7,375
Higher than 89% of indigenous area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Townsville · Indigenous Area
First Nations in Townsville
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 strong presence of 7,375 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people shapes daily life in Townsville. This community is notably young, with a typical age of just 23 years, and shows high rates of school completion compared to the rest of the country.
7,375
- 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 Townsville — higher than 89% of areas.
| Townsville | 7,375 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
Townsville is home to one of the largest First Nations populations for its area. The typical age is 23, which is lower than most areas and a little younger than the national figure of 24.
23 yrs
Younger than 71% 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.
School completion is a standout here, with 47.5% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far above the Australian figure of 37% and well above the Queensland average.
47.5%
Higher than 86% 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.
Finding work is more challenging in this area, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 15.9%. This is higher than most similar areas and well above the national rate of 12.3%.
15.9%
Higher than 71% 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 personal incomes are about the same as the national figure at $564. However, household incomes of $1,395 are a little below the Queensland average of $1,517.
$564
Higher than 58% of indigenous area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,395
Higher than 54% 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.
Culture remains strong, with 13.5% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is higher than most areas and a little above both the state and national figures.
13.5%
Higher than 72% 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 Townsville
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/iare/IARE310013/townsville/topic/first-nations