4,729
Higher than 96% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
West Arnhem · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
First Nations in West Arnhem
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 strong First Nations identity has continued to shape West Arnhem, where nearly 95% of the Indigenous population speaks a traditional language. With 4,729 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it is one of the largest such groups in the region.
4,729
- 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 West Arnhem — higher than 96% of areas.
| West Arnhem | 4,729 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 25 years old, which is a little younger than the Northern Territory figure but a little older than the national average.
25 yrs
Older than 57% 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.
Year 12 completion sits at 21.4%, a figure that is among the lowest for similar areas and far below the Australian average of 37.0%.
21.4%
Lower than 96% 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 significant challenge here, with an unemployment rate of 40.4%, which is far above both the Northern Territory (20.8%) and Australia (12.3%).
40.4%
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.
Typical personal incomes are among the lowest in the country at $246, while household incomes of $1,213 are a little below the national figure.
$246
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,213
Lower than 84% 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 connection is very high in West Arnhem, with 94.3% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language, far above the 60.1% seen across the Northern Territory.
94.3%
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 West Arnhem
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in West Arnhem [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/702031061/west-arnhem/topic/first-nations