2,585
Higher than 85% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Western Downs · Council (LGA)
First Nations in Western 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 total of 2,585 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Western Downs, a population larger than about 85% of similar areas. This community is notably young, with a typical age of just 20 years. This is noticeably younger than both the state and national figures.
2,585
- 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 Western Downs — higher than 85% of areas.
| Western Downs | 2,585 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical age of First Nations residents is 20, which is much lower than most areas. This is noticeably younger than the Queensland average of 23 and the Australian average of 24.
20 yrs
Younger than 93% 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.
Around 34.2% of First Nations people here finished Year 12. This is well below the Queensland figure of 43.6% and a little below the national average of 37.0%.
34.2%
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 residents is 13.3%, which is higher than most areas. This is about the same as the Queensland figure and a little above the Australian average of 12.3%.
13.3%
Higher than 62% 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 household income for First Nations residents is $1,339, which is a little below the state and national figures. Personal income is about the same as elsewhere, with a typical value of $528.
$528
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,339
Lower than 54% 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 3.0% of First Nations people in the area speak a First Nations language. This is lower than most areas and well below the Queensland figure of 11.6%.
3.0%
Lower than 70% 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 Western Downs
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Western Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA37310/western-downs/topic/first-nations