30,493
Higher than 84% 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.
Far more First Nations people live in Very Remote Australia than in about 85% of similar areas. With 30,493 people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, this region stands out for its strong cultural ties, though it faces significant challenges in employment and income.
30,493
- 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 — higher than 84% of areas.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 26 years old, which is a little older than the national figure of 24.
26 yrs
Older than 50% 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.
Education levels are low, with only 18.7% of First Nations people finishing Year 12, a figure far below the Australian average of 37%.
18.7%
Lower than 84% 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.
Joblessness is a major issue here, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 30.4%, which is far above the 12.3% seen across Australia.
30.4%
Higher than 80% 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 among the lowest for this level, with a typical personal income of just $268. This is far below the national figure of $540, and typical household incomes are also well below the Australian average.
$268
Lower than 99% of remoteness area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,103
Lower than 81% 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.
Cultural heritage remains strong, as 86.3% of First Nations people speak a First Nations language. This is among the highest proportions for its level and far above the national figure of 12.3%.
86.3%
Higher than 99% 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/RA74/very-remote-australia/topic/first-nations