Suburb in Torres

Thursday Island, QLD

Thursday Island had a population of 2,805 at the 2021 Census (−4.5% since 2016). Median age 30.1. Median weekly household income $2,120. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Thursday Island at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with Queensland.

In Queensland - Outback

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Thursday Island's population shrank by 4.5% to 2,805, slower than Queensland as a whole (+9.6%). With a median age of 30.1, it is younger than the QLD average (38.2). Children under 10 make up 17.0% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 3.7%.

77.1% of households rent, a larger share than the QLD average of 33.6%. 8.6% own their home outright. Flats and apartments are 10.8% of homes (12.5% across Queensland). The 2021 Census counted 742 households.

The median household earns $2,120 a week, above the QLD average of $1,676. Renters pay a median $200 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1 a month.

7.2% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the QLD average of 24.1%. 53.6% use a language other than English at home. 22.4% report no religion, lower than the QLD average (44.8%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Thursday Island beside QLD and Australia.

MeasureThursday IslandQLDAustralia
Population2,8055,156,15825,422,828
Growth since 2016−4.5%+9.6%+8.6%
Median age30.138.238.2
Households7421,869,4529,275,123
Flats and apartments10.8%12.5%14.3%
Renting77.1%33.6%31.1%
Owned outright8.6%29.5%31.4%
Median household income a week$2,120$1,676$1,747
Median rent a week$200$364$376
Median mortgage repayment a month$1$1,740$1,866
Born overseas7.2%24.1%29.3%
Other language at home53.6%14.1%23.6%
No religion22.4%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

−4.5% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 2,6102011
  2. 2,9382016
  3. 2,8052021

Age

Median age 30.1, against 38.2 for Queensland.

Thursday Island Queensland
Share of people by age, Thursday Island and Queensland
0–917.0%
10–1917.9%
20–2914.6%
30–3914.6%
40–4912.4%
50–5910.7%
60–698.5%
70–792.4%
80+1.3%

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

Cultural background

The largest groups in Thursday Island at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. Australian Aboriginal22.2%
  2. Australian17.2%
  3. English11.8%
  4. Scottish4.3%
  5. Irish4.3%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Australian Indigenous languages48.2%
  2. Japanese0.4%
  3. Mandarin0.3%
  4. Samoan0.2%
  5. Greek0.2%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. New Zealand1.4%
  2. Papua New Guinea1.2%
  3. England1.2%
  4. India0.5%
  5. the United States0.3%

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

Around Thursday Island

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Thursday Island in Censible

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