45,289
Higher than 86% of capital city areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Rest of NT · Capital City
First Nations in Rest of NT
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.
A huge population of 45,289 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live across the Rest of NT, making it one of the highest-ranking areas for First Nations residents. This region stands out for its deep cultural ties, with a far higher proportion of people speaking First Nations languages than in the rest of the Territory.
45,289
- 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 Rest of NT — higher than 86% of areas.
| Rest of NT | 45,289 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident here is 26 years old, which is about the same as the Northern Territory average and a little older than the national figure of 24.
26 yrs
Younger than 52% 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 low in this region, with only 20% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is well below the Northern Territory's 23.2% and far below the own Australian figure of 37%.
20.0%
Lower than 72% 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.
Finding a job is more difficult here, as the First Nations unemployment rate of 25.9% is higher than in most similar areas and well above the Territory average.
25.9%
Higher than 64% 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.
Household incomes for First Nations people are much lower than in most other areas, at $1,117. This is reflected in personal incomes, where the typical $280 is among the lowest at this level and far below the national figure.
$280
Lower than 99% of capital city areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,117
Lower than 99% 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.
Cultural heritage is very strong here, with 75.8% of First Nations people speaking a First Nations language. This is far above both the national figure and the Northern Territory average.
75.8%
Higher than 99% 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 Rest of NT
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Rest of NT [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/7RNTE/rest-of-nt/topic/first-nations