Key Takeaway
Study finds earlier numbers were underestimated, suggesting impact of diseases and massacres were much greater than previously thoughtGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before colonisation was dramatically underestimated, according to new research that suggests many more of them were killed. Modelling by a national research…
Published September 15, 2026 · Category: News
Overview
Study finds earlier numbers were underestimated, suggesting impact of diseases and massacres were much greater than previously thought
The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before colonisation was dramatically underestimated, according to new research that suggests many more of them were killed.
Details
Modelling by a national research group puts the population levels before the 1788 first fleet arrived at 2.2 million, compared with early estimates of 250,000 people.
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Source
Originally published at www.theguardian.com.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Australia’s Indigenous population estimated at 2.2m before ‘demographic catastrophe’ of colonisation" about?+
Study finds earlier numbers were underestimated, suggesting impact of diseases and massacres were much greater than previously thoughtGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before colonisation was dramatically underestimated, according to new research that suggests many more of them were killed.Modelling by a national research group puts the population levels before the 1788 first fleet arrived at 2.2 mil
Who reported this story?+
This story was reported by The Guardian World.