The results of the 2021census have been released, and they reveal a 25 per cent increase in the number of people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

The census found 812,728 people — 3.2 per cent of the population — identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

There’s also a growing number of older people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, with 47,677 people aged 65 or over in the 2021 census. that’s a jump from 31,000 in 2016 and 21, 000 in 2011.

Director at The Demographics Group, Simon Kuestenmacher, says the increase is the “most optimistic” finding to come from the latest census.

“An increase like this isn’t driven by a high birth rate, he told Stephen Quartermain and Elise Elliott, filling in for Ross and Russel.

“An increase like this is driven by more people feeling safe, feeling loud and proud enough to self-identify as Indigenous, and that is wonderful.

“It means we as a country have managed to collectively finally create an environment where people feel safe to tell you who they are.”

Press PLAY below to hear what Mr Kuestenmacher found most surprising about the census results

The changing face of Australia: Three key findings from the latest census