14,408
Higher than 98% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Kimberley · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Kimberley
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 huge gap exists between Kimberley and the rest of the country, with First Nations people here facing much tougher economic and educational hurdles. The region is home to 14,408 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a population size among the largest for any area of this level.
14,408
- 1–1: 10 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 1 area
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–8: 0 areas
- 8–11: 3 areas
- 11–16: 0 areas
- 16–23: 1 area
- 23–32: 1 area
- 32–45: 1 area
- 45–64: 0 areas
- 64–91: 0 areas
- 91–129: 3 areas
- 129–182: 3 areas
- 182–257: 9 areas
- 257–364: 15 areas
- 364–515: 23 areas
- 515–729: 30 areas
- 729–1,031: 45 areas
- 1,031–1,458: 40 areas
- 1,458–2,063: 37 areas
- 2,063–2,918: 44 areas
- 2,918–4,128: 33 areas
- 4,128–5,840: 29 areas
- 5,840–8,262: 17 areas
- 8,262–11,687: 6 areas
- 11,687–16,534: 6 areas
All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Kimberley — higher than 98% of areas.
| Kimberley | 14,408 |
|---|---|
| Rest of WA | 45,110 |
| Western Australia | 88,693 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 26 years old, making them a little older than the state and national figure of 24.
26 yrs
Older than 64% of sub-region (sa3) 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 a major challenge here, as only 25.2% of First Nations people finished Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 37%.
25.2%
Lower than 89% of sub-region (sa3) 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 in the region, with a 20% unemployment rate for First Nations people. This is well above the 12.3% seen across Australia.
20.0%
Higher than 89% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Earnings are among the lowest for similar areas, with typical weekly household incomes at $1,022. This is well below the national figure of $1,507.
$361
Lower than 99% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,022
Lower than 99% of sub-region (sa3) 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 ties remain strong, with 37% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is far above the national figure of 12.3%.
37.0%
Higher than 98% of sub-region (sa3) 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 Kimberley
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Kimberley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/51001/kimberley/topic/first-nations