178
Lower than 71% 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 typical First Nations resident in Very Remote Australia is 42 years old, which is far older than the national figure of 24. This sparsely populated area has a small First Nations population of 178 people, with a profile that differs significantly from national trends in age and language.
178
- 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 71% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population is smaller than in about 70% of similar areas. Those living here are much older than most, with a typical age of 42 compared to 24 across Australia.
42 yrs
Older than 88% 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.
Year 12 completion is 24.8%, which is lower than most similar areas and far below the Australian figure of 37%.
24.8%
Lower than 65% 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 9.2%, which is well below the national figure of 12.3% and much lower than most similar areas.
9.2%
Lower than 86% 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 personal income is $568, which is about the same as the national figure and higher than most similar areas, even though household income is much lower than in other areas at $1,107.
$568
Higher than 68% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,107
Lower than 80% 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 2.8% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language, a figure that is much lower than most similar areas and well below the national rate of 12.3%.
2.8%
Lower than 86% 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/RA64/very-remote-australia/topic/first-nations