5,097
Higher than 87% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
West Arnhem · Council (LGA)
First Nations in West Arnhem
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 staggering 91.4% of First Nations people in West Arnhem speak a traditional language, far exceeding both the territory and national figures. This region is home to 5,097 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, making it one of the largest populations of its kind at this level.
5,097
- 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 West Arnhem — higher than 87% of areas.
| West Arnhem | 5,097 |
|---|---|
| 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 26 years old, which is about the same as the Northern Territory average and a little older than the national figure.
26 yrs
Older than 57% 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 low, with only 21.5% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is a little below the Northern Territory rate and far below the Australian average.
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.
Unemployment is very high at 37.0%, a figure that is among the highest for similar areas and far above both the territory and national rates.
37.0%
Higher than 98% 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 personal income for First Nations people is among the lowest at this level, at $253. Household income is $1,259, which is about the same as the Northern Territory average.
$253
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,259
Lower than 63% 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 is very strong, with 91.4% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language, which is far above the 60.1% seen across the Northern Territory.
91.4%
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 West Arnhem
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in West Arnhem [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA74660/west-arnhem/topic/first-nations