1,965
Higher than 78% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Southern Downs · Council (LGA)
First Nations in Southern 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 for First Nations residents makes Southern Downs noticeably younger than the national figure. There are 1,965 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here, which is a larger population than in about 78% of similar areas.
1,965
- 1–1: 9 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 3 areas
- 4–6: 0 areas
- 6–9: 1 area
- 9–12: 12 areas
- 12–18: 5 areas
- 18–25: 11 areas
- 25–36: 20 areas
- 36–52: 16 areas
- 52–74: 13 areas
- 74–106: 29 areas
- 106–151: 26 areas
- 151–217: 32 areas
- 217–310: 44 areas
- 310–444: 37 areas
- 444–636: 42 areas
- 636–910: 51 areas
- 910–1,302: 49 areas
- 1,302–1,864: 32 areas
- 1,864–2,668: 55 areas
- 2,668–3,819: 26 areas
- 3,819–5,466: 24 areas
- 5,466–7,823: 11 areas
- 7,823–11,198: 7 areas
- 11,198–16,027: 5 areas
- 16,027–22,940: 5 areas
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Southern Downs — higher than 78% of areas.
| Southern Downs | 1,965 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population is quite 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 86% of council (lga) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
About 34.4% of First Nations people have finished Year 12. This is well below the Queensland rate of 43.6% and a little below the national figure of 37%.
34.4%
Higher than 54% of council (lga) 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 13.5%, which is higher than most similar areas and a little above the national figure of 12.3%.
13.5%
Higher than 63% of council (lga) 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 residents is $1,243, which is a little below the figures for both Queensland and Australia. Personal income is also lower than most areas at $505 per week.
$505
Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,243
Lower than 65% of council (lga) 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 2.7% of First Nations people speak a First Nations language. This is well below the figures for Queensland and Australia, and is much lower than in most similar areas.
2.7%
Lower than 74% of council (lga) 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 Southern Downs
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Southern Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA36660/southern-downs/topic/first-nations