Populations

According to the 2021 Census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) peoples make up 4.6% of the Queensland population [51061]. Of those who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in Queensland, 81.5% identify as Aboriginal, 9.2% as Torres Strait Islander, and 9.3% as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander [51054]. Almost two thirds (64.5%) of Australia’s Torres Strait Islander population reside in Queensland [51051]. Along with the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland also has the highest projected growth rate for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Australia to 2031 (2.4% per year) [51053].

Queensland is the most decentralised of the mainland states in Australia, with just under half the population living in the capital city of Meanjin/Brisbane (49.8%) compared with 68% in other states [51049], and more than 95% of land area classified as rural and remote [32736]. Almost one in ten First Nations peoples in Queensland live in the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA), and this makes up 1.8% of the Brisbane LGA population [51054].

The LGAs with the greatest proportion of First Nations peoples are Cherbourg (96.4% of the total LGA population), Yarrabah (95.9%), Wujal Wujal (93.5%), Woorabinda (91.6%) and Palm Island (91.4%) [51054]. Of these, Yarrabah, near Gimuy/Cairns, is recognised as the largest discrete First Nations community in Australia [51059].

Queensland has a relatively young First Nations population, with around a third (34%) aged under 15 years, in comparison to 18.1% of the remaining population in Queensland [51060]. In contrast, only 5.2% of the First Nations population is aged 65 years and over, in comparison to 17.2% for other Queenslanders [51060].

In this section, you will find information on First Nations peoples in Queensland in specific population groups such as babies, children, young people, older people, those in the justice system, women, men and members of the LGBTIQA+SB community.