1,669
Higher than 66% of indigenous area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Western Downs · Indigenous Area
First Nations in Western Downs
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — how many people identify as First Nations, and how they fare on age, schooling, work, income and language. From the ABS 2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile; the ABS notes these counts are an undercount.
A typical age of just 21 years defines the First Nations community in Western Downs, making it noticeably younger than both the state and national figures. There are 1,669 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here, which is more than about 66% of similar areas.
1,669
- 1–1: 8 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 1 area
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–9: 0 areas
- 9–12: 3 areas
- 12–18: 0 areas
- 18–25: 1 area
- 25–36: 0 areas
- 36–52: 1 area
- 52–74: 0 areas
- 74–106: 0 areas
- 106–151: 5 areas
- 151–217: 5 areas
- 217–310: 9 areas
- 310–444: 33 areas
- 444–636: 49 areas
- 636–910: 60 areas
- 910–1,302: 78 areas
- 1,302–1,864: 44 areas
- 1,864–2,668: 53 areas
- 2,668–3,819: 28 areas
- 3,819–5,466: 23 areas
- 5,466–7,823: 15 areas
- 7,823–11,198: 6 areas
- 11,198–16,027: 6 areas
- 16,027–22,940: 1 area
All indigenous area areas, 2021. The marker is Western Downs — higher than 66% of areas.
| Western Downs | 1,669 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population is particularly young, with a typical age of 21. This is a little younger than the Queensland figure of 23 and noticeably younger than the Australian average of 24.
21 yrs
Younger than 93% of indigenous area areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Year 12 completion for First Nations people sits at 32.8%. This is around the middle for similar areas, but it is well below the national figure of 37% and far below Queensland's 43.6%.
32.8%
Higher than 51% of indigenous area areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Work
Engagement with the labour force.
The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 11.8%. This is about the same as the Australian figure of 12.3% and a little below the Queensland rate of 13.3%.
11.8%
Lower than 56% of indigenous area areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Typical household income for First Nations residents is $1,346, which is a little below the national figure of $1,507. Personal income is about the same as the national and state figures, at $535.
$535
Higher than 50% of indigenous area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,346
Lower than 53% of indigenous area areas.
Median total weekly income for households with one or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.
Language & culture
Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Only 2.4% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language. This is much lower than most similar areas and well below the national figure of 12.3%.
2.4%
Lower than 89% of indigenous area areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Western Downs
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Western Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/iare/IARE306018/western-downs/topic/first-nations