NORTHERN TERRITORY


Total population

Age and sex distribution

Median age

Children (under 15 years of age)

Working age population (aged 15-64 years)

People aged 65 years and over

Sex ratio


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Northern Territory (NT) at June 2013 was 240,800 people, an increase of 20,900 people (or 9.5%) since June 2008. This was the equal third-fastest growth (along with the Australian Capital Territory) of all states and territories, behind Western Australia (16%) and Queensland (10%).

Greater Darwin was home to over half of the NT's population in 2013, increasing by 15,000 people since 2008 to reach 136,200. The rest of the NT increased by 5,900 people in the same five year period to reach 104,500.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2013, the population of Greater Darwin was generally older than the population 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 2013, the NT had a median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of 31.6 years. Despite increasing from 31.0 years in the five years to 2013, the NT continued to have the lowest median age of all states and territories.

The SA2 in the NT with the highest median age in 2013 was Virginia (41.4 years) in Darwin's rural area. This was followed by Ross (41.1 years), which is predominantly a rural/residential area located in Alice Springs, and Alligator (40.4) in the Top End. The SA2 with the largest increase in median age between 2008 and 2013 was the inner-Darwin area of Ludmilla - The Narrows, which increased by 3.8 years.

In 2013, Thamarrurr, which includes the community of Wadeye, was the SA2 with the lowest median age (22.6 years) in the NT, followed by West Arnhem (24.9) and Victoria River (25.3). These areas are all located outside of Greater Darwin.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At June 2013, there were 53,800 children in the NT, with boys outnumbering girls by 1,600. While the number of children increased by 1,700 in the five years to 2013, the proportion of children in the total NT population declined from 24% in 2008 to 22% in 2013. However, the NT still had the highest proportion of children of all states and territories in 2013.

In 2013, 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 (also 29%) and Moulden (28%) in Palmerston.

In the rest of the NT, 25% of the population were under 15 years of age. The SA2s with the highest proportion of children in the NT were Thamarrurr (37%), Victoria River (32%) and Daly (30%), all located in the rest of the NT.

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2013, there were 171,900 people of working age (15 to 64 years) residing in the NT, an increase of 15,000 people from June 2008. 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 (85%), which contains the Northern Immigration Detention Centre and the Darwin Correctional Centre, and Stuart Park (81%).

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 2013, there were 15,000 people aged 65 years and over in the NT, representing 6.2% of the total population. While this was an increase from 4.9% in 2008, it was by far the lowest proportion of all states and territories, with the Australian Capital Territory having the next lowest at 11%.

The SA2 with the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over in 2013 was the northern suburb of Tiwi (14%) in Greater Darwin, which contains a retirement village. This was followed by Ross in Alice Springs, and Fannie Bay - The Gardens in Greater Darwin (both 12%).

SEX RATIO

There were 126,800 males and 113,900 females in the NT at June 2013. This represents a sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) of 111.3, an increase from 109.2 in June 2008. The NT had the highest sex ratio of all states and territories in 2013, 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 225.8 males per 100 females. This was followed by Howard Springs (164.4) in the Darwin rural area, Darwin City (141.3) and Alligator (138.4).

The SA2s with the lowest sex ratios were Tiwi (92.7) in the northern suburbs of Darwin, and Driver (93.4) and Moulden (93.6) in Palmerston.