5,200
Higher than 87% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Mid West · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Mid West
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.
Significant gaps in income and education mark the First Nations experience in the Mid West, where 5,200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live. While this population is larger than in most similar areas, they face challenges with unemployment and lower typical earnings compared to the rest of the state.
5,200
- 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 Mid West — higher than 87% of areas.
| Mid West | 5,200 |
|---|---|
| Rest of WA | 45,110 |
| Western Australia | 88,693 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 5,200 First Nations people in the region, a population size larger than about 91% of similar areas. The typical age is 25, making this group a little older than the state and national figure of 24.
25 yrs
Older than 57% 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.
Year 12 completion is low at 27.3%, which is much lower than most areas. This is well below the 32.5% seen across Western Australia and the 37% national average.
27.3%
Lower than 87% 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.
The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 18.1%, which is much higher than most similar areas. This is a little above the state figure of 15.9% and well above the Australian rate of 12.3%.
18.1%
Higher than 87% 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.
Typical household income is $1,250, which is much lower than most areas and a little below the state and national figures. Similarly, the usual personal income of $465 is much lower than in most other areas.
$465
Lower than 88% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,250
Lower than 86% 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.
About 9.8% of the First Nations population speaks a traditional language, which is much higher than in most similar areas. However, this is well below the 16% seen across Western Australia.
9.8%
Higher than 85% 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 Mid West
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Mid West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/51104/mid-west/topic/first-nations