NORTHERN TERRITORY


Territory summary

Population change in Darwin

Population change in the 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 30 June 2010 was 229,700, an increase of 3,500 people (1.5%) since June 2009. The NT continued to be the third fastest-growing of all the states and territories in the five year period to June 2010, with an average annual growth rate of 2.2%.

POPULATION CHANGE IN DARWIN

At June 2010, 127,500 people resided in Darwin SD, an increase of 2,600 people or 2.1% since June 2009. Darwin SD was the second fastest-growing capital city SD in Australia in 2009-10.

Between June 2009 and June 2010, all three LGAs within Darwin SD continued to experience population growth. For the first time since 2006-07, Litchfield (M) (which grew by 2.9%) overtook Palmerston (C) (2.6%) as the fastest-growing LGA in the NT.

The population of Litchfield (M), which is situated on the outskirts of Darwin (C) and Palmerston (C), was 19,400 people at June 2010. This is predominantly a rural residential area. Almost all (94%) of the population growth in this LGA was in the SLA of Litchfield (M) - Pt B (which includes the suburbs of Howard Springs and Humpty Doo) which increased by 510 people.

Palmerston (C) increased in population to 30,100 people at June 2010. Within this LGA, the SLA of Palmerston (C) Bal (which includes the suburbs of Bellamack, Farrar and Rosebery) had the fastest and largest growth (12.0% and 580 people respectively).

In the year to June 2010, the LGA of Darwin (C) (with a population of 77,300 people) continued to account for approximately one-third of the NT population. The fastest growth within this LGA occurred in the SLA of Lee Point-Leanyer Swamp (128.9%), which can be attributed to the new housing estate development in the suburb of Lyons. The SLA of City - Inner (13.2%) had the second fastest growth.

POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REMAINDER OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

The population of Northern Territory - Bal SD at June 2010 was 102,200 people, an increase of 0.9% since June 2009. This region accounted for 44% of the population within the NT.

All LGAs within Northern Territory - Bal SD, with the exception of Wagait (S) and Katherine (T), grew in population in the 12 months to June 2010. Victoria-Daly (S) recorded the fastest growth (2.2%). However, LGAs within Northern Territory - Bal SD experienced smaller population growth compared with those in Darwin SD. East Arnhem (S) grew the most, with an increase of 180 people, followed by Victoria-Daly (S) (up 150) and Roper Gulf (S) (130). Alice Springs (T), the largest population centre outside of Darwin SD, increased by 80 people.

SLAs WITH LARGEST POPULATION GROWTH, Northern Territory
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2010p	2009r-2010p
SLA	no.	no.	%
Lee Point-Leanyer Swamp	1 300	730	128.9
Palmerston (C) Bal	5 400	580	12.0
Litchfield (M) - Pt B	17 700	510	3.0
City - Inner	4 100	480	13.2
East Arnhem (S)	10 100	180	1.8

Unincorporated NT

The population of Unincorporated NT at June 2010 was 9,100 people, an increase of 0.3% since June 2009. Unincorporated NT contains those areas in the NT that are not part of an incorporated local government council area. This includes the SLAs of Alyangula, East Arm, Finniss-Mary, Nhulunbuy and Yulara.

POPULATION DENSITY

At June 2010, 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 (41 people per sq km) of any capital city SD in Australia.

At June 2010, the SLAs within Darwin SD with the highest population density were Bakewell (2,800 people per sq km), Nightcliff and Wagaman (both 2,700). The SLA of Litchfield (M) - Pt B, which comprises 90% of the total area of Darwin SD, had the lowest population density (6.3 people per sq km), followed by East Arm (16).

Within Darwin SD, the SLAs that had the largest increase in population density in 2009-10 were City - Inner (increasing by 160 people per sq km) and Gray (up 90).

CENTRE OF POPULATION

The centre of population at June 2010 for the NT was approximately 60 kilometres south-south-west of the town of Katherine. The centre moved roughly 14.7 kilometres north in the five years from June 2005 to June 2010. This reflects strong population growth in the territory's northern LGAs including Darwin (C) and Palmerston (C).

The centre of population for Darwin SD at June 2010, 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.