32,952
Higher than 78% of capital city areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Greater Melbourne · Capital City
First Nations in Greater Melbourne
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — how many people identify as First Nations, and how they fare on age, schooling, work, income and language. From the ABS 2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile; the ABS notes these counts are an undercount.
More than 32,900 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live across Greater Melbourne. This represents a much higher population than in most similar areas. Many of these residents see better outcomes in education, jobs and pay compared to the state and national figures.
32,952
- 1–2: 7 areas
- 2–2: 0 areas
- 2–4: 0 areas
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–9: 0 areas
- 9–13: 2 areas
- 13–21: 0 areas
- 21–32: 0 areas
- 32–49: 1 area
- 49–76: 0 areas
- 76–118: 0 areas
- 118–181: 1 area
- 181–280: 1 area
- 280–431: 1 area
- 431–665: 1 area
- 665–1,026: 0 areas
- 1,026–1,582: 4 areas
- 1,582–2,440: 0 areas
- 2,440–3,763: 0 areas
- 3,763–5,804: 0 areas
- 5,804–8,952: 1 area
- 8,952–13,807: 1 area
- 13,807–21,295: 3 areas
- 21,295–32,845: 2 areas
- 32,845–50,659: 4 areas
- 50,659–78,135: 1 area
- 78,135–120,512: 1 area
- 120,512–185,873: 2 areas
All capital city areas, 2021. The marker is Greater Melbourne — higher than 78% of areas.
| Greater Melbourne | 32,952 |
|---|---|
| Victoria | 65,646 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical age for First Nations people in Greater Melbourne is 25, which is a little older than the national and state figures of 24.
25 yrs
Younger than 57% of capital city areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
School completion is high here, with 49.5% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far above the own national figure of 37.0%.
49.5%
Higher than 94% of capital city areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Work
Engagement with the labour force.
The unemployment rate is 8.6%, which is much lower than most similar areas and well below the national rate of 12.3%.
8.6%
Lower than 94% of capital city areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Typical household income is $1,809, which is a little above the figures for Victoria and Australia. Personal income is also much higher than in most similar areas.
$694
Higher than 79% of capital city areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,809
Higher than 81% of capital city areas.
Median total weekly income for households with one or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.
Language & culture
Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.
About 6.2% of First Nations people here speak a traditional language. This is about the same as the state figure, though well below the national average of 12.3%.
6.2%
Lower than 56% of capital city areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Greater Melbourne
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Greater Melbourne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/2GMEL/greater-melbourne/topic/first-nations