7,507
Higher than 89% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Mackay · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Mackay
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 growing First Nations population has seen Mackay become one of the largest hubs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region. This community is notably young, with a typical age of just 22 years, and generally sees better education and income outcomes than the state and national figures.
7,507
- 1–1: 10 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 1 area
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–8: 0 areas
- 8–11: 3 areas
- 11–16: 0 areas
- 16–23: 1 area
- 23–32: 1 area
- 32–45: 1 area
- 45–64: 0 areas
- 64–91: 0 areas
- 91–129: 3 areas
- 129–182: 3 areas
- 182–257: 9 areas
- 257–364: 15 areas
- 364–515: 23 areas
- 515–729: 30 areas
- 729–1,031: 45 areas
- 1,031–1,458: 40 areas
- 1,458–2,063: 37 areas
- 2,063–2,918: 44 areas
- 2,918–4,128: 33 areas
- 4,128–5,840: 29 areas
- 5,840–8,262: 17 areas
- 8,262–11,687: 6 areas
- 11,687–16,534: 6 areas
All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Mackay — higher than 89% of areas.
| Mackay | 7,507 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 7,507 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here. The typical age is 22, which is a little younger than the Queensland figure of 23 and the Australian figure of 24.
22 yrs
Younger than 79% of sub-region (sa3) 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 strong, with 45.6% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is a little above the Queensland rate of 43.6% and well above the national figure of 37.0%.
45.6%
Higher than 62% of sub-region (sa3) 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 9.6%, which is around the middle for similar areas. This is well below the Queensland rate of 13.3% and a little below the Australian figure of 12.3%.
9.6%
Lower than 58% of sub-region (sa3) 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 $1,847, which is a little above the Queensland figure of $1,517. Personal income is also higher than most areas, with the typical person earning $690, well above the national figure of $540.
$690
Higher than 70% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,847
Higher than 71% of sub-region (sa3) 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.
Around 6.5% of the First Nations population speaks a traditional language. While this is higher than in most similar areas, it is well below the Queensland figure of 11.6% and the national figure of 12.3%.
6.5%
Higher than 60% of sub-region (sa3) 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 Mackay
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/31202/mackay/topic/first-nations