4,238
Lower than 60% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
West Kimberley · Indigenous Region
First Nations in West Kimberley
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.
Strong cultural ties remain a standout feature in West Kimberley, where more than half of First Nations people speak a traditional language. There are 4,238 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here, with a typical age of 27.
4,238
- 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 West Kimberley — lower than 60% of areas.
| West Kimberley | 4,238 |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 88,693 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 27 years old, which is noticeably older than the typical person in Western Australia or across Australia.
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.
Year 12 completion for First Nations people sits at 21.5%, a figure that is far below both the state and national averages.
21.5%
Lower than 72% 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.
Unemployment for First Nations people is 14.0%, which is a little below the state figure but a little above the national rate.
14.0%
Lower than 58% 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.
Household incomes for First Nations people are among the lowest for similar areas, with a typical weekly amount of $842, which is far below the national figure.
$324
Lower than 90% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$842
Lower than 99% 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 very common here, with 54.2% of people doing so—a rate far above the rest of the country.
54.2%
Higher than 86% 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 West Kimberley
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in West Kimberley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG508/west-kimberley/topic/first-nations