14,355
Higher than 71% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
South-Western WA · Indigenous Region
First Nations in South-Western WA
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.
Far fewer First Nations languages are spoken in South-Western WA than in the rest of the state. While the region has 14,355 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, many face gaps in education and employment compared to national figures.
14,355
- 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 South-Western WA — higher than 71% of areas.
| South-Western WA | 14,355 |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 88,693 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population here is younger than most areas, with a typical age of 23. This is a little younger than the typical age across both Western Australia and Australia.
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.
About 30.2% of First Nations residents finished Year 12. This is a little below the Western Australian figure and well below the national average of 37.0%.
30.2%
Higher than 55% 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 15.7%, which is about the same as the state figure but well above the 12.3% seen across Australia.
15.7%
Higher than 52% 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 $1,359, which is a little below both the state and national figures. Personal income is about the same as the state and national typicals, at $497.
$497
Higher than 51% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,359
Higher than 57% 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.
Only 6.5% of First Nations people in the area speak a First Nations language. This is well below the figures for both Western Australia and Australia.
6.5%
Lower than 62% 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 South-Western WA
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in South-Western WA [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG507/south-western-wa/topic/first-nations