3,678
Higher than 93% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Cape York · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
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.
A gap of 30 percentage points exists between Cape York and the national average for people speaking a First Nations language. Cape York is home to 3,678 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is among the largest groups for this type of area. This population is slightly older than the national figure, with a typical age of 26.
3,678
- 1–1: 115 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–3: 4 areas
- 3–5: 5 areas
- 5–7: 5 areas
- 7–9: 5 areas
- 9–12: 12 areas
- 12–17: 8 areas
- 17–23: 14 areas
- 23–31: 70 areas
- 31–43: 94 areas
- 43–58: 138 areas
- 58–80: 164 areas
- 80–109: 222 areas
- 109–149: 249 areas
- 149–204: 254 areas
- 204–279: 230 areas
- 279–381: 221 areas
- 381–521: 206 areas
- 521–712: 161 areas
- 712–974: 127 areas
- 974–1,331: 86 areas
- 1,331–1,820: 42 areas
- 1,820–2,488: 21 areas
- 2,488–3,402: 12 areas
- 3,402–4,651: 5 areas
- 4,651–6,359: 2 areas
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Cape York — higher than 93% of areas.
| Cape York | 3,678 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident here is 26, which is noticeably older than the Queensland figure of 23 and a little older than the Australian typical age of 24.
26 yrs
Older than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
School completion rates are low in the area, with only 28.1% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is well below the national figure of 37% and far below Queensland's 43.6%.
28.1%
Lower than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
Finding work is a major challenge, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 23.8%. This is far above the 12.3% seen across Australia and the 13.3% in Queensland.
23.8%
Higher than 94% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 earnings are among the lowest at this level, with personal income at $383. Household incomes are also far below the national figure, coming in at $909 compared to the Australian $1,507.
$383
Lower than 97% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$909
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
Cultural ties remain strong, as 41.9% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is far above the Queensland and Australian figures, both of which sit around 12%.
41.9%
Higher than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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/sa2/315011396/cape-york/topic/first-nations