CensusAtlas

Indicator

Speaks a First Nations language

Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.

Australia over time

12.3% in 2021

Not directly comparable across censuses — shown per year only.

Explore on the map

See how indigenous language varies across Australia.

By statistical area 2 (sa2) By council (lga) By sub-region (sa3) By region (sa4) By capital city By state / territory By australia By suburb / locality By remoteness area By indigenous location By indigenous area By indigenous region

Highest areas

SA2 areas with the highest indigenous language (2021 Census).

  1. East Arnhem 95.8%
  2. Anindilyakwa 95.5%
  3. West Arnhem 94.3%
  4. Thamarrurr 93.2%
  5. Tanami 93.1%
  6. Elsey 93.1%

Related indicators

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people View → First Nations median age View → First Nations Year 12 completion View → First Nations unemployment rate View → First Nations median personal income View → First Nations household income View →

Frequently asked questions

What is Speaks a First Nations language in Australia?

At the 2021 Census, Speaks a First Nations language across Australia was 12.3%. It is expressed as a percentage of the relevant group.

How is Speaks a First Nations language measured?

Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home. It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

How does Speaks a First Nations language vary across Australia?

Across the 2,312 SA2 areas with data, Speaks a First Nations language ranges from 0.0% to 95.8%, with a typical (median) area at 5.3%. Most areas cluster toward the lower end, with a smaller number of much higher areas stretching the range.

Can Speaks a First Nations language be compared across censuses?

Not directly — definitions or boundaries changed between censuses, so year-to-year changes in Speaks a First Nations language should be read with caution.

Where can I see Speaks a First Nations language for my area?

Use the interactive map to compare Speaks a First Nations language down to statistical area 2 (sa2) and council (lga) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Speaks a First Nations language [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/indicator/share-indigenous-language