At the 2021 Australian census, 278,043 people in New South Wales were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. New South Wales is Australia’s most populated state, also housing Australia’s largest city, Sydney. By comparison, Australia’s second largest state, Victoria, was home to around 66 thousand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

There are around 800,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, which represents just over three percent of the Australian population. Indigenous people are often referred to as Australia's first people or the traditional custodians of the land in recognition of their ancestors inhabiting Australia more than 60,000 years ago. Australia's Indigenous peoples are represented by two distinct groups. Aboriginal people come from the Australian mainland. Torres Strait Islander people inhabit the group of Islands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea and represent less than 40,000 people.

Closing the gap

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience significantly poorer health and wellbeing outcomes when compared to their non-Indigenous Australian counterparts. The average life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is around eight years shorter than that of the non-Indigenous population. In education, Indigenous Australians are also underrepresented, but attendance rates are improving and in 2019, full-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students numbered well over 200,000 people.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resident population in Australia was forecasted to increase to close to 1.1 million by 2031, based on 2016 population estimates. The forecasted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resident population for 2023 was approximately 919 thousand people.

This dataset presents the estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, non-Indigenous and total populations of Australia for the year ending at 30 June 2016, based on results of the 2016 Census of Population and Housing. The data is by Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) regions following the 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia comprises people who are of Aboriginal origin, Torres Strait Islander origin or both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin. The Commonwealth definition of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is: a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who; identifies as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin and who is; accepted as such by the community with which the person associates. This data is Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data (catalogue number: 3238.0.55.001) used with permission from the ABS. For more information please visit the ABS Explanatory Notes. Please note: AURIN has spatially enabled the original data. Where data was not published, "np" in the original data, the records have been set to null

In 2021, the total population of Aboriginal people in Australia was close to 743 thousand. By comparison, the total number of Torres Strait Islander people was just under 34 thousand. The Indigenous peoples of Australia are differentiated by the area of Australia their ancestors inhabited and their distinctive languages, cultural practices, and beliefs. There is much diversity within these two main indigenous groups however; Aboriginal people come from the Australian mainland and Tasmania, and Torres Strait Islander people are associated with the string of islands between northern Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

The share of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia in 2019 was highest in New South Wales with around 33 percent of the indigenous population in Australia living there. Comparatively, the Australian Capital Territory accounted for only one percent of the country's indigenous population in that year.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population projections

The data is presented by the ACT Government for the purpose of disseminating information for the benefit of the public. The ACT Government has taken great care to ensure the information in this report is as correct and accurate as possible. Whilst the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information. Differences in statistical methods and calculations, data updates and guidelines may result in the information contained in this report varying from previously published information.

This dataset presents a range of data items sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The data is derived from the November 2024 release of Data by region. Individual data items present the latest reference year data available on Data by region. This layer presents data by Local Government Areas (LGA), 2021.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples theme is based on groupings of data within Data by region. Concepts, sources and methods for each dataset can be found on the Data by region methodology page.

Topics in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples theme include:

Estimated resident population Language (Census) Engagement in employment, education or training (Census) Labour force status (Census) Unpaid assistance to person with disability (Census) Unpaid childcare (Census) Voluntary work (Census) Tenure type (Census)

The Closing the Gap topics that are informed by Census data are included in the update:

Target 5: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20-24 years attaining Year 12 or an equivalent qualification to 96 per cent. Target 6: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70 per cent. Target 7: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15-24 years who are in employment, education or training to 67 per cent. Target 8: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 years who are employed to 62 per cent. Target 9A: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88 per cent.

When analysing these statistics:

Time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope, and coverage can differ across collections.
Some data values have been randomly adjusted or suppressed to avoid the release of confidential data, this means

    some small cells have been randomly set to zero
    care should be taken when interpreting cells with small numbers or zeros.

Data and geography references

Source data publication: Data by region Geographic boundary information: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 Further information: Data by region methodology, reference period 2011-24 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Made possible by the Digital Atlas of Australia

The Digital Atlas of Australia is a key Australian Government initiative being led by Geoscience Australia, highlighted in the Data and Digital Government Strategy. It brings together trusted datasets from across government in an interactive, secure, and easy-to-use geospatial platform. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is working in partnership with Geoscience Australia to establish a set of web services to make ABS data available in the Digital Atlas of Australia.

Contact the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Email geography@abs.gov.au if you have any questions or feedback about this web service.
Subscribe to get updates on ABS web services and geospatial products.

Privacy at the Australian Bureau of Statistics Read how the ABS manages personal information - ABS privacy policy.

