Overview

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous people of Australia. They are not one group, but comprise hundreds of groups that have their own distinct set of languages, histories and cultural traditions. 

AIHW reports and other products include information about Indigenous Australians, where data quality permits. Thus, information and statistics about Indigenous Australians can be found in most AIHW products.

AIHW products that focus specifically on Indigenous Australians are captured on this page.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework

Find information about health outcomes, health system performance and the broader determinants of health for Indigenous Australians

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Latest findings

Australian Government expenditure for Indigenous Australians increased from $2,590 in 2010–11 to $3,585 in 2016–17 Average health expenditure per person for Indigenous Australians was estimated to be $8,949 in 2015-16 Total health expenditure per person for Indigenous Australians was 1.3 times that of non-Indigenous people in 2015–16 PBS medicine spending per person for Indigenous Australians was $537 compared to $891 for non-Indigenous ones in 2015–16 Health expenditure for Indigenous Australians was highest in Remote and Very Remote areas ($9,005) in 2015–16

Latest reports

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Highlights

Cardiovascular disease The age-standardised rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease among Indigenous Australians fell from 323 per 100,000 in 2006 to 229 per 100,000 in 2018
ImprisonmentThe imprisonment rate of Indigenous adults increased from 1,337 per 100,000 in 2006 to 2,088 in 2019
EducationThe proportion of Indigenous Australians aged 20–24 who had a Year 12 or equivalent qualification increased from 45% in 2008 to 66% in 2018–19
Health checksThe rate of Medicare health checks among Indigenous Australians increased from 68 per 1,000 in 2009–10 to 297 per 1,000 in 2018–19
Deaths from cancerThe age-standardised rate of deaths from cancer among Indigenous Australians increased from 205 per 100,000 in 2006 to 235 per 100,000 in 2018
Out-of-home careThe rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care increased from 35 per 1,000 in 2009 to 54 per 1,000 in 2018
SmokingIn 2018–19, 85% of Indigenous Australians aged 15–17 reported that they had never smoked, compared with 72% in 2008
Need vs accessIn 2018–19, 3 in 10 Indigenous Australians who needed to go to a health provider did not go—the same proportion as in 2012–13