14,539
Higher than 71% of remoteness area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Outer Regional Australia · Remoteness Area
First Nations in Outer Regional 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.
Higher income and language retention levels mark Outer Regional Australia as a standout among similar areas. There are 14,539 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here, and they generally earn more and speak more traditional languages than those in most other regions.
14,539
- 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 Outer Regional Australia — higher than 71% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population is larger than about 72% of similar areas. The typical age for these residents 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.
About 35.6% of First Nations people here finished Year 12. This is higher than most similar areas, though it sits 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 11.1%. This is lower than most similar areas and a little below the Australian figure of 12.3%.
11.1%
Lower than 71% 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.
Earnings are much higher than most similar areas, with a typical personal income of $699, which is well above the national figure of $540. Household incomes are also much higher than most similar areas at $1,868.
$699
Higher than 86% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,868
Higher than 87% 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.
Traditional language is strongly maintained here, with 13.8% of First Nations people speaking a First Nations language. This is much higher than most similar areas and a little above the national average.
13.8%
Higher than 73% 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 Outer Regional Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Outer Regional Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA72/outer-regional-australia/topic/first-nations