19,644
Higher than 75% of remoteness area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Very Remote Australia · Remoteness Area
First Nations in Very Remote 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.
Far more people identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in Very Remote Australia than in most similar areas. This region stands out for its strong cultural ties, with nearly half of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. However, these strengths sit alongside significant gaps in income and employment compared to the rest of the country.
19,644
- 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 Very Remote Australia — higher than 75% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 19,644 First Nations people living here, a count larger than about 79% of similar areas. The typical age is 25, which is a little older than the national figure of 24.
25 yrs
Younger than 57% 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.
Around 35.6% of First Nations residents finished Year 12. While this is higher than most similar areas, it remains a little below the national rate of 37.0%.
35.6%
Higher than 69% 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.
The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 15.7%. This is higher than most similar areas and well above the Australian figure of 12.3%.
15.7%
Higher than 58% 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.
Household incomes for First Nations people are $1,162, which is lower than most similar areas and well below the national figure of $1,507. Typical personal income is also well below the national mark, sitting at $431.
$431
Lower than 73% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,162
Lower than 74% 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.
Cultural heritage is very strong here, with 48.9% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is among the highest rates for similar areas and far above the national figure of 12.3%.
48.9%
Higher than 93% 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 Very Remote Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Very Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA34/very-remote-australia/topic/first-nations