Torres Strait Islands

The population is far younger than the national figure, with 32.3% of people being children under 15. De facto relationships are also much more common here, at 27.5%, which is far above the Australian average of 11.5%.

Very few people were born overseas, at just 3.3%, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents were born in Australia.

Language diversity is very high, with 86.2% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure of 22.3%, though 16.4% of residents speak little or no English.

Religious affiliation is strong, with 77.3% of people identifying as Christian. The proportion of people with no religion is far below the national figure, at only 12.2%.

Education levels are much lower than the national average, with only 3.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree. However, Year 12 completion has risen since 2011 to reach 47.7%.

Incomes are far below the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $976. Only 4.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is among the lowest for similar areas.

Reporting of long-term health conditions is far below the national figure, at 16.5%. Similarly, only 0.8% of people report a mental health condition, which is well below the national figure of 8.8%.

Volunteer rates are higher than most areas at 17.7%, and 6.7% of residents have served in the Defence Force. Unpaid care for children is also well above the national figure, at 36.0%.

First Nations identity is central to the community, with 92.8% of people speaking a First Nations language. This group is slightly older than the national First Nations average, with a typical age of 26.

Homes are larger and more crowded than usual, with 3.5 people per home. One-parent families are far more common here than elsewhere, making up 33.3% of households.

The area is dominated by rented separate houses, with 89.4% of homes being rented. Weekly rent is far below the national figure at $130, and very few people own their homes outright.

Most homes have no motor vehicle, at 53.7%, which is far above the national figure of 7.4%. As a result, 45.7% of people walk to work.

The population is very stable, with only 20.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Adults working or looking for work are far fewer than the national average, at 41.1%. The unemployment rate is well above the national figure at 11.7%, with many working in public administration and education.

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the country, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. There are only 68 businesses in the region.

The climate is very wet and warm, with average annual rainfall of 1,461mm, which is far above the Queensland average. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state average.

The area is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.0. Almost no homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, health service, or public transport.