8,620
Higher than 58% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Katherine · Indigenous Region
First Nations in Katherine
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 70% of First Nations people in Katherine speak a First Nations language, a figure far above the national average. This reflects a strong cultural connection in a community where 8,620 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live. The population is notably young, with a typical age of just 24 years.
8,620
- 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 Katherine — higher than 58% of areas.
| Katherine | 8,620 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 24, which is a little younger than the Northern Territory figure of 26 years and about the same as the national average.
24 yrs
Younger 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.
School completion is low here, with only 16.2% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is well below the Northern Territory rate of 23.2% and far below the 37% seen across Australia.
16.2%
Lower than 84% 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.
Finding work is challenging, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 23.1%. This is a little above the Northern Territory's 20.8% and far above the national figure of 12.3%.
23.1%
Higher than 71% 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 among the lowest for similar areas, with personal income at $281. Household income is also lower than most areas, sitting at $1,173, which is well below the Australian figure of $1,507.
$281
Lower than 99% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,173
Lower than 75% 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.
Language preservation is very high in Katherine, with 69.8% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is well above the Northern Territory's 60.1% and far above the national rate of 12.3%.
69.8%
Higher than 92% 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 Katherine
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Katherine [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG705/katherine/topic/first-nations