46
Higher than 76% of suburb / locality areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Sydney · Suburb / Locality
First Nations in Sydney
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 growing First Nations population has shaped the local landscape in Sydney, with 46 people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The community here stands out for being far older than the state and national figures, with a typical age of 31.
46
- 1–1: 6180 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 770 areas
- 4–5: 626 areas
- 5–7: 781 areas
- 7–9: 780 areas
- 9–12: 625 areas
- 12–17: 661 areas
- 17–23: 511 areas
- 23–32: 567 areas
- 32–44: 486 areas
- 44–60: 559 areas
- 60–82: 470 areas
- 82–113: 455 areas
- 113–155: 490 areas
- 155–212: 381 areas
- 212–291: 319 areas
- 291–398: 256 areas
- 398–546: 182 areas
- 546–748: 111 areas
- 748–1,025: 72 areas
- 1,025–1,404: 38 areas
- 1,404–1,924: 20 areas
- 1,924–2,637: 10 areas
- 2,637–3,613: 1 area
- 3,613–4,952: 0 areas
- 4,952–6,786: 1 area
All suburb / locality areas, 2021. The marker is Sydney — higher than 76% of areas.
| Sydney | 46 |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 31, which is far older than the New South Wales figure of 23 and noticeably older than the national average of 24.
31 yrs
Older than 66% of suburb / locality areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Schooling levels are much higher here than in most similar areas, with 62.8% of First Nations people completing Year 12. This is far above the New South Wales rate of 35.0%.
62.8%
Higher than 88% of suburb / locality 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.
Despite the high education levels, the unemployment rate for First Nations people is 17.6%, which is well above the national figure of 12.3% and much higher than most similar areas.
17.6%
Higher than 79% of suburb / locality 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 far above the national figure of $540, reaching $1,062. This is reflected in household incomes of $2,035, which is well above the New South Wales average of $1,558.
$1,062
Higher than 82% of suburb / locality areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$2,035
Higher than 63% of suburb / locality 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 13.0% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is well above the New South Wales figure of 4.0% and about the same as the national average.
13.0%
Higher than 84% of suburb / locality 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 Sydney
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Sydney [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13730/sydney/topic/first-nations