8,906
Higher than 59% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Cape York · Indigenous Region
First Nations in Cape York
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.
More than half of the First Nations population in Cape York speaks a traditional language, a figure far above the national average. There are 8,906 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here, making it a significant community for First Nations people compared to similar areas.
8,906
- 1–2: 7 areas
- 2–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 1 area
- 5–8: 0 areas
- 8–12: 3 areas
- 12–18: 0 areas
- 18–27: 1 area
- 27–41: 0 areas
- 41–61: 1 area
- 61–92: 0 areas
- 92–140: 0 areas
- 140–211: 2 areas
- 211–318: 0 areas
- 318–479: 2 areas
- 479–723: 0 areas
- 723–1,092: 0 areas
- 1,092–1,648: 4 areas
- 1,648–2,486: 0 areas
- 2,486–3,752: 2 areas
- 3,752–5,663: 5 areas
- 5,663–8,545: 7 areas
- 8,545–12,896: 5 areas
- 12,896–19,461: 4 areas
- 19,461–29,368: 3 areas
- 29,368–44,319: 8 areas
- 44,319–66,881: 0 areas
- 66,881–100,929: 3 areas
All indigenous region areas, 2021. The marker is Cape York — higher than 59% of areas.
| Cape York | 8,906 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 24 years old, which is about the same as the national figure and slightly older than in Queensland.
24 yrs
Younger than 71% of indigenous region 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 residents is 31.1%, which is well below the Australian figure of 37% and far below the Queensland rate of 43.6%.
31.1%
Higher than 58% of indigenous region 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.
Unemployment for First Nations people is 23.4%, a rate that is far above both the Queensland figure (13.3%) and the national average (12.3%).
23.4%
Higher than 71% of indigenous region 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 weekly household income for First Nations families is $1,140, which is well below the figures for Queensland and Australia. Personal incomes are also much lower than in most other areas.
$402
Lower than 69% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,140
Lower than 78% of indigenous region 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.
A striking 54.4% of First Nations people here speak a traditional language, which is far above the national figure of 12.3%.
54.4%
Higher than 86% of indigenous region 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 Cape York
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Cape York [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG303/cape-york/topic/first-nations