3238.0.55.001 - Experimental Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Jun 2006 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/08/2008   
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15/09/2009 Note: Additional data cube. This additional data cube presents final experimental estimates of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, total Indigenous, non-Indigenous and total populations of Australia as at 30 June 2006, based on the 2006 Census of Population and Housing.

NOTES

This product contains final experimental estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous), non-Indigenous and total populations of Australia at 30 June 2006, for various geographies.

Estimates are disaggregated by age (5-year age groups) and sex for state and territory, Remoteness Areas and Indigenous Regions. Estimates for Statistical Local Areas are available for total all ages only.

The estimates of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations presented in this publication are experimental. The estimates are based on 2006 Census of Population and Housing counts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians adjusted for net undercount as measured by the Post Enumeration Survey. The extent of undercoverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the 2006 census and the relatively small sample size of the Post Enumeration Survey to adjust for that undercoverage means the estimates should be interpreted with caution.

Description of the methods used to produce the estimates are contained in the technical note in this product.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


AUSTRALIA'S ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES

This publication presents the final population estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians as at 30 June 2006. They replace the preliminary estimates released on 24 September 2007 in Australian Demographic Statistics, March Quarter 2007 (cat. no. 3101.0). While the Australian level estimates have changed little since the preliminary estimates, the estimates at the state/territory level have been revised significantly in some cases following the adoption of a different methodology to account for census undercount. Details of the methodology are provided in Technical Note: Estimated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Resident Population - Method of Calculation.

The estimates of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations presented in this publication are experimental. The estimates are based on 2006 Census of Population and Housing counts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians adjusted for net undercount as measured by the Post Enumeration Survey. The extent of undercoverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the 2006 census and the relatively small sample size of the Post Enumeration Survey to adjust for that undercoverage means the estimates should be interpreted with caution.

The final estimated resident Indigenous population of Australia as at 30 June 2006 was 517,000 people, or 2.5% of the total Australian population.

Of the states and territories, NSW had the largest population of Indigenous Australians (152,700 people), followed by Queensland (144,900 people). The Australian Capital Territory had the smallest population of Indigenous Australians (4,300 people).

Indigenous Australians comprised 30% of the population of the Northern Territory.

Experimental estimated resident population, Indigenous status - 30 June 2006

Estimated resident population
Median age
Indigenous
Non-
Indigenous
Indigenous
Non-
Indigenous
no.
no.
years
years

Males

NSW
76 229
3 299 271
19.7
36.3
Vic.
16 581
2 518 487
20.9
36.0
Qld
71 950
1 969 341
19.6
36.0
SA
13 790
760 263
20.5
38.0
WA
35 775
1 003 270
21.1
36.1
Tas.
9 204
232 352
19.8
38.7
NT
31 514
77 801
21.3
35.2
ACT
2 147
163 156
20.8
33.8
Aust.(a)
257 309
10 025 124
20.2
36.3

Females

NSW
76 456
3 364 131
21.6
37.9
Vic.
16 936
2 574 536
21.6
37.7
Qld
72 935
1 976 682
21.1
37.2
SA
14 265
779 570
22.0
40.2
WA
35 191
985 145
22.1
37.4
Tas.
9 211
239 184
21.5
40.5
NT
32 491
68 821
23.3
33.9
ACT
2 135
166 681
21.5
35.3
Aust.(a)
259 734
10 155 713
21.8
37.8

Persons

NSW
152 685
6 663 402
20.6
37.1
Vic.
33 517
5 093 023
21.2
36.8
Qld
144 885
3 946 023
20.4
36.6
SA
28 055
1 539 833
21.2
39.1
WA
70 966
1 988 415
21.5
36.8
Tas.
18 415
471 536
20.6
39.6
NT
64 005
146 622
22.3
34.6
ACT
4 282
329 837
21.1
34.5
Aust.(a)
517 043
20 180 837
21.0
37.0

(a) Includes Other Territories.


Among the Indigenous population in 2006, 463,700 or 90% were estimated as being of Aboriginal origin only, 33,300 or 6% were of Torres Strait Islander origin only, and 20,100 or 4% were of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

Experimental estimated resident population, Indigenous status, 30 June 2006

Aboriginal
only
Torres Strait
Islander only
Both Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
Total
Indigenous
Non-
Indigenous
Total
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.

NSW
144 236
5 248
3 201
152 685
6 663 402
6 816 087
Vic.
30 178
2 421
918
33 517
5 093 023
5 126 540
Qld
112 095
20 902
11 888
144 885
3 946 023
4 090 908
SA
26 483
1 121
451
28 055
1 539 833
1 567 888
WA
68 526
1 253
1 187
70 966
1 988 415
2 059 381
Tas.
16 350
1 377
688
18 415
471 536
489 951
NT
61 616
757
1 632
64 005
146 622
210 627
ACT
4 004
173
105
4 282
329 837
334 119
Aust.(a)
463 706
33 267
20 070
517 043
20 180 837
20 697 880



Remoteness Areas

At 30 June 2006, around one-third of all Indigenous Australians lived in Major Cities of Australia (32% or 165,800 people). A further 21% (110,600 people) lived in Inner Regional Australia and 22% (113,300 people) in Outer Regional Australia. The remainder lived in Remote Australia (9% or 47,900 people) or Very Remote Australia (15% or 79,500 people).


Age structure

The Indigenous population at 30 June 2006 had a younger age structure than the non-Indigenous population, with larger proportions of young people and smaller proportions of older people. The median age of the Indigenous population at 30 June 2006 was 21.0 years, compared to 37.0 years for the non-Indigenous population.

INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS POPULATION - 30 JUNE 2006
Diagram: Age Pyramid - Indigenous and non-Indigenous population - 30 June 2006