135,921
Higher than 99% of remoteness area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Major Cities of Australia · Remoteness Area
First Nations in Major Cities of Australia
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 135,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live across Australia's major cities, where many find better access to jobs and schooling. This population is notably young, with a typical age of 24, matching the national figure for First Nations people.
135,921
- 1–2: 7 areas
- 2–2: 0 areas
- 2–4: 0 areas
- 4–5: 1 area
- 5–8: 0 areas
- 8–13: 2 areas
- 13–19: 0 areas
- 19–29: 1 area
- 29–45: 2 areas
- 45–68: 1 area
- 68–104: 0 areas
- 104–158: 1 area
- 158–242: 2 areas
- 242–369: 0 areas
- 369–562: 3 areas
- 562–858: 0 areas
- 858–1,308: 3 areas
- 1,308–1,995: 2 areas
- 1,995–3,043: 1 area
- 3,043–4,641: 3 areas
- 4,641–7,079: 0 areas
- 7,079–10,797: 5 areas
- 10,797–16,468: 6 areas
- 16,468–25,117: 4 areas
- 25,117–38,308: 3 areas
- 38,308–58,428: 2 areas
- 58,428–89,116: 1 area
- 89,116–135,921: 3 areas
All remoteness area areas, 2021. The marker is Major Cities of Australia — higher than 99% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 24 years old, which is lower than most areas and about the same as the national figure.
24 yrs
Younger than 71% of remoteness area 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 strong here, with 40.3% of First Nations people finishing Year 12, which is well above the national figure of 37.0%.
40.3%
Higher than 84% of remoteness area 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.
Job seekers have had more success in these cities, as the 8.8% unemployment rate is much lower than most areas and well below the national rate of 12.3%.
8.8%
Lower than 89% of remoteness area 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 incomes are much higher than most areas, with household earnings of $1,746 and personal incomes of $652, both of which are a little above the national figures.
$652
Higher than 81% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,746
Higher than 83% of remoteness area 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.
Only 4.3% of First Nations people in these cities speak a First Nations language, a figure that is lower than most areas and well below the national average of 12.3%.
4.3%
Lower than 69% of remoteness area 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 Major Cities of Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Major Cities of Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA10/major-cities-of-australia/topic/first-nations