Populations

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.3% of the Western Australian (WA) population [1]. Almost 13% of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in WA [2].

The age structure of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in WA is different from that of the general population: more of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is in younger age-groups than the non-Indigenous population, and fewer are in older age-groups (65 years and over) [2].

Areas of residence differs between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in WA and those who live in the rest of Australia: fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Western Australians live in regional areas, but more live in remote and very remote areas, when compared to the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population [2].

In this section, you’ll find specific information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Western Australians in different population groups including: babies, children, adolescents, women, men, older people and offenders.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022). Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live. Retrieved from: https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/western-australia-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-population-summary#where-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-live

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2017). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework 2017 report: Western Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.