NSW Central and North Coast · Indigenous Region

First Nations in NSW Central and North Coast

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.

Nearly 96,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live across the NSW Central and North Coast, making it one of the largest populations of its kind in the region. This group is notably young, with a typical age of just 23 years. Across the region, First Nations residents see higher typical incomes than those in most similar areas.

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📍 NSW Central and North Coast, Indigenous Region

Where NSW Central and North Coast sits — Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people

95,714
  • 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 NSW Central and North Coast — higher than 99% of areas.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people compared with the state and national average
NSW Central and North Coast95,714
New South Wales 278,043

Population & age

How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.

The typical First Nations resident is 23 years old, which is much lower than most areas and a little younger than the national figure of 24.

Education

School completion among First Nations people.

Year 12 completion is at 34.2%, which is higher than most areas and about the same as the state figure of 35.0%.

Work

Engagement with the labour force.

The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 10.3%, a figure that is much lower than most areas and a little below the national rate of 12.3%.

Income

Personal and household incomes.

Typical household income is $1,555 and personal income is $579, both of which are higher than in most similar areas.

Language & culture

Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.

About 3.9% of First Nations people speak a First Nations language, which is lower than most areas and well below the national figure of 12.3%.

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).

More for NSW Central and North Coast

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in NSW Central and North Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG104/nsw-central-and-north-coast/topic/first-nations