31,232
Higher than 86% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Adelaide · Indigenous Region
First Nations in Adelaide
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 31,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Adelaide, a population size larger than about 88% of similar areas. The community is notably young, with a typical age of just 23 years. This group shows strong educational outcomes, with Year 12 completion rates sitting well above the state figure.
31,232
- 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 Adelaide — higher than 86% of areas.
| Adelaide | 31,232 |
|---|---|
| South Australia | 42,562 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 23, which is much lower than in most other areas and a little younger than the state and national figures of 24.
23 yrs
Younger than 86% 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 outcomes are high here, as 39.4% of First Nations people finished Year 12. This is well above the South Australian rate of 34.7% and a little above the national figure.
39.4%
Higher than 82% 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 14.1%. This is a little below the South Australian figure of 15.6%, but a little above the Australian rate of 12.3%.
14.1%
Lower than 57% 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 personal income is $532, which is higher than most areas and a little above the state average. Household income is $1,337, which is about the same as the state figure and a little below the national one.
$532
Higher than 58% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,337
Lower than 51% 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.
About 8.0% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is well below both the South Australian rate of 13.4% and the national figure of 12.3%.
8.0%
Lower than 56% 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 Adelaide
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Adelaide [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG401/adelaide/topic/first-nations