2,030
Higher than 89% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Tiwi Islands · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
First Nations in Tiwi Islands
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 staggering 90.6% of First Nations people in the Tiwi Islands speak a traditional language, far exceeding both the territory and national figures. This reflects a strong cultural connection in a community of 2,030 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, though the area faces significant economic challenges.
2,030
- 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 Tiwi Islands — higher than 89% of areas.
| Tiwi Islands | 2,030 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident here is 28, making the population noticeably older than the Australian figure of 24 and a little older than the Northern Territory's typical age of 26.
28 yrs
Older than 76% 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.
About 29.2% of First Nations people have finished Year 12. This is well above the Northern Territory's 23.2%, though it remains well below the national figure of 37.0%.
29.2%
Lower than 86% 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 a job is difficult here, with an unemployment rate of 35.5% for First Nations people. This is far above the 20.8% seen across the Northern Territory and the 12.3% national figure.
35.5%
Higher than 99% 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 for First Nations people are among the lowest in the country at $639, which is far below the national figure of $1,507. Typical personal income is also far below the national figure, sitting at $223.
$223
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$639
Lower than 99% 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 is very strong, with 90.6% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is far above the 60.1% for the Northern Territory and the 12.3% seen across Australia.
90.6%
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 Tiwi Islands
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Tiwi Islands [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/702031060/tiwi-islands/topic/first-nations