Urban Centre · Area profile
Kowanyama
8 km²
A very high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Kowanyama, which is much younger than most similar areas. With a typical resident aged just 29 and children under 15 making up over a quarter of the population, the community is shaped by a young, growing demographic. This youthfulness is reflected in the large number of families and children living together in the town. The population grew by about 95 people between 2011 and 2021, reaching a total of 1,079.
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Indigenous residents make up 86.8% of the population, a figure far above the national average of 3.2% and one that has risen sharply since 2011. De facto relationships are also very common here, accounting for 32.5% of residents.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 1.2% of people born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language, and those who speak little or no English have fallen to 0.0% since 2016.
Christianity is the dominant faith at 75.9%, while those reporting no religion fell to 10.5% since 2011, which is far below the national figure.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in the rest of the country, with only 17.7% of residents completing Year 12 and 3.8% holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical weekly personal income is just $341, which is far below the national figure of $805. This reflects a broader trend where typical family and household incomes have all fallen since 2011.
Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with only 19.7% reporting a long-term health condition and just 2.0% reporting a mental health condition.
Unpaid childcare is common, with 34.0% of people caring for children, which is well above the national average. However, volunteering fell sharply since 2011 to just 3.0%.
Homes are much larger than usual, with 3.7 people per home, which helps explain why one-parent families are so common at 37.7%.
Rental properties dominate the market at 85.4%, while only 5.3% of homes are owned outright. Typical weekly rent is very low at $115, far below the national figure of $375.
The area is highly car-dependent, though 46.2% of homes have no motor vehicle, a figure that rose significantly since 2011. Nearly 43% of people walk to work.
The population is very stable, with only 9.0% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Unemployment is very high at 40.6%, far above the national figure of 5.1%. Many of those who do work are employed in public administration, safety, or education.
While almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a school, the area is otherwise car-dependent, with no groceries, parks, or health services within walking distance.