1,085
Higher than 80% of indigenous location areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Canterbury · Indigenous Location
First Nations in Canterbury
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 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Canterbury, a number that is larger than in about 82% of similar areas. This community is generally older and better educated than the national average, with strong ties to traditional languages.
1,085
- 1–1: 17 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 0 areas
- 4–5: 2 areas
- 5–7: 0 areas
- 7–10: 3 areas
- 10–13: 1 area
- 13–19: 2 areas
- 19–26: 7 areas
- 26–36: 9 areas
- 36–49: 13 areas
- 49–68: 34 areas
- 68–95: 43 areas
- 95–131: 69 areas
- 131–182: 88 areas
- 182–251: 108 areas
- 251–348: 107 areas
- 348–482: 139 areas
- 482–667: 115 areas
- 667–923: 127 areas
- 923–1,278: 91 areas
- 1,278–1,769: 71 areas
- 1,769–2,448: 39 areas
- 2,448–3,389: 22 areas
- 3,389–4,691: 16 areas
- 4,691–6,494: 8 areas
- 6,494–8,989: 7 areas
All indigenous location areas, 2021. The marker is Canterbury — higher than 80% of areas.
| Canterbury | 1,085 |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population is larger than most similar areas, and the typical resident is 26. This is noticeably older than the New South Wales figure of 23.
26 yrs
Older than 57% of indigenous location areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Schooling outcomes are strong here, as 49% of First Nations people finished Year 12. This is far above the Australian figure of 37%.
49.0%
Higher than 86% of indigenous location 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 for First Nations people is 8.9%, which is lower than most areas and well below the national figure of 12.3%.
8.9%
Lower than 70% of indigenous location 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 incomes are much higher than in most areas, with the usual person earning $699 per week, which is well above the Australian figure of $540.
$699
Higher than 82% of indigenous location areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,603
Higher than 72% of indigenous location 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 ties remain strong, with 10.8% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is well above the New South Wales figure of 4%.
10.8%
Higher than 62% of indigenous location 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 Canterbury
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Canterbury [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/iloc/ILOC10700804/canterbury/topic/first-nations