278,043
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
New South Wales · State / Territory
First Nations in New South Wales
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 278,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in New South Wales, marking one of the largest populations of this group in the country. This community is notably young, with a typical age of just 23 years. While many residents earn more than those in similar areas, there is a significant gap in the use of traditional languages.
278,043
- 224–289: 1 area
- 289–373: 0 areas
- 373–481: 0 areas
- 481–620: 0 areas
- 620–799: 0 areas
- 799–1,031: 0 areas
- 1,031–1,330: 0 areas
- 1,330–1,715: 0 areas
- 1,715–2,212: 0 areas
- 2,212–2,852: 0 areas
- 2,852–3,679: 0 areas
- 3,679–4,744: 0 areas
- 4,744–6,119: 0 areas
- 6,119–7,892: 0 areas
- 7,892–10,178: 1 area
- 10,178–13,127: 0 areas
- 13,127–16,930: 0 areas
- 16,930–21,835: 0 areas
- 21,835–28,161: 0 areas
- 28,161–36,320: 1 area
- 36,320–46,843: 1 area
- 46,843–60,414: 0 areas
- 60,414–77,918: 2 areas
- 77,918–100,492: 1 area
- 100,492–129,606: 0 areas
- 129,606–167,156: 0 areas
- 167,156–215,584: 0 areas
- 215,584–278,043: 2 areas
All state / territory areas, 2021. The marker is New South Wales.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
New South Wales has one of the highest First Nations populations of any state, with 278,043 people. The typical age here is 23, which is much lower than most other areas and a little younger than the national figure of 24.
23 yrs
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Around 35% of First Nations people have completed Year 12, which is higher than most other areas at this level. This is a little below the national figure of 37%.
35.0%
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 9.8%. This is lower than most other areas and sits a little below the Australian average of 12.3%.
9.8%
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Typical earnings are much higher than in most other areas, with household income at $1,558 and personal income at $600. These figures are about the same or a little above the national figures.
$600
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,558
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 4% of First Nations people speak a traditional language, which is much lower than most other areas and well below the national figure of 12.3%.
4.0%
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 New South Wales
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in New South Wales [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/1/new-south-wales/topic/first-nations