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Indigenous Australian population projections: problems and prospects

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Abstract

According to estimates from the 2006 Census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians made up 2.5 % of the total Australian population. However, the focus of research and policy debate on Indigenous Australians far exceeds their population size for reasons of history, socio-economics, geography and demography. This has led to a need for accurate population projections of the population. In this paper, we outline a number of issues related to Indigenous population projections. These include the nature of self-identification; the impact of particular policy changes; significant differences in demographic parameters; and high rates of exogamy, especially in urban areas. We also document the relative accuracy of past and current population projections. In the final section of the paper we outline a research agenda that has the potential to lead to new and better Indigenous population projections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Nicholas Biddle

  2. University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Tom Wilson

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  1. Nicholas Biddle
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  2. Tom Wilson
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Correspondence to Nicholas Biddle.

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Biddle, N., Wilson, T. Indigenous Australian population projections: problems and prospects. J Pop Research 30, 101–116 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-013-9104-2

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