Health Series Number 58

Demographic overview

The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has a younger age structure than the total population in the ACT. In 2011, over half (55%) of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population were aged 24 years or less compared to 33% in the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Two per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT were aged over 55 years in 2011 compared to 11% of the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

The median age of ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 22 years compared with 35 years for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ACT residents.

ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents had higher incomes, higher education and higher housing costs compared with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationally.