1,012
Lower than 53% of indigenous area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Gulf · Indigenous Area
First Nations in Gulf
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 strong connection to culture defines daily life in Gulf, where 82.1% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is far above the national figure and one of the highest rates in the region. However, the community faces significant hurdles with employment and schooling.
1,012
- 1–1: 8 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 1 area
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–9: 0 areas
- 9–12: 3 areas
- 12–18: 0 areas
- 18–25: 1 area
- 25–36: 0 areas
- 36–52: 1 area
- 52–74: 0 areas
- 74–106: 0 areas
- 106–151: 5 areas
- 151–217: 5 areas
- 217–310: 9 areas
- 310–444: 33 areas
- 444–636: 49 areas
- 636–910: 60 areas
- 910–1,302: 78 areas
- 1,302–1,864: 44 areas
- 1,864–2,668: 53 areas
- 2,668–3,819: 28 areas
- 3,819–5,466: 23 areas
- 5,466–7,823: 15 areas
- 7,823–11,198: 6 areas
- 11,198–16,027: 6 areas
- 16,027–22,940: 1 area
All indigenous area areas, 2021. The marker is Gulf — lower than 53% of areas.
| Gulf | 1,012 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 1,012 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here. This group is noticeably younger than the Northern Territory average, with a typical age of just 23.
23 yrs
Younger than 71% of indigenous area 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 a major challenge, as only 17.9% of First Nations residents finished Year 12. This is well below the Northern Territory figure of 23.2% and far below the Australian rate of 37%.
17.9%
Lower than 88% of indigenous area 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 difficult for many, with an unemployment rate of 43%. This is far above the 20.8% seen across the Northern Territory and more than triple the national rate.
43.0%
Higher than 98% of indigenous area 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 personal income for First Nations people is $250, which is among the lowest for similar areas and far below the Australian figure of $540. Typical household incomes sit at $1,309, which is about the same as the Northern Territory average.
$250
Lower than 99% of indigenous area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,309
Lower than 58% of indigenous area 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.
Traditional languages remain very strong in Gulf, with 82.1% of First Nations people speaking one. This is far above the 12.3% recorded across Australia.
82.1%
Higher than 94% of indigenous area 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 Gulf
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Gulf [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/iare/IARE705004/gulf/topic/first-nations