West Arnhem

The area is far younger than the rest of Australia, with a typical resident aged 27 and a high proportion of children under 15. About 90.9% of the population is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, a figure that has risen slightly since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, with 95.2% born here. Only 2.2% of the population was born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

Language diversity is very high, as 88.5% of people use a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure and reflects the strong presence of First Nations languages.

Christianity is the most common faith, held by 56.6% of residents. Those reporting no religion make up 20.1% of the community, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are much lower than the national average, with only 25% of residents completing Year 12. While there are many schools for the number of children, only 4.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are among the lowest in the country, with a typical personal weekly income of just $260. This is far below the national figure of $805, and the proportion of high earners is very small.

Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most Australians, with 20.3% having one, compared to 27.7% nationally. Only 2.5% of the population has a mental health condition, which is well below the national figure.

Caregiving is a major part of local life, with 60.9% of people providing unpaid childcare, far above the national figure of 26.3%. However, volunteering is low at 5.5%.

First Nations people make up the vast majority of the community, and 94.3% speak a First Nations language. Unemployment is very high at 40.4%, which is far above the national rate of 12.3%.

Homes are much larger than usual, with a typical 5.0 people per household. This is far above the national figure of 2.5 and is consistent with the high number of children in the area.

Renting is very common at 79%, far above the national figure. While most live in separate houses, they are often crowded, with a typical 1.9 people per bedroom.

The area is heavily car-dependent, and 62.1% of homes have no motor vehicle, far above the national figure. Many people walk to work, with 44.3% doing so, as there are no public transport stops.

The community is very stable, with only 14.3% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure. Interestingly, recent overseas arrivals are high at 32.7%.

Workforce participation is very low at 34.9%, far below the national figure of 61.1%. Unemployment is also very high at 32.1%, though full-time employment has risen slightly since 2011.

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the nation across all measures, including access to money, resources, and job skills. There are only 12 businesses operating in the region.

The climate is wet and warm, with average annual rainfall of 1,222mm, which is far above the Northern Territory average of 362mm.

While the area is generally car-dependent, many homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services (94.8%) and groceries (90.3%).