6,838
Higher than 51% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
North-Western NSW · Indigenous Region
First Nations in North-Western NSW
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.
Daily life for the 6,838 First Nations people in North-Western NSW is marked by a typical age of 27. This is noticeably older than the national figure of 24. The region faces significant economic challenges, with household incomes well below the state and national averages.
6,838
- 1–2: 7 areas
- 2–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 1 area
- 5–8: 0 areas
- 8–12: 3 areas
- 12–18: 0 areas
- 18–27: 1 area
- 27–41: 0 areas
- 41–61: 1 area
- 61–92: 0 areas
- 92–140: 0 areas
- 140–211: 2 areas
- 211–318: 0 areas
- 318–479: 2 areas
- 479–723: 0 areas
- 723–1,092: 0 areas
- 1,092–1,648: 4 areas
- 1,648–2,486: 0 areas
- 2,486–3,752: 2 areas
- 3,752–5,663: 5 areas
- 5,663–8,545: 7 areas
- 8,545–12,896: 5 areas
- 12,896–19,461: 4 areas
- 19,461–29,368: 3 areas
- 29,368–44,319: 8 areas
- 44,319–66,881: 0 areas
- 66,881–100,929: 3 areas
All indigenous region areas, 2021. The marker is North-Western NSW — higher than 51% of areas.
| North-Western NSW | 6,838 |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 6,838 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here, which is more than in about 53% of similar areas. The typical age is 27, making the population noticeably older than the New South Wales average of 23.
27 yrs
Older than 71% of indigenous region areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
School completion rates are low, with only 22.7% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 37% and the state average of 35%.
22.7%
Lower than 68% of indigenous region 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 12.7%, which is lower than most similar areas. This is about the same as the Australian figure of 12.3%, though a little above the New South Wales rate of 9.8%.
12.7%
Lower than 69% of indigenous region 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 $1,137, which is well below the state and national figures. Personal income is also lower than the New South Wales average, sitting at $494.
$494
Higher than 50% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,137
Lower than 78% of indigenous region 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.
Speaking a First Nations language is uncommon here, with only 3% of people doing so. This is much lower than most similar areas and well below the national figure of 12.3%.
3.0%
Lower than 91% of indigenous region 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 North-Western NSW
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in North-Western NSW [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG103/north-western-nsw/topic/first-nations