88,693
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Western Australia · State / Territory
First Nations in Western Australia
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 strong connection to culture and language defines daily life for the 88,693 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia. This population is much larger than in most other similar areas. The typical First Nations resident is 24, which is about the same as the national figure.
88,693
- 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 Western Australia.
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
With 88,693 First Nations people, Western Australia has a much higher population than most other areas at this level.
24 yrs
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Year 12 completion for First Nations residents is 32.5%, which is well below the national figure of 37.0% and lower than most similar areas.
32.5%
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Work
Engagement with the labour force.
Unemployment for First Nations people is 15.9%, a rate that is much higher than most other areas and well above the Australian figure of 12.3%.
15.9%
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 for First Nations people is $481, which is a little below the national figure. Household income is $1,480, placing the state around the middle for its level and about the same as across Australia.
$481
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,480
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 16.0% of First Nations people speaking a First Nations language. This is well above the Australian figure of 12.3% and much higher than most similar areas.
16.0%
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 Western Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Western Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/5/western-australia/topic/first-nations