3,990
Lower than 51% 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.
A strong connection to traditional culture defines daily life for the 3,990 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living across Very Remote Australia. This region stands out for its deep linguistic roots and a First Nations population that is noticeably older than the national figure.
3,990
- 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 — lower than 51% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 27 years old, which is older than most similar areas and three years older than the national figure.
27 yrs
Older 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.
Only 17% of First Nations people have finished Year 12, a figure that is far below the Australian average of 37%.
17.0%
Lower than 87% 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.
Finding work is a significant challenge here, with a First Nations unemployment rate of 26.6%, which is far above the national figure of 12.3%.
26.6%
Higher than 77% 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 earnings are among the lowest for this level of area, with personal incomes at $335 and household incomes at $994, both well below national figures.
$335
Lower than 92% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$994
Lower than 96% 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 remains strong, as 62.8% of First Nations people speak a traditional language, a proportion far above the Australian average of 12.3%.
62.8%
Higher than 98% 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/RA44/very-remote-australia/topic/first-nations