11,287
Higher than 75% of region (sa4) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Illawarra · Region (SA4)
First Nations in Illawarra
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.
More than 11,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in the Illawarra, which is a larger population than in about 76% of similar areas. This community is notably young, with a typical age of just 22 years.
11,287
- 1–1: 7 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 1 area
- 5–7: 0 areas
- 7–10: 2 areas
- 10–15: 0 areas
- 15–21: 0 areas
- 21–31: 0 areas
- 31–46: 1 area
- 46–67: 0 areas
- 67–99: 0 areas
- 99–145: 0 areas
- 145–213: 1 area
- 213–312: 1 area
- 312–458: 1 area
- 458–671: 1 area
- 671–984: 2 areas
- 984–1,444: 4 areas
- 1,444–2,117: 4 areas
- 2,117–3,105: 9 areas
- 3,105–4,553: 13 areas
- 4,553–6,677: 16 areas
- 6,677–9,792: 13 areas
- 9,792–14,359: 13 areas
- 14,359–21,058: 11 areas
- 21,058–30,882: 6 areas
- 30,882–45,289: 1 area
All region (sa4) areas, 2021. The marker is Illawarra — higher than 75% of areas.
| Illawarra | 11,287 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NSW | 185,873 |
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 22, making the population a little younger than both the New South Wales and Australian figures.
22 yrs
Younger than 86% of region (sa4) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
About 39.7% of First Nations people here completed Year 12, which is well above the New South Wales figure of 35%.
39.7%
Higher than 55% of region (sa4) 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 9.3%, which is lower than most areas and a little below the national figure of 12.3%.
9.3%
Lower than 69% of region (sa4) 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 weekly household income is $1,678, which is higher than most areas and a little above the national figure of $1,507.
$608
Higher than 57% of region (sa4) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,678
Higher than 61% of region (sa4) 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.
Only 3.0% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language, a figure that is much lower than most areas and well below the national average of 12.3%.
3.0%
Lower than 88% of region (sa4) 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 Illawarra
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Illawarra [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/107/illawarra/topic/first-nations