Full-time equivalent enrolments of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students by type of school, collected as part of the annual enrolment data collection in Term 3, from 2012. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students – students who have identified to be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin. The term ‘origin’ is considered to relate to people’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent and for some, but not all, their cultural identify.

This dataset presents data on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Peoples available from the ABS Data by Region statistics. This release of Data by Region presents various data for 2011-2016 and Census of Population and Housing data for 2011 and 2016 and is based on the Statistical Area 3 (SA3) 2016 boundaries. The dataset includes information the topics of demographics, language, culture, education and health. Data by Region contains a standard set of data for each region type, depending on the availability of statistics for particular geographies. Data are sourced from a wide variety of collections, both ABS and non-ABS. When analysing these statistics, care needs to be taken as time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope and coverage can differ across collections. Where available, data have been presented as a time series - to enable users to assess changes over time. However, when looked at on a period to period basis, some series may sometimes appear volatile. When analysing the data, users are encouraged to consider the longer term behaviour of the series, where this extra information is available. For more information please visit the Explanatory Notes. AURIN has made the following changes to the original data:

Spatially enabled the original data with the ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) SA3 2016 dataset.

Some data values in Data by Region have been randomly adjusted or suppressed to avoid the release of confidential details.

Where data was not available, not available for publication, nil or rounded to zero in the original data, it has been set to null.

Columns and rows that did not contain any values in the original data have been removed.

This dataset presents data on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Peoples available from the ABS Data by Region statistics. This release of Data by Region presents various data for 2011-2019 and Census of Population and Housing data for 2011 and 2016 and is based on the Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) 2016 boundaries. The dataset includes information the topics of demographics, language, culture, education and health.

Data by Region contains a standard set of data for each region type, depending on the availability of statistics for particular geographies. Data are sourced from a wide variety of collections, both ABS and non-ABS. When analysing these statistics, care needs to be taken as time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope and coverage can differ across collections. Where available, data have been presented as a time series - to enable users to assess changes over time. However, when looked at on a period to period basis, some series may sometimes appear volatile. When analysing the data, users are encouraged to consider the longer term behaviour of the series, where this extra information is available.

For more information please visit the Explanatory Notes.

AURIN has made the following changes to the original data:

• Spatially enabled the original data with the ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) GCCSA 2016 dataset.

• Some data values in Data by Region have been randomly adjusted or suppressed to avoid the release of confidential details.

• Where data was not available, not available for publication, nil or rounded to zero in the original data, it has been set to null.

• Columns and rows that did not contain any values in the original data have been removed.

The number of Aboriginal people and their proportion of the total Aboriginal population for 5 year age groups to 65+, 2015. Aboriginal as used in this workbook refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (all entries that were classified as not shown, not published or not applicable were assigned a null value; no data was provided for Maralinga Tjarutja LGA, in South Australia). The data is by LGA 2015 profile (based on the LGA 2011 geographic boundaries). For more information on Indigenous population estimates refer to: http://phidu.torrens.edu.au/. Source: Compiled by PHIDU based on data developed by Prometheus Information Pty Ltd, under a contract with the Australian Government Department of Health.

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Health Atlas data presenting the latest Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Social Health Atlas indicators are available by Indigenous Areas, including totals for the Capital cities/ Rest of States/Territories, States/ Territories and Australia. Note: The Department of Health has approved for release a set of population estimates by Indigenous status for 2011, and projections to 2016 by Statistical Areas Level 2, Indigenous Region and Primary Health Network. To obtain these data, please contact us. Attribution: Torrens University Australia

ABS Census data extract - G01 SELECTED PERSON CHARACTERISTICS BY SEX providing a breakdown of population at Suburb level and by:age groupsaboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons (a)birthplace (b) and (c)language used at home (d)age of persons attending an education institution (e)highest year of school completed (f)count of persons in occupied private dwellings (g)Count of persons in other dwellings (g) (h)This data is based on place of usual residence unless otherwise stated.(a) Applicable to persons who are of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.(b) Includes 'Australia', 'Australia (includes External Territories), nfd', 'Norfolk Island' and 'Australian External Territories, nec'.(c) Includes 'Inadequately described', and 'At sea'. Excludes not stated.(d) Includes 'Inadequately described' and 'Non-verbal, so described'. Excludes not stated.(e) Comprises 'Preschool', 'Primary' (including Government, Catholic, Other non-Government, Primary not further defined), 'Secondary' (including Government, Catholic, Other non-Government, Secondary not further defined) and 'Tertiary' (including vocational education (including TAFE and private training providers), university or other higher education, Tertiary not further defined). Excludes persons who did not state which type of education institution they were attending.(f) Applicable to persons aged 15 years and over.(g) Data is based on place of enumeration. Excludes overseas visitors.(h) Includes 'Visitors only' and 'Other non-classifiable' households, 'Non-private dwellings' and 'Migratory, off-shore and shipping' SA1s.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.

