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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Census population of Australia in 2021 was 812,721, living in 352,043 dwellings.
This profile allows comparison of the characteristics of the First Nations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) population within Australia to the First Nations population of a benchmark area or the total population of Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (which is alternatively known as Indigenous or First Nations) is derived from a specific Census question:
"Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?". Separate categories are shown below for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or both.
First Nations people in Australia are often (but not always) disadvantaged compared to the total population, so viewing the characteristics of this group can help users understand First Nations disadvantage and other characteristics, and particularly how they are changing over time. This table is a summary of the key statistics of this group, while other topics have more detail.
| Key statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - Australia | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Number of persons usually resident | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Total First Nations population | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | 812,721 | 100.0 | 277.9 | 649,176 | 100.0 | 297.1 | +163,545 |
| Population summary | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Total population | 812,721 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 649,176 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +163,545 |
| Males | 403,711 | 49.7 | 49.7 | 322,177 | 49.6 | 49.7 | +81,534 |
| Females | 409,010 | 50.3 | 50.3 | 326,999 | 50.4 | 50.3 | +82,011 |
| Indigenous status | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Aboriginal | 742,874 | 91.4 | 92.9 | 590,052 | 90.9 | 92.8 | +152,822 |
| Torres Strait Islander | 33,754 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 32,347 | 5.0 | 4.0 | +1,407 |
| Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | 36,080 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 26,763 | 4.1 | 3.2 | +9,317 |
| Dwellings | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Persons counted in non private dwellings | 33,388 | -- | -- | 29,909 | -- | -- | +3,479 |
| Persons counted in private dwellings | 779,266 | -- | -- | 619,075 | -- | -- | +160,191 |
| Occupied private dwellings | 352,043 | -- | -- | 263,035 | -- | -- | +89,008 |
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