937
Higher than 62% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Kowanyama · Council (LGA)
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.
Daily life for the 937 First Nations people in Kowanyama is marked by significant economic hardship and a typical age of 26. This is a community where high unemployment and very low incomes are common, creating a stark contrast to the wider state and nation.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Kowanyama — higher than 62% of areas.
| Kowanyama | 937 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 26 years old, which is noticeably older than the Queensland figure of 23 and a little older than the national average of 24.
937
Higher than 62% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
26 yrs
Older than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
School completion among First Nations people.
School completion is very low here, with only 15.3% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is far below the Australian figure of 37%.
15.3%
Lower than 95% of council (lga) areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Engagement with the labour force.
Finding work is a major challenge, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 48.8%. This is among the highest for similar areas and far above the 12.3% national rate.
48.8%
Higher than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Personal and household incomes.
Financial struggle is widespread, with typical personal incomes of $324 being far below the national figure of $540. Household incomes are also well below the Australian average, sitting at $972.
$324
Lower than 96% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$972
Lower than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Median total weekly income for households with one or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.
Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Only 2.8% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language, which is well below the Queensland figure of 11.6%.
2.8%
Lower than 73% of council (lga) areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Kowanyama [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA34420/kowanyama/topic/first-nations