1,255
Higher than 88% of suburb / locality areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Broome · Suburb / Locality
First Nations in Broome
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 much higher unemployment rate than the national average defines the First Nations experience in Broome. The town is home to 1,255 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, one of the largest populations for an area of this size. While the community is culturally rich, many residents face significant gaps in income and employment compared to the rest of the country.
1,255
- 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 Broome — higher than 88% of areas.
| Broome | 1,255 |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 88,693 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 29 years old, which is noticeably older than the typical age of 24 years found across Western Australia and the nation.
29 yrs
Older than 60% 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.
School completion is lower than in most similar areas, with 31.3% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is a little below the Western Australian figure of 32.5% and well below the Australian average of 37.0%.
31.3%
Lower than 71% 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.
Joblessness is a major challenge, with an unemployment rate of 21.9%. This is much higher than in most areas and sits well above the national figure of 12.3%.
21.9%
Higher than 87% 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.
Household incomes are lower than in most areas, with a typical weekly amount of $1,166, which is well below the national figure of $1,507. Typical personal incomes are also a little below the Australian average at $447.
$447
Lower than 76% of suburb / locality areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,166
Lower than 75% 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 heritage remains strong, as 11.9% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is much higher than in most similar areas, though it is well below the Western Australian average of 16.0%.
11.9%
Higher than 81% 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 Broome
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Broome [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL50190/broome/topic/first-nations