NORTHERN TERRITORY


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Northern Territory (NT) at June 2014 was 245,100 people, an increase of 19,000 (8.4%) since June 2009.

Greater Darwin was home to over half of the NT's population in 2014, increasing by 15,100 people since 2009 to reach 140,400. The rest of the NT increased by 4,000 people over the same five year period to reach 104,700.


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2014, the population of Greater Darwin was generally older than in the rest of the NT. Greater Darwin had a higher proportion of males aged 20 to 24 years and above and females aged 25 to 29 years and above. In contrast, the rest of the NT had a higher proportion of both males and females in the younger age groups, most notably in the 5 to 9 year age group.

In both Greater Darwin and the rest of the NT, the 25 to 29 year age group accounted for the largest proportion of the population of any age group, for both males and females.

MEDIAN AGE

At June 2014, the NT had a median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of 31.8 years. Despite increasing from 31.0 years in 2009, the NT continued to have the lowest median age of all states and territories.

The SA2s in the NT with the highest median ages in 2014 were Virginia in Darwin's rural area, and Alligator in the Top End (both 41.1 years). This was followed by Ross (40.9 years), which is predominantly a rural/residential area located in Alice Springs. The median age of Howard Springs, a rural area on the outskirts of Greater Darwin, increased by 5.0 years between 2009 and 2014, the largest increase of any SA2 in the NT.

In 2014, Thamarrurr, which includes the community of Wadeye, was the SA2 with the lowest median age (23.0 years) in the NT, followed by West Arnhem (25.4) and Victoria River (25.5). These areas are all located outside of Greater Darwin.


CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At June 2014, there were 54,000 children in the NT, with boys outnumbering girls by 1,400. While the number of children increased by 1,300 in the five years to 2014, the proportion of children in the NT population declined from 23% in 2009 to 22% in 2014. However, the NT still had the highest proportion of children of all states and territories in 2014.

In 2014, 20% of Greater Darwin’s population was under 15 years of age. Within Greater Darwin, the SA2s with the highest proportions of children were Lyons (29%) in Darwin's northern suburbs, and Rosebery - Bellamack (29%) and Moulden (28%) in Palmerston.

In the rest of the NT, a quarter of the population was under 15 years of age. The SA2s with the highest proportion of children in the rest of NT were Thamarrurr (37%), Victoria River (33%) and Daly (30%).


WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2014, there were 175,000 people of working age (15 to 64 years) residing in the NT, an increase of 13,100 people from June 2009. The NT had the highest proportion of working age population of all states and territories, at 71%.

Within Greater Darwin, the SA2s with the highest proportions of working age population were Darwin City (86%), Berrimah (83%) and Larrakeyah (82%).

The SA2 with the highest proportion in the rest of the NT was Petermann - Simpson (79%) in the far south, followed by Mount Johns in Alice Springs, and Alligator (both 75%).

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

At June 2014, there were 16,000 people aged 65 years and over in the NT, representing 6.5% of the total population. While this was an increase from 5.1% in 2009, it was the lowest proportion of all states and territories, with the Australian Capital Territory having the next lowest at 12%.

The SA2 with the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over in 2014 was the northern suburb of Tiwi (15%) in Greater Darwin, which contains a retirement village. This was followed by Ross in Alice Springs (13%), and Fannie Bay - The Gardens in Greater Darwin (12%).


SEX RATIO

There were 129,600 males and 115,500 females in the NT at June 2014. This represents a sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) of 112.2, an increase from 109.9 in June 2009. The NT had the highest sex ratio of all states and territories in 2014, with more males than females in every five year age group up to and including 75 to 79 years.

The SA2 of Berrimah had the highest sex ratio in the NT, with 196.4 males per 100 females. This was followed by Howard Springs (165.5) in the Darwin rural area, Darwin City (144.5) and Alligator (141.0).

The SA2s with the lowest sex ratios were Driver (91.5) in Palmerston, and Tiwi (92.8) and Malak - Marrara (94.6) in the northern suburbs of Darwin.