14,794
Higher than 72% 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 massive 54% of First Nations people speak a traditional language in Remote Australia, far above the national figure of 12.3%. This area is home to 14,794 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While cultural ties remain strong, many face significant gaps in income and employment compared to the rest of the country.
14,794
- 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 72% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 27, making this group noticeably older than the national figure of 24. This population size is larger than about 74% of similar areas.
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.
School completion is low here, with only 22.6% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far below the Australian figure of 37%.
22.6%
Lower than 72% 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 a job is more difficult in this region, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 17.9%. This is well above the national figure of 12.3% and higher than most similar areas.
17.9%
Higher than 66% 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.
Household earnings are much lower than most areas at $1,139, which is well below the national figure of $1,507. Typical personal income is among the lowest at this level, sitting far below the Australian figure at $328.
$328
Lower than 94% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,139
Lower than 77% 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.
Language preservation is a standout feature of the region. More than half of First Nations people speak a traditional language, a rate that is far above the 12.3% seen across Australia.
54.0%
Higher than 95% 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/RA73/remote-australia/topic/first-nations