QLD · Torres Strait Island Council

Poruma Island, 4875

Est. population · Jun 2025

125

Growth (1 yr)

+0.8%

Growth (5 yr)

-1.6%

Median age

31

Median income

$1,399/wk

Employment rate

54.1%

University qualified

4.8%

Work from home

0%

Languages at home

96.8%non-English

Most common: Australian Indigenous languages

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Remote
What Poruma Island is known for: Remote

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Poruma Island, QLD suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Poruma Island, QLD Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/qld/poruma-island

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Suburb profile

Poruma Island is a remote locality in Queensland, in Torres Strait Island Council. It is close to the Coconut Island and the Thursday Island.

The clearer weaknesses are lower socio-economic advantage and weaker population growth.

Few other published measures stand out from similar places, so this profile stays brief rather than filling gaps with unsupported detail about the locality.

Socio-economic advantage is the most material weakness.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Remote locality · compared with remote localities in Queensland (544)

Strengths

No relative strengths against comparable places.

Weaknesses

  • Socio-economic advantage is well below comparable places
  • Population growth is a relative weakness

What stands out

  • Large Aboriginal community with Indigenous languages spoken at home
  • Coconut Island
  • Thursday Island
  • Fly River
  • Island

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Poruma Island compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$130/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

125

+0.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

14.8%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

73rd

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

37th

percentile in QLD

Rented dwellings

89%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

1/10

national SEIFA decile

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Population

Estimated resident population

125(June 2025)

+0.8% annual · -1.6% over 5 years · 37th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.8%
5-year growth
-1.6%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
-2
Growth rank in QLD
37th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~100), extrapolated at -0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
164
Median age
31
Median household income / week
$1,399
Dwelling vacancy
14.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
8 of 54
Median monthly mortgage
$0
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$130
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
10.9% / 0% / 89.1%
Employment rate
54.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
0% / 0% / 12.1%
Walked or cycled to work
83.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
45 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

4.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 21.9% across Queensland. 41.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified4.8% · 21.9% QLD
  • Diploma qualified10.5% · 9.4% QLD
  • Trade / vocational41.1% · 18.9% QLD
  • Year 12 or below43.5% · 49.8% QLD

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Education27.4%
  • Management and commerce23.3%
  • Architecture and building17.8%
  • Engineering and related technologies13.7%
  • Health9.6%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services4.1%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$54,895

48th percentile in QLD · -6% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$56,356

29th percentile in QLD · -13% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
9.0%

27th percentile in QLD · -35% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$30,888

7th percentile in QLD · -51% vs Australia

Residents with business income
5.0%

3rd percentile in QLD · -52% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 4875 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
3,145
Taxpayers reporting net rent
270
Median net rent
-$872
Taxpayers reporting business income
159
Taxable income vs state median
-1%
Salary / wages vs state median
-8%
Rental investment vs state median
-18%
Super vs state median
-55%
Business income vs state median
-50%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in QLD, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

96.8% speak a language other than English at home

Language at home
5 English only · 153 other
Non-English at home
96.8%
Born overseas
0 (0%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
154 (93.9%)
Australian citizens
162
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
1

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Australian Indigenous languages79 · 100%

Religion

98.2%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 98.2%.

MeasureSuburbState
Christianity98.2%45.7%
Other / not stated1.8%54.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Pentecostal61.6%1.4%
Anglican30.5%11.3%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 4875, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences are running higher than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Sep 2026)
9
Against the person
4
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents (annualised)
96.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 41 residents
State crime-rate percentile
72.7th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+50.4%

Most common offence types

  • Drug Offences2
  • Assault2
  • Good Order Offences1
  • Other Property Damage1
  • Traffic And Related Offences1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Sep 2026; Jan 2026 to Sep 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

School list
School catchments
  • Tagai State College - Poruma CampusGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

2 mapped amenities

1 libraries

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Community(1)
  • Poruma Indigenous Knowledge CentreLibrary
Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Sports field

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
32°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Saibai Island Primary Health Care Centre (89.4 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
2
Participants per 1,000 residents
16.0

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
32° / 25°
Rainfall
851 mm · ~90 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
31° / 25°
Rainfall
673 mm · ~84 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
28° / 24°
Rainfall
64 mm · ~8 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
30° / 24°
Rainfall
103 mm · ~13 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping. Flood cover uses floodplain overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Leichhardt
Member of Parliament
Matt SMITH (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
122,757
Turnout (2025)
83.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+9.5 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 43.9%Labor 56.1%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 561.7 km away).

Coalition 20.1%Labor 79.9%

23.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +21.5 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Horn IslandLabor 78.4% · Coalition 21.6% TPP (2025)108.1 km away
  • Thursday IslandLabor 82.8% · Coalition 17.2% TPP (2025)110.7 km away
  • TamwoyLabor 85.1% · Coalition 14.9% TPP (2025)110.8 km away
  • BamagaLabor 81.0% · Coalition 19.1% TPP (2025)119.1 km away
  • Lockhart RiverLabor 60.2% · Coalition 39.8% TPP (2025)305.6 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Torres Strait Island Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Queensland or interstate.