remoteness Areas

The Remoteness Structure of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) defines Remoteness Areas for the purpose of releasing and analysing statistics. Remoteness Areas are derived from the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia Plus (ARIA+) produced by the university of Adelaide.

Remoteness Areas divide Australia into five classes of remoteness on the basis of a measure of relative access to services. The five remoteness classes are:

  • Major Cities of Australia
  • Inner Regional Australia
  • Outer Regional Australia
  • Remote Australia
  • Very Remote Australia

More information is available in Methodology.

In 2021, the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in non-remote areas (84.7% or 688,262 people). This includes:

  • 41.1% in Major Cities of Australia (334,259 people)
  • 25.1% in Inner Regional Australia (203,876 people)
  • 18.5% in Outer Regional Australia (150,118 people).

One in seven (14.5% or 118,205 people) lived in remote areas. This includes:

  • 5.4% in Remote Australia (44,072 people)
  • 9.1% in Very Remote Australia (74,135 people).

Between 2016 and 2021:

  • The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Major Cities and Inner Regional Australia increased
  • The proportion living in Outer Regional, Remote and Very Remote Australia decreased.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 1 in ‘Remoteness Areas’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Between 2016 and 2021 all remoteness areas except Very Remote Australia recorded an increase in the number of people who identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin. The increases between 2016 and 2021 were larger than those recorded between 2011 and 2016.

Table 2. Census counts and intercensal change by Remoteness Areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 2011-2021
 2011 (no.)2016 (no.)2021 (no.)Change between 2011 and 2016 (%)Change between 2016 and 2021 (%)
Non-remote428,323526,009688,26222.830.8
Major Cities188,548242,529334,25928.637.8
Inner Regional121,293155,602203,87628.331.0
Outer Regional118,483127,874150,1187.917.4
Remote117,244119,595118,2052.0-1.2
Remote Australia39,75540,21044,0721.19.6
Very Remote Australia77.48979,38374,1352.4-6.6
Australia(a)548,368649,171812,72818.425.2

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

a. Includes Migratory, Offshore and Shipping and No usual address.

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

Data available in table 7 in ‘Remoteness Areas’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Indigenous Status

In 2021, Very Remote Australia had the highest proportion (40.6%) of people who identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, followed by Remote Australia (15.3%). 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 1.8% of all people living in Major Cities of Australia and 4.5% of all people living in Inner Regional Australia.

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

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 totals.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in table 1 in ‘Remoteness Areas’ from ‘Data downloads’.

States and territories

In 2021:

  • Over half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia (54.7%) and Victoria (52.6%) were living in Major Cities.
  • The Northern Territory had the highest proportion living in Very Remote Australia (49.9%) followed by Western Australia (19.9%).

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

.. Not applicable.

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 totals.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in table 7 in ‘Remoteness Areas’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Age and sex profile

In 2021: 

  • Non-remote areas had a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged under 25 years than remote areas (51.9% compared with 47.5%)
  • Remote areas had a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 years  (46.9% compared with 42.1%)
  • Median age for males and females was higher in remote areas (25 and 27 years respectively) than non-remote areas (22 and 24 years respectively)
  • The ratio of males to females was slightly higher in non-remote areas (98.7 males per 100 females) than remote areas (97.4 males per 100 females).

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

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 totals.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in table 5 in ‘Remoteness Areas’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Empowered Communities Regions

Empowered Communities is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led initiative that involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and governments working together to set priorities, improve services and apply funding effectively at a regional level. It spans ten regions across urban, regional and remote Australia:

  • Cape York, Queensland
  • Central Coast, New South Wales
  • East Kimberley, Western Australia
  • Far West Coast, South Australia
  • Goulburn-Murray, Victoria
  • Inner Sydney, New South Wales
  • Ngarrindjeri, South Australia
  • North East Arnhem Land (NEAL), Northern Territory
  • Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands, Central Australia
  • West Kimberley, Western Australia

See Empowered Communities for further information.

The Central Coast Empowered Community Region had the highest number (17,272) of people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander followed by Inner Sydney (12,050 people) and Cape York (10,027 people).

Table 3. Census counts by sex, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in Empowered Communities Regions, 2021
Males (no.)Females (no.)Total (no.)Sex ratio (a) (%)
Cape York4,9175,11110,02796.2
Central Coast8,5088,76517,27297.1
East Kimberley2,5562,7625,31992.5
Far West Coast SA5856391,21991.5
Goulburn Murray3,7063,8517,55896.2
Inner Sydney6,1005,95212,050102.5
Ngarrindjeri1,0579882,048107
North East Arnhem Land3,8984,0377,93696.6
NPY Lands2,0762,2684,34491.5
West Kimberley4,5164,5719,08298.8

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

  a. Sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females. The formula for calculating the sex ratio is: (number of males / number of females)*100.

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in 2 and 3 in ‘Empowered Communities Regions’ from ‘Data downloads’.

The ratio of males to females varied in each region. In Far West Coast SA and NPY lands there were 91.5 males per 100 females and in Ngarrindjeri there were 107.0 males per 100 females.

The North East Arnhem Land Empowered Community Region had the highest proportion (86.1%) of people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander followed by NPY Lands (74.5%) and East Kimberley (48.0%).

Data is based on place of usual residence. Excludes overseas visitors.

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.

Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2021.

Data available in 1 in ‘Empowered Communities Regions’ from ‘Data downloads’.

Age profile

There was slight variation in the age distribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the Empowered Communities Regions:

  • The Central Coast had the highest proportion of children aged 0-4 years (11.4%) followed by Goulburn Murray (11.1%). North East Arnhem Land (7.6%) and NPY Lands (8.0%) had the lowest
  • Goulburn Murray and Inner Sydney had the highest proportion of older people aged 75 years and over (2.5% respectively). Far West Coast SA and North East Arnhem Land had the lowest (0.9% respectively)
  • Inner Sydney had the highest median age of 28 years. Central Coast and Goulburn Murray had the youngest median age (23 years).

Age and sex distributions for each Empowered Community Region is available in ‘Empowered Communities’ in the Data Downloads section.

References

¹ Each level of the 2021-2026 Indigenous Structure includes two special purpose codes: Migratory-offshore-shipping and no usual address. These special purpose codes do not have a spatial value but are counted in the overall number of IREGs, IAREs and ILOCs. For further information on these codes, see special purpose codes in the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3.

² The overall number of LGAs includes two special purpose codes: Migratory-offshore-shipping and no usual address. These special purpose codes do not have a spatial value. For further information on these codes, see special purpose codes in the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3.

Available data

Information used in this publication is available in the Data Downloads section. Please see the table below for information about how to locate this information in the Data Downloads.

For more Census data, see Find Census data.

Australia

States and Territory

Remoteness

Empowered Communities

Data downloads

Data files

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 2075.0.

Post release changes

20/06/2023 - added 2021, 2016 and 2011 Remoteness Areas data cube and commentary.

05/04/2023 - corrected the 1971 Census count figure in '50 years since the 1971 Census'.

 

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