40,806
Higher than 87% 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.
A growing First Nations population defines the Major Cities of Australia, where a young demographic now brings higher education and income levels than most similar areas. This region is home to 40,806 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a typical age of just 23 years.
40,806
- 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 87% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 23, making this group a little younger than the national figure of 24. This population is larger than in about 91% of similar areas.
23 yrs
Younger than 86% 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 a strong point here, with 40.6% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is well above the national figure of 37.0% and much higher than most similar areas.
40.6%
Higher than 85% 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 15.1%, which is a little above the national figure of 12.3% and sits around the middle for this level of area.
15.1%
Higher than 55% 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 here than in most similar areas, with household income at $1,653 and personal income at $600, both of which are a little above the national figures.
$600
Higher than 75% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,653
Higher than 78% 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.
About 8.3% of the First Nations population speaks a traditional language. While this is higher than most similar areas, it is well below the national figure of 12.3%.
8.3%
Higher than 59% 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/RA50/major-cities-of-australia/topic/first-nations