28,466
Higher than 84% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Cairns - Atherton · Indigenous Region
First Nations in Cairns - Atherton
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 22% of First Nations people in Cairns - Atherton speak a traditional language, a rate far above the Queensland figure. This region is home to 28,466 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the population is notably young with a typical age of 24.
28,466
- 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 Cairns - Atherton — higher than 84% of areas.
| Cairns - Atherton | 28,466 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up a larger population here than in about 81% of similar areas. The typical age for First Nations residents is 24, which is lower than most areas.
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 is 41.4% for First Nations people, which is much higher than most areas and well above the national figure of 37.0%.
41.4%
Higher than 86% 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.
The unemployment rate for First Nations residents is 18.2%, which is higher than most areas and well above both the Queensland and national figures.
18.2%
Higher than 60% 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 is $1,338, while the usual personal income is $503. Both figures sit around the middle for similar areas, though they are a little below the state and national totals.
$503
Higher than 52% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,338
Higher than 50% 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.
First Nations language use is a strong feature of the region, with 22.1% of people speaking one, which is far above the Queensland average of 11.6%.
22.1%
Higher than 65% 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 Cairns - Atherton
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Cairns - Atherton [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG309/cairns-atherton/topic/first-nations