7,003
Higher than 89% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Darwin · Council (LGA)
First Nations in Darwin
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 gains in education and earnings have shaped the First Nations experience in Darwin. The city is home to 7,003 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a typical household income of $1,691, which is well above the Northern Territory figure.
7,003
- 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 Darwin — higher than 89% of areas.
| Darwin | 7,003 |
|---|---|
| Greater Darwin | 14,539 |
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident in Darwin is 25 years old. This is a little younger than the Northern Territory average of 26 years, but a little older than the national figure of 24.
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 high here, with 37.7% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is far above the Northern Territory rate of 23.2% and about the same as the Australian average.
37.7%
Higher than 64% 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 13.0%. While this is higher than in most areas, it is well below the Northern Territory figure of 20.8%.
13.0%
Higher than 60% 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.
Earnings are strong in the city, with a typical personal income of $615. This is far above the Northern Territory figure of $323 and a little above the national average of $540.
$615
Higher than 67% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,691
Higher than 74% 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.
About 17.3% of First Nations people in Darwin speak a First Nations language. This is well above the Australian average of 12.3%, though far below the 60.1% seen across the Northern Territory.
17.3%
Higher than 87% 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 Darwin
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Darwin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA71000/darwin/topic/first-nations