NORTHERN TERRITORY


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Northern Territory (NT) at 30 June 2007 was 215,000, comprising 111,600 males and 103,400 females. This was an increase of 4,300 (2.0%) since 30 June 2006. In June 2007, the population of the NT was 1% of the Australian total.

At 30 June 2007, just over one third (33.9%) of the NT's population resided in Darwin City Statistical Subdivision (SSD). The fastest growing SSD in the NT between June 2006 and June 2007 was Palmerston-East Arm with an increase of 5.0%, followed closely by Litchfield Shire with an increase of 4.9%.

In the 12 months to June 2007, of the Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) with more than 1,000 people, the largest growth was recorded in Palmerston (C) Bal, which grew by 16.5%, followed by Litchfield (S) - Pt A (11.7%) and Bayview-Woolner (7.6%). The largest decreases in population were recorded in Alice Springs (T) - Stuart (3.7%) and the Darwin SLAs of Alawa (1.3%) and City - Remainder (1.2%).


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The age structure of people living in Darwin Statistical Division (SD) was generally older than for those residing in Northern Territory - Bal SD. In 2007, Darwin SD had higher proportions of people in age groups from 30-34 to 65 years and over, while Northern Territory - Bal SD had higher proportions in the younger age groups (0-4 to 20-24).

Within Darwin SD, the largest proportion of males was in the 30-34 age group (4.5%) and for females it was the 25-29 age group (4.2%). In contrast, the largest proportions of males and females in Northern Territory - Bal SD were in the 5-9 age group (4.8% and 4.5% respectively).

MEDIAN AGE

At 30 June 2007, the median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) for the NT was 31.1 years. The male median age was 31.3 years and the female median age was slightly lower at 30.8 years. The NT continues to have the lowest median age of all states and territories, with the median age of the total Australian population being 36.8 years. The NT is the only state or territory in which the female median age is lower than the male median age.

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, those with the highest median ages were Coomalie (CGC) (42.4 years) and Fannie Bay (42.3 years). The SLAs with the lowest median ages were Thamarrurr (CGC) (20.6 years) and Yugul Mangi (CGC) (21.7 years).


CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At 30 June 2007, there were 51,800 children (24.1% of the population) in the NT, with boys outnumbering girls by 1,400.

The SSD with the largest proportion of children was Daly (36.1%), while Finniss SSD had the smallest proportion of children (19.4%).

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, the largest proportions of children were in Thamarrurr (CGC) (38.6%) and Yugul Mangi (CGC) (36.7%). The smallest proportions were in Darwin's City - Inner (6.2%) and Litchfield (S) - Pt A (9.1%).

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At 30 June 2007, the number of people aged 15-64 years was 152,600, or 71.0% of the NT's population.

Darwin City SSD had the highest proportion of people (74.2%) aged 15-64 years, followed by Litchfield Shire SSD (72.6%). Daly and Lower Top End NT SSDs had the lowest proportions of people in this age group (59.6% and 66.8% respectively).

In the SLA of Litchfield (S) - Pt A, 88.2% of the population was aged 15-64 years. This high proportion is due to the presence of a military base. In contrast, Thamarrurr (CGC) (57.5%) and Yugul Mangi (CGC) (61.4%) were the SLAs with the lowest proportions of their population in this age group (excluding SLAs with less than 1,000 people).


PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

At 30 June 2007, the proportion of people aged 65 years and over in the NT was the lowest among the states and territories at 4.9% (10,500 people). Nationally the proportion was 13.2%.

The SSDs of Finniss and Darwin City had the highest proportions of their residents aged 65 years and over (10.3% and 6.3% respectively). In contrast, East Arnhem (2.0%) and Alligator (2.3%) SSDs had the lowest proportions of their population aged 65 years and over, which reflects relatively large Indigenous populations, which have higher fertility rates and lower life expectancies than the population as a whole.

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, those with the highest proportions of their populations aged 65 years and over were Alice Springs (T) - Heavitree (11.9%) and Coconut Grove (10.2%). The SLAs with the lowest proportions were the mining locations of Groote Eylandt (0.8%) and Nhulunbuy (1.0%).

SEX RATIO

The sex ratio is the number of males per one hundred females. A sex ratio less than 100 indicates that there are fewer males than females.

At 30 June 2007, males outnumbered females in the NT by 8,200. The NT's sex ratio was 107.9 compared with 98.8 for Australia. The NT had the highest sex ratio of all the states and territories, followed by Western Australia with 102.1 males per 100 females.

The Central NT SSD was the only SSD to have fewer males than females (98.5 males per 100 females). The SSDs with the highest ratios of males per 100 females were Litchfield Shire (126.7) and Finniss (114.1).

Within the 0-14 age group, Daly SSD (119.0) and Alligator SSD (111.6) had the highest sex ratios, while Lower Top End NT SSD (101.4), Darwin City and Central NT SSDs (both 102.9) had the lowest ratios. For people in the 15 to 64 'working age' group, the highest ratio of males to females was in the SSD of Litchfield Shire (129.5), which includes a large military base. The SSD with the lowest male to female ratio in the 15 to 64 age group was Daly (91.7).

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, the highest ratios of males to females were in Litchfield (S) - Pt A (296.5), Darwin's City - Inner (151.0) and the mining town of Jabiru (T) (145.3). The lowest ratios occurred in Thamarrurr (CGC) (90.6) and Alice Springs (T) - Charles (93.2).