Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population

At the 2021 Census, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population across Australia was 3.2%. The share of people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander on the Census form.

Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

It is the foundational measure of where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities live, and the basis for First Nations service planning.

Worth knowing: Counts are affected by willingness to identify and by people recorded as "not stated"; the ABS treats Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counts as an undercount.

Across the 2,385 SA2 areas with data, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population ranges from 0.0% to 95.9%, with a typical (median) area at 2.1%. Most areas cluster toward the lower end, with a smaller number of much higher areas stretching the range.

Yes — Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population is measured consistently enough to compare across the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, so the trend over time is meaningful. Nationally it has risen from 2.5% in 2011 to 3.2% in 2021.

Use the interactive map to compare Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population down to block (sa1) and statistical area 2 (sa2) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.