753
Higher than 87% of suburb / locality areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
West Arnhem · Suburb / Locality
First Nations in West Arnhem
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 massive gap exists between the local First Nations experience and the national average, particularly in West Arnhem where 95.4% of these residents speak a traditional language. While the area is home to one of the largest First Nations populations at this level, it faces significant challenges in employment and income compared to the rest of the country.
753
- 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 West Arnhem — higher than 87% of areas.
| West Arnhem | 753 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 61,115 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 753 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here. The typical person in this group is 26 years old, which is about the same as the Northern Territory average.
26 yrs
Older than 50% 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 a struggle in the area, with Year 12 completion at 16.3%. This is far below the Australian figure of 37.0% and well below the Territory's 23.2%.
16.3%
Lower than 93% 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.
Finding a job is difficult here, as the unemployment rate is 24.3%. This is among the highest for similar areas and far above the national rate of 12.3%.
24.3%
Higher than 89% 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 income is among the lowest at this level at $229, which is far below the Australian figure of $540. Household incomes are also well below the national average.
$229
Lower than 98% of suburb / locality areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,100
Lower than 78% 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 connection remains very strong, with 95.4% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language. This is far above the 60.1% seen across the Northern Territory.
95.4%
Higher than 99% 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 West Arnhem
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in West Arnhem [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70284/west-arnhem/topic/first-nations