The data set provides a summary of regional Western Australia population by Regional Development Commission boundaries, and by regional centres. Additional information is provided on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population by Regional Development Commission boundaries.

Local Government Area (LGA) based data for Age of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 1986 Census of Population and Housing. Census counts were based on place of usual residence which excludes overseas visitors, Australians overseas, and adjustments for under-enumeration. The data is by LGA 1986 boundaries. Periodicity: 5-Yearly.

This data is used with permission from the ABS. The tabular data was supplied to AURIN by the Australian Data Archives. The cleaned, high resolution 1986 geographic boundaries (cat. no. 1261.0.30.001) are available from Data.gov.au.

For more information please refer to the 1986 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2102.0).

Local Government Area (LGA) based data for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 1986 Census of Population and Housing. Census counts were based on …Show full descriptionLocal Government Area (LGA) based data for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 1986 Census of Population and Housing. Census counts were based on place of usual residence which excludes overseas visitors, Australians overseas, and adjustments for under-enumeration. The data is by LGA 1986 boundaries. Periodicity: 5-Yearly. This data is used with permission from the ABS. The tabular data was supplied to AURIN by the Australian Data Archives. The cleaned, high resolution 1986 geographic boundaries (cat. no. 1261.0.30.001) are available from "https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/50514875-5255-4428-a28d-d1d9c557f77b"target="_blank">Data.gov.au. For more information please refer to the 1986 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2102.0). Copyright attribution: Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - Australian Bureau of Statistics, (1988): ; accessed from AURIN on 12/3/2020. Licence type: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia (CC BY 2.5 AU)

Indigenous Locations (ILOC) represent small Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (urban and rural) with a minimum population of about 90 people. It is part of the Indigenous Structure, a geographical standard for the publication and analysis of statistics about the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1s) aggregate to Indigenous Locations which aggregate to Indigenous Areas, and they in turn aggregate to Indigenous Regions. At each hierarchical level, all of Geographic Australia is covered without gaps or overlaps. The boundaries in the Indigenous Structure are built from whole SA1s. SA1s are designed with reference to language groups, information from people with local knowledge of certain communities, and transport networks to identify both remote and non-remote discrete communities and urban areas with a high usual resident Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. In some cases, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that are too small to be identified separately have been combined with other nearby and associated communities.Data and geography referencesSource data publication: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3Geographic boundary information: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 - Indigenous LocationsFurther information: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 - Indigenous StructureSource: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)Made possible by the Digital Atlas of AustraliaThe Digital Atlas of Australia is a key Australian Government initiative being led by Geoscience Australia, highlighted in the Data and Digital Government Strategy. It brings together trusted datasets from across government in an interactive, secure, and easy-to-use geospatial platform. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is working in partnership with Geoscience Australia to establish a set of web services to make ABS data available in the Digital Atlas of Australia.Contact the Australian Bureau of StatisticsEmail geography@abs.gov.au if you have any questions or feedback about this web service.Subscribe to get updates on ABS web services and geospatial products.Privacy at the Australian Bureau of StatisticsRead how the ABS manages personal information - ABS privacy policy.

SA4 based data for Total Personal Income (Weekly) by Sex for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Persons, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Profile (ATSIP), 2016 Census. Count of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons aged 15 years and over. The data is by SA4 2016 boundaries. Periodicity: 5-Yearly. Note: 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. For more information visit the data source: http://www.abs.gov.au/census.

SA3 based data for Core Activity Need for Assistance by Age by Sex for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Persons, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Profile (ATSIP), 2016 Census. Count of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons and whether they have a profound or severe disability. People with a profound or severe disability are defined as those people needing help or assistance in one or more of the three core activity areas of self-care, mobility and communication, because of a disability, long-term health condition (lasting six months or more) or old age. The data is by SA3 2016 boundaries. Periodicity: 5-Yearly. Note: 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. For more information visit the data source: http://www.abs.gov.au/census.

SA4 based data for Core Activity Need for Assistance by Age by Sex for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Persons, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Profile (ATSIP), 2016 Census. Count of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons and whether they have a profound or severe disability. People with a profound or severe disability are defined as those people needing help or assistance in one or more of the three core activity areas of self-care, mobility and communication, because of a disability, long-term health condition (lasting six months or more) or old age. The data is by SA4 2016 boundaries. Periodicity: 5-Yearly. Note: 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. For more information visit the data source: http://www.abs.gov.au/census.