10,411
Higher than 63% of remoteness area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Remote Australia · Remoteness Area
First Nations in 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 cultural presence defines Remote Australia, where 16.7% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is well above the national figure of 12.3%. The area is home to 10,411 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a larger population than about 64% of similar regions.
10,411
- 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 Remote Australia — higher than 63% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations person here is 25 years old. This is a little older than the national figure of 24 years.
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.
About 32.9% of First Nations residents have finished Year 12. While this is higher than most similar areas, it is well below the Australian figure of 37%.
32.9%
Higher than 60% 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 13.5%, which is a little above the national figure of 12.3%.
13.5%
Lower than 57% 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 household incomes for First Nations people are $1,740, which is much higher than most similar areas and a little above the national figure. Personal incomes are also higher than most similar areas, at $567.
$567
Higher than 67% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,740
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.
Speaking a First Nations language is much more common here than in most similar areas. The 16.7% rate is well above the Australian figure of 12.3%.
16.7%
Higher than 75% 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 Remote Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA53/remote-australia/topic/first-nations