There are three key areas of change that are needed in the field of Indigenous statistics to support the production of data to better inform decision-making about economic development. The first is to address gaps in official data collected by national governments and statistical offices. The second is to collect data about more dimensions of well-being and develop indicators that are inclusive of Indigenous values and perspectives. The third, and most important, is to include Indigenous peoples in the process of data collection and empower them to own and use their data.
Indigenous communities
Approximately 39.5 million Indigenous peoples live across 14 OECD countries, and they are concentrated spatially, making geography a key factor in shaping well-being outcomes. Although Indigenous peoples make up about 5% of the world’s population, they represent 15% of the world’s extreme poor and one-third of the rural poor (UN). These gaps are larger in rural and remote areas. In comparison to non-Indigenous populations, the employment gap is more pronounced in rural regions, with an average difference of 20.2 percentage points compared to 8.4 percentage points in urban areas across OECD member countries like Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States).
Key messages
Facilitate policy coherence by developing (or enhancing) national strategic policy frameworks for Indigenous economic development. Align implementation and enhance coordination between levels of government and across different sectoral policies as well as with Indigenous communities. Create opportunities for meaningful participation in government decision-making for Indigenous peoples. Provide resources and tools to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous-led organisations.
Indigenous land rights and clear property rights provide the basis for economic development. Indigenous lands are territories and waters that Indigenous peoples traditionally use or occupy. These lands have a unique legal status where Indigenous peoples have formal recognition as “first peoples”. Clarification of property rights over land and waters is critical for Indigenous peoples to mobilise assets and achieve self-determination.
Indigenous entrepreneurship can unlock own-source revenues and support businesses that respect and incorporate traditional knowledge and values. Entrepreneurship presents Indigenous peoples with the opportunity to use assets and resources in ways that align with their objectives for development and can generate opportunities for own-source revenues. However, Indigenous peoples have lower rates of entrepreneurship than non-Indigenous populations.
Context
Indigenous populations in OECD member countries
The size of Indigenous populations differs significantly across OECD member and non-member countries.
Participation in the labour market has important implications in many Indigenous peoples’ lives
At the national level, Indigenous peoples have lower employment rates than rest of the population. Finding a job and being employed under secure, well-paid and stable work conditions can help Indigenous peoples break dependency relationships with governments by giving them independent sources of income.
Related publications
Workshops
Related policy issues
-
Many places in the OECD face declining and ageing populations. This trend will continue. 14 OECD countries are expecting to lose population by 2040. In some regions this trend will be lasting and strong, with some projected to lose 20% or more of their population by 2050. Strong population shrinkage brings challenges that are best addressed at the regional and local level. For example, the costs of services and infrastructure provision rise per person, while quality and access risks declining. Affected regions typically struggle with labour and skill shortages, deteriorating real estate values, eroding tax bases and vacant buildings. The effects vary across regions: while people often migrate from rural to urban regions, some cities and towns are also affected by population decline. Local policies, delivered with national support, are necessary to foster well-being, economic and environmental sustainability. They need to cover government finances, infrastructure and service provision as well as multilevel governance.Learn more
-
The OECD Mining Regions and Cities Initiative is a platform for sharing good practices and policy advice to improve the economic, social, and environmental well-being of regions specialised in mining and mineral activities. Thematic areas of work include supporting value-added and diversification in mining economies, enhancing access to services and housing in mining towns, promoting economic participation of women and Indigenous peoples, and unlocking opportunities from the green and just transition. The initiative produces tailored case studies, global conferences, and a statistical toolbox to benchmark actions across regions. It aims to foster partnerships across governments, community-led initiatives, and private sector activities, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) approaches.Learn more
-
The OECD Principles on Rural Policy embody 20+ years of OECD work on rural development. They provide guidance for an integrated approach to urban-rural development, enhancing the sustainability and well-being of rural areas.Learn more
-
Improving people's well-being requires sound evidence-based policies. We produce indicators for regions, cities and local areas in all areas of well-being. We promote international comparability, as well as the use of cutting-edge methods and new sources of data. Our network of experts advises on best practices for the production and use of high-quality statistics.Learn more
-
The OECD provides data, best practices, and tools to help policymakers adopt integrated, flexible, and sustainable solutions for service delivery in rural areas.Learn more
-
Across the world, people’s daily activities centre around clusters of population and economic activity. Settlements – cities, towns and villages – provide jobs and access to services for their own residents and others nearby. Thriving settlements can promote wellbeing while addressing societal challenges in regions and countries.Learn more