13,901
Higher than 82% of region (sa4) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Gold Coast · Region (SA4)
First Nations in Gold Coast
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.
More than 13,900 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in the Gold Coast, a population larger than about 83% of similar areas. This group sees strong outcomes across the board, with higher typical incomes and better employment rates than the national figures.
13,901
- 1–1: 7 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 1 area
- 5–7: 0 areas
- 7–10: 2 areas
- 10–15: 0 areas
- 15–21: 0 areas
- 21–31: 0 areas
- 31–46: 1 area
- 46–67: 0 areas
- 67–99: 0 areas
- 99–145: 0 areas
- 145–213: 1 area
- 213–312: 1 area
- 312–458: 1 area
- 458–671: 1 area
- 671–984: 2 areas
- 984–1,444: 4 areas
- 1,444–2,117: 4 areas
- 2,117–3,105: 9 areas
- 3,105–4,553: 13 areas
- 4,553–6,677: 16 areas
- 6,677–9,792: 13 areas
- 9,792–14,359: 13 areas
- 14,359–21,058: 11 areas
- 21,058–30,882: 6 areas
- 30,882–45,289: 1 area
All region (sa4) areas, 2021. The marker is Gold Coast — higher than 82% of areas.
| Gold Coast | 13,901 |
|---|---|
| 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 24, which is about the same as the national figure and just a little older than the Queensland average.
24 yrs
Younger than 57% of region (sa4) 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 standout here, with 52.1% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far above the Australian figure of 37% and well above the state average.
52.1%
Higher than 81% of region (sa4) 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.
Job seekers have more success here than in most other areas, as the First Nations unemployment rate of 9.2% is well below both the state and national figures.
9.2%
Lower than 71% of region (sa4) 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 much higher than in most similar areas, with a typical personal income of $693 and a household income of $1,834, both of which sit above the Queensland and Australian averages.
$693
Higher than 75% of region (sa4) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,834
Higher than 76% of region (sa4) 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 4.9% of First Nations people speak a traditional language, which is well below the rates seen across Queensland and the rest of Australia.
4.9%
Lower than 57% of region (sa4) 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 Gold Coast
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Gold Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/309/gold-coast/topic/first-nations