Census: Longer life expectancy for First Nations people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islanders are living longer, with more than 47,000 of those currently identifying as Indigenous aged 65 and older compared to just 21,000 in 2011.

According to new census date, Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islanders are living longer. Picture: istock

Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islanders are living longer, with more than 47,000 of those currently identifying as Indigenous aged 65 and older compared to just 21,000 in 2011.

Governments across the country are grappling with how to ­address physical and mental health challenges experienced by Indigenous communities, which has led to a lower life expectancy for First Nations people.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says the average life expectancy for Indigenous Australians is estimated to be just under 72 years for males, compared to about 80 years for non-Indigenous men, and 75.6 years for females, compared to 83.4 years non-Indigenous women.

In 2011, only 21,000 people identifying as Indigenous were over the age of 65, with that number growing to 31,000 in 2016. But in the most recent census, 47,677 indicated they were over 65.

The median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people had also increased slightly to 24 years in 2021, up from 23 years in 2016 and 21 years in 2011.

The 2021 census also revealed 812,728 people in Australia identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander – an increase of more than 25 per cent since the last census was released in 2016.

Of those, more than 78,000 spoke one of the 167 traditional languages identified by the census at home. The most widely reported language groups spoken were Arnhem Land, Daly River Region, Torres Strait Island and Western Desert languages, along with Yolngu Matha and Arandic.

As part of the 2021 census, a new question on service with the Australian Defence Force was posed to respondents.

More than 3000 of the 84,865 serving personnel were Indigenous, while 11,000 First Nations people indicated they were former serving members.

Australian Statistician David Gruen said the data was critical for future policies and planning that would affect Indigenous Australians.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated he would seek to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament this term, even without Liberal and Nationals support.

Some Indigenous leaders have warned the country is not ready for a constitutionally enshrined voice, which would need to go to a referendum, and have raised concern over the impact such a process would have on Indigenous communities.