Council area

Torres Strait Island, QLD

Torres Strait Island had a population of 4,124 at the 2021 Census (−8.6% since 2016). Median age 27.0. Median weekly household income $976. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Torres Strait Island at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with Queensland.

In Queensland - Outback

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Torres Strait Island's population shrank by 8.6% to 4,124, slower than Queensland as a whole (+9.6%). With a median age of 27.0, it is younger than the QLD average (38.0). Children under 10 make up 23.4% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 4.0%.

91.1% of households rent, a larger share than the QLD average of 33.6%. 6.3% own their home outright. Almost every home is a house; flats and apartments are 0.5% of homes. The 2021 Census counted 1,013 households.

The median household earns $976 a week, below the QLD average of $1,675.

3.5% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the QLD average of 24.1%. 93.1% use a language other than English at home. 13.6% report no religion, lower than the QLD average (44.8%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Torres Strait Island beside QLD and Australia.

MeasureTorres Strait IslandQLDAustralia
Population4,1245,156,13825,422,788
Growth since 2016−8.6%+9.6%+8.6%
Median age27.038.038.0
Households1,0131,869,4629,275,217
Flats and apartments0.5%12.5%14.3%
Renting91.1%33.6%31.1%
Owned outright6.3%29.5%31.4%
Median household income a week$976$1,675$1,746
Median rent a week$130$365$375
Median mortgage repayment a month–$1,733$1,863
Born overseas3.5%24.1%29.3%
Other language at home93.1%14.1%23.6%
No religion13.6%44.8%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

−8.6% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 4,2482011
  2. 4,5142016
  3. 4,1242021

Age

Median age 27.0, against 38.0 for Queensland.

Torres Strait Island Queensland
Share of people by age, Torres Strait Island and Queensland
0–923.4%
10–1915.6%
20–2915.2%
30–3913.6%
40–4911.3%
50–599.9%
60–697.1%
70–793.1%
80+0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Torres Strait Island at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. Australian Aboriginal17.9%
  2. Australian2.4%
  3. English1.9%
  4. Scottish0.9%
  5. Irish0.5%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Australian Indigenous languages90.0%
  2. Greek0.1%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. Papua New Guinea2.7%
  2. New Zealand0.3%
  3. England0.2%
  4. the Netherlands0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Torres Strait Island

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Torres Strait Island in Censible

Every census figure for Torres Strait Island, mapped and compared with any other place. A free account takes a minute.