16,840
Higher than 86% of region (sa4) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Wide Bay · Region (SA4)
First Nations in Wide Bay
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 larger First Nations population than 88% of similar areas lives in Wide Bay, with 16,840 people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This community is slightly younger than the national average, though it faces significant challenges with employment and income.
16,840
- 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 Wide Bay — higher than 86% of areas.
| Wide Bay | 16,840 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 16,840 First Nations people in the region. The typical age is 23, which is about the same as the Queensland figure and slightly younger than the national average of 24.
23 yrs
Younger than 71% 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 lower than in most areas, with 35.0% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is well below the Queensland rate of 43.6% and a little below the national figure of 37.0%.
35.0%
Lower than 63% 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.
Joblessness is a major issue here, as the unemployment rate for First Nations people is 15.9%. This is much higher than most similar areas and well above the Australian average of 12.3%.
15.9%
Higher than 81% 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 incomes are much lower than in most areas. Weekly household income is $1,212, which is well below the Queensland figure of $1,517, while personal income is a little below the national average.
$476
Lower than 83% of region (sa4) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,212
Lower than 92% 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.
Language preservation is low, with only 3.4% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is well below the figures for both Queensland (11.6%) and Australia (12.3%).
3.4%
Lower than 84% 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 Wide Bay
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Wide Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/319/wide-bay/topic/first-nations