2,843
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Central Desert · Council (LGA)
First Nations in Central Desert
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.
A striking 92.2% of First Nations people in Central Desert speak a traditional language. This region is home to 2,843 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a population larger than most similar areas. While the community is generally young, it faces significant challenges with employment and income.
2,843
- 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 Central Desert — higher than 86% of areas.
| Central Desert | 2,843 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NT | 45,289 |
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 25 years old. This is a little younger than the Northern Territory average and a little older than the national figure.
25 yrs
Older than 50% 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 very low here, with only 11.2% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far below both the Territory and national rates.
11.2%
Lower than 99% 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.
Finding a job is difficult in this region. The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 33.5%, which is far above the figures for the Northern Territory and Australia.
33.5%
Higher than 95% 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.
Typical earnings are among the lowest for similar areas. Household income is $853 and personal income is $241, both of which are well below the Northern Territory and national figures.
$241
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$853
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 connection remains very strong, with 92.2% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is far above the figures for the rest of the Territory and the country.
92.2%
Higher than 99% 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 Central Desert
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Central Desert [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA70620/central-desert/topic/first-nations