The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia has exceeded one million, according to recent estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This marks an increase of 56,300 individuals since June 2021.
These projections are based on various factors, including fertility rates, parental patterns, mortality rates, and internal migration, as guided by recent data, according to the ABS.
Beidar Cho, head of demography statistics at the bureau, stated that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is expected to reach approximately 1.2 million by 2031.
“We anticipate a greater proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in major cities, with a smaller proportion living in remote and very remote areas of Australia,” Cho said.
The majority of Indigenous regions are projected to experience population growth between 2021 and 2031, with Perth expected to be the fastest-growing Indigenous region, with an annual growth rate of 2.7% to 2.8%. Brisbane follows closely with an expected growth rate of 2.6% to 2.8% annually.
The median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is also projected to increase from 24 years in 2021 to between 25.4 and 25.7 years by 2031.
