2,418
Higher than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Tanami · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
First Nations in Tanami
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 powerful connection to traditional culture defines daily life in Tanami, where 93.1% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This community of 2,418 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is among the largest in its class, though it faces significant economic hurdles.
2,418
- 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 Tanami — higher than 90% of areas.
| Tanami | 2,418 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 26 years old, which is about the same as the Northern Territory average and a little older than the national figure.
26 yrs
Older than 64% 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 rates are among the lowest for this level, with only 7.2% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is far below the Northern Territory rate of 23.2% and the national figure of 37.0%.
7.2%
Lower than 99% 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.
Joblessness is a major challenge here, as the First Nations unemployment rate is 23.2%. This is a little above the Northern Territory rate and far above the Australian average of 12.3%.
23.2%
Higher than 94% 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.
Typical earnings are among the lowest in the region, with personal incomes of $249 and household incomes of $990. Both figures are well below those seen across the Northern Territory and Australia.
$249
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$990
Lower than 95% 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.
Cultural heritage remains very strong in Tanami, where 93.1% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is far above the Northern Territory figure of 60.1% and the national rate of 12.3%.
93.1%
Higher than 99% 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 Tanami
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Tanami [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/702011053/tanami/topic/first-nations