NORTHERN TERRITORY



Territory summary

Darwin

Remainder of the Northern Territory

Population density

Centre of population

Local government area populations

TERRITORY SUMMARY

The estimated resident population of the Northern Territory (NT) at June 2009 was 225,900, an increase of 5,400 people (2.5%) since June 2008. The NT continued to be the third fastest growing of all the states and territories in the five year period to June 2009.

DARWIN

At June 2009, 124,800 people resided in Darwin SD, an increase of 3,700 people or 3.1% since 2008. Darwin SD was one of the top ten fastest growing SDs in Australia in 2008-09.

Between June 2008 and June 2009, all three SSDs within Darwin SD continued to experience population growth. The fastest growth was in Palmerston-East Arm (4.5%).

In the 12 month period to June 2009, the SSD of Darwin City experienced the largest population growth of all SSDs in the NT. Darwin increased to 75,900 people which accounted for a third of the NT population. The largest growth within this SSD occurred in the SLAs of City - Inner (up 430 people or 13.3%) and Lee Point-Leanyer Swamp (300 people or 112.8%). The growth in Lee Point-Leanyer Swamp can be attributed to a new housing estate development in the suburb of Lyons.

Palmerston-East Arm was the second largest growing SSD, increasing to 30,000 people by June 2009. The SLA of Palmerston (C) Bal (which includes the suburbs of Farrar, Marlow Lagoon and Rosebery) grew the most, with an increase of 580 people (13.7%).

The population of Litchfield SSD at June 2009 was 18,800 people, a 2.8% increase since June 2008. The SLA of Litchfield (M) - Pt B (which includes Howard Springs and Humpty Doo), increased by 520 people.

REMAINDER OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

The population of the Northern Territory - Bal SD at June 2009 was 101,200 people, an increase of 1.7% since June 2008. This region accounted for 44.8% of the population within the NT.

All SSDs within Northern Territory - Bal SD grew in population in the 12 months to June 2009. East Arnhem recorded the fastest growth (2.3%), followed by Alligator (2.1%) and Lower Top End NT (2.0%).

In the 12 months to June 2009, the LGAs in the Northern Territory - Bal SD experienced smaller population growth compared with those in Darwin SD. Alice Springs (T), the biggest regional centre outside Darwin, grew the most with an increase of 310 people.

Of the LGAs in the Northern Territory - Bal SD, the fastest growth occurred in Roper Gulf (S) with an increase of 2.5%, followed by Victoria-Daly (S) (2.2%) and East Arnhem (S) and West Arnhem (S) (both 2.1%).

SLAs WITH LARGEST POPULATION GROWTH, Northern Territory
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2009p	2008r-2009p
SLA	no.	no.	%
Palmerston (C) Bal	4 800	580	13.7
Litchfield (M) - Pt B	17 100	520	3.1
City - Inner	3 600	430	13.3
Lee Point-Leanyer Swamp	600	300	112.8
East Arnhem (S)	9 900	200	2.1

Unincorporated NT

The population of Unincorporated NT at June 2009 was 9,100 people, an increase of 2.9% since June 2008.

Unincorporated NT includes the SLAs of Alyangula, East Arm, Finniss-Mary, Nhulunbuy and Yulara. Alyangula and Nhulunbuy townships both come under a Special Purpose Lease, East Arm is on Darwin Rates Act Area land, Finniss-Mary is part of Unincorporated Top End Region and Yulara township is currently owned by private interests.

POPULATION DENSITY

At June 2009, the population density of the NT was 0.2 people per square kilometre (sq km), the lowest of any state or territory. Most of the NT had a very low population density, with 11 SLAs (comprising 99% of the total area of the territory) having less than one person per sq km. Darwin also had the lowest population density (40 people per sq km) of any capital city SD in Australia.

At June 2009, the SLAs within the Darwin SD with the highest population density were Bakewell (2,800 people per sq km) in Palmerston (C), followed by Nightcliff and Wagaman (both 2,700).

Litchfield (M) - Pt B, which comprises 90% of the total area of the Darwin SD, had the lowest population density (6.1 people per sq km), followed by East Arm (15.4).

The SLAs that had the largest increase in population density in 2008-09 were City - Inner (increasing by 170 people per sq km) and Bakewell (120).

CENTRE OF POPULATION

The centre of population at June 2009 for the NT was approximately 60 kilometres south-south-west of the town of Katherine. The centre moved roughly 15.9 kilometres north in the five years from June 2004 to June 2009. This reflects strong population growth in the territory's northern LGAs including Darwin (C) and Palmerston (C).

The centre of population for the Darwin SD, at June 2009, was south of the Stuart Highway in the suburb of Berrimah.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA POPULATIONS

For a full list of LGA populations, see the Downloads tab.