3,919
Higher than 94% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Mount Isa · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
First Nations in Mount Isa
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.
Nearly 4,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Mount Isa, making it one of the largest First Nations populations for an area of this size. This group is generally young, with a typical age of 24. While household incomes are about the same as the state and national figures, the area faces significant challenges with education and employment.
3,919
- 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 Mount Isa — higher than 94% of areas.
| Mount Isa | 3,919 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 3,919 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area. The typical age is 24, which is about the same as the national figure and a little older than the Queensland average of 23.
24 yrs
Younger than 57% 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 is a major challenge here, as only 33.2% of First Nations residents finished Year 12. This is far below the Queensland figure of 43.6% and well below the national average.
33.2%
Lower than 76% 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.
Joblessness is much higher than in most similar areas. The First Nations unemployment rate is 16.1%, which is a little above the Queensland rate and well above the Australian average of 12.3%.
16.1%
Higher than 81% 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 weekly household income is $1,549, which is about the same as the state and national figures. However, the typical personal income of $556 is lower than in most other areas.
$556
Lower than 67% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,549
Lower than 59% 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.
About 4.8% of First Nations people speak a First Nations language. This is around the middle for similar areas, but is well below the figures for both Queensland and Australia.
4.8%
Lower than 54% 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 Mount Isa
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Mount Isa [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315021405/mount-isa/topic/first-nations