3,302
Lower than 63% of indigenous region areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Tennant Creek · Indigenous Region
First Nations in Tennant Creek
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 half of the 3,302 First Nations people in Tennant Creek speak a traditional language, reflecting a deep cultural connection to the region. While the community remains culturally strong, many residents face significant challenges with employment and low household incomes.
3,302
- 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 Tennant Creek — lower than 63% of areas.
| Tennant Creek | 3,302 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 26 years old, which is about the same as the Northern Territory figure and a little older than the national typical age of 24.
26 yrs
Older 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.
School completion rates are a major challenge here, with only 14.7% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far below the Australian figure of 37%.
14.7%
Lower than 87% 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.
Joblessness is a pressing issue, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 28.3%. This is well above the Northern Territory figure of 20.8% and far above the national rate.
28.3%
Higher than 77% 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 are much lower than in most areas, with a typical income of $1,086. Personal incomes are also far below the national figure, sitting at $334.
$334
Lower than 88% of indigenous region areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,086
Lower than 84% 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.
Cultural identity remains prominent, with 58.6% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is far above the national figure of 12.3%.
58.6%
Higher than 87% 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 Tennant Creek
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Tennant Creek [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ireg/IREG707/tennant-creek/topic/first-nations