9,760
Higher than 70% of region (sa4) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
West and North West · Region (SA4)
First Nations in West and North 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.
A larger First Nations population than about 71% of similar areas defines West and North West. The community is slightly older than the state and national figures, with a typical age of 26 years. While employment rates are relatively strong, there are significant gaps in education and income compared to the rest of the country.
9,760
- 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 West and North West — higher than 70% of areas.
| West and North West | 9,760 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Tas. | 18,821 |
| Tasmania | 30,186 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 9,760 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here. The typical age is 26, which is a little older than the Tasmanian figure of 25 and the national figure of 24.
26 yrs
Older than 71% 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.
Year 12 completion is 29.5%, which is much lower than most similar areas. This is well below the Tasmanian rate of 33.9% and far below the Australian figure of 37.0%.
29.5%
Lower than 80% 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 9.5%, which is lower than most similar areas. This is a little below the national figure of 12.3% and about the same as the state's 10.1%.
9.5%
Lower than 67% 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 household income is $1,327, which is much lower than most areas and a little below the Australian figure of $1,507. The usual personal income is $548, which is lower than most similar areas.
$548
Lower than 69% of region (sa4) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,327
Lower than 81% 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 1.2% of the community speaks a First Nations language, which is among the lowest at this level. This is far below the national figure of 12.3% and about the same as the state's 1.7%.
1.2%
Lower than 99% 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 West and North West
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in West and North West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/604/west-and-north-west/topic/first-nations