31,734
Higher than 86% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Melbourne · Indigenous Region
First Nations in Melbourne
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.
Over 31,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Melbourne, a population larger than in about 90% of similar areas. This community is generally well-educated and earns more than the national typical figures.
31,734
- 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 Melbourne — higher than 86% of areas.
| Melbourne | 31,734 |
|---|---|
| Victoria | 65,646 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 25 years old, which is a little older than the typical age across both Victoria and Australia.
25 yrs
Younger than 57% 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.
Schooling levels are high here, with 49.7% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is far above the national figure of 37%.
49.7%
Higher than 96% 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 for First Nations people is 8.7%, which is much lower than most similar areas and well below the Australian figure of 12.3%.
8.7%
Lower than 95% 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 incomes are much higher than in most similar areas, with First Nations households earning $1,802 and individuals earning $691 per week.
$691
Higher than 86% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,802
Higher than 86% 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.
While 6.3% of First Nations people speak a traditional language, this is well below the national figure of 12.3%.
6.3%
Lower than 63% 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 Melbourne
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Melbourne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG201/melbourne/topic/first-nations