4,267
Higher than 87% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Derby-West Kimberley · Council (LGA)
First Nations in Derby-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.
More than half of First Nations people in Derby-West Kimberley speak a traditional language, a figure far above the national average. The region is home to 4,267 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, making it one of the largest populations of its kind at this level.
4,267
- 1–1: 9 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 3 areas
- 4–6: 0 areas
- 6–9: 1 area
- 9–12: 12 areas
- 12–18: 5 areas
- 18–25: 11 areas
- 25–36: 20 areas
- 36–52: 16 areas
- 52–74: 13 areas
- 74–106: 29 areas
- 106–151: 26 areas
- 151–217: 32 areas
- 217–310: 44 areas
- 310–444: 37 areas
- 444–636: 42 areas
- 636–910: 51 areas
- 910–1,302: 49 areas
- 1,302–1,864: 32 areas
- 1,864–2,668: 55 areas
- 2,668–3,819: 26 areas
- 3,819–5,466: 24 areas
- 5,466–7,823: 11 areas
- 7,823–11,198: 7 areas
- 11,198–16,027: 5 areas
- 16,027–22,940: 5 areas
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Derby-West Kimberley — higher than 87% of areas.
| Derby-West Kimberley | 4,267 |
|---|---|
| Rest of WA | 45,110 |
| Western Australia | 88,693 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 27, which is noticeably older than the usual age of 24 seen across Australia and Western Australia.
27 yrs
Older than 64% of council (lga) 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 a challenge here, with only 21.5% of First Nations people finishing Year 12, a rate far below the national figure of 37%.
21.5%
Lower than 87% of council (lga) 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 13.8%, which is higher than in most similar areas and a little above the Australian average.
13.8%
Higher than 65% of council (lga) 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 among the lowest at this level, with a typical weekly amount of $841, which is far below the $1,507 seen nationally.
$323
Lower than 96% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$841
Lower than 93% of council (lga) 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 ties remain strong, as 54.4% of First Nations people speak a traditional language, far above the state figure of 16%.
54.4%
Higher than 94% of council (lga) 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 Derby-West Kimberley
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Derby-West Kimberley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA52800/derby-west-kimberley/topic/first-nations