65,646
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Victoria · State / Territory
First Nations in Victoria
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 65,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Victoria, which is a higher number than in most other states. This population is relatively young and generally earns more than the national average.
65,646
- 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 Victoria.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 65,646 First Nations people in Victoria, with a typical age of 24, which is about the same as the Australian figure.
24 yrs
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Education levels are high, as 42.4% of First Nations residents finished Year 12. This is well above the national figure of 37%.
42.4%
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 9.6%, which is much lower than in most other states and a little below the Australian average of 12.3%.
9.6%
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Typical incomes are much higher here than in most other states. Typical weekly household income is $1,565, and personal income is $619, both of which are above the national figures.
$619
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,565
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 5.2% of First Nations people in Victoria speak a First Nations language. This is lower than in most other states and well below the national figure of 12.3%.
5.2%
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 Victoria
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Victoria [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/2/victoria/topic/first-nations