1,252
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Walgett - Lightning Ridge · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
First Nations in Walgett - Lightning Ridge
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.
Daily life for the 1,252 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Walgett - Lightning Ridge is marked by significant economic challenges. This population is among the largest for any similar area in the region, though they face gaps in income and employment compared to the rest of the country.
1,252
- 1–1: 115 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–3: 4 areas
- 3–5: 5 areas
- 5–7: 5 areas
- 7–9: 5 areas
- 9–12: 12 areas
- 12–17: 8 areas
- 17–23: 14 areas
- 23–31: 70 areas
- 31–43: 94 areas
- 43–58: 138 areas
- 58–80: 164 areas
- 80–109: 222 areas
- 109–149: 249 areas
- 149–204: 254 areas
- 204–279: 230 areas
- 279–381: 221 areas
- 381–521: 206 areas
- 521–712: 161 areas
- 712–974: 127 areas
- 974–1,331: 86 areas
- 1,331–1,820: 42 areas
- 1,820–2,488: 21 areas
- 2,488–3,402: 12 areas
- 3,402–4,651: 5 areas
- 4,651–6,359: 2 areas
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Walgett - Lightning Ridge — higher than 87% of areas.
| Walgett - Lightning Ridge | 1,252 |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident here is 30 years old, which is noticeably older than the typical person in New South Wales or Australia.
30 yrs
Older than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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, with only 24.2% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 37.0%.
24.2%
Lower than 92% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 work is difficult, as the unemployment rate for First Nations people is 15.9%, well above the 12.3% seen across Australia.
15.9%
Higher than 80% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical weekly amount of $948, which is far below the New South Wales figure of $1,558. Personal incomes are also well below state and national levels.
$444
Lower than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$948
Lower than 97% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
About 3.4% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is lower than most similar areas and well below the national figure of 12.3%.
3.4%
Lower than 68% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 Walgett - Lightning Ridge
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Walgett - Lightning Ridge [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/105011096/walgett-lightning-ridge/topic/first-nations