2,637
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
West Daly · Council (LGA)
First Nations in West Daly
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 huge gap exists between West Daly and the rest of the country, especially with 90.6% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This area has a significant First Nations population of 2,637 people who maintain strong cultural ties despite facing severe economic challenges.
2,637
- 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 Daly — higher than 86% of areas.
| West Daly | 2,637 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NT | 45,289 |
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 2,637 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here, which is more than about 86% of similar areas. The typical First Nations resident is 24, making them a little younger than the Northern Territory figure.
24 yrs
Younger 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.
About 28.4% of First Nations residents finished Year 12. This is well above the Northern Territory's 23.2%, but remains well below the Australian figure of 37.0%.
28.4%
Lower than 67% 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 27.6%, which is among the highest for similar areas and far above the national figure of 12.3%.
27.6%
Higher than 91% 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 for First Nations people are among the lowest in the region at $615, which is far below the national figure of $1,507. Typical personal incomes are also far below the rest of the country at $173.
$173
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$615
Lower than 99% 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 connections are very strong, with 90.6% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is far above the 60.1% seen across the Northern Territory.
90.6%
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 Daly
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in West Daly [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA74680/west-daly/topic/first-nations