Lexi Webster
The Northern Territory (NT) is a self-governing territory of Australia, occupying the central and northern regions of the continent. It is sparsely populated, with a population of 249,000 as of December 2021, which increased to 262,191 by the end of 2024. The NT's population accounts for about 1% of the total population of Australia, with the majority residing in the greater Darwin area, and the rest dispersed over remote areas. The population of the Northern Territory is the youngest in Australia, with the largest proportion under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion aged 65 and over.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 251,200 |
| Population Density | 0.17 people per km² |
| Annual Population Growth Rate | 1.7% |
| Life Expectancy | 78.4 years (male), 82.8 years (female) |
| Median Age | 34 years |
| Indigenous Australian Population | 30.3% |
| Percentage of Australian Population | 1% |
| Major Cities | Darwin, Palmerston |
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What You'll Learn
Population growth and demographics
The Northern Territory (NT) is a self-governing territory of Australia, occupying the central and northern regions of the continent. It is sparsely populated, with a population of 249,000 as of December 2021, making it the eleventh-largest country subdivision in the world by area. The NT's population accounts for about 1% of the total population of Australia, with the majority residing in the greater Darwin area, and the remainder dispersed over remote and very remote areas. The population of the Northern Territory has been increasing over the years, with the 2011 census recording 211,945 people, a 10% increase from the 2006 census. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimated a resident population of 244,300 in June 2015. The population further increased to 262,191 in the December quarter of 2024, representing a 1.2% growth rate for the year.
Population growth in the NT is more volatile than in the rest of Australia and is driven primarily by natural increase and net overseas migration. Interstate migration also plays a role in annual population fluctuations, influenced by employment opportunities. The NT's population growth strategy for 2018-2028 aims to attract more people to the territory and encourage long-term residency.
The NT's population is characterised by a young age profile, with the largest proportion under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion aged 65 and over. The median age in 2021 was 33 years, compared to the Australian median of 38 years. The NT also has a significant Aboriginal population, estimated at 76,487 in June 2021, representing 30.8% of the Territory's population. The Aboriginal median age was 27 years, compared to 36 years for the non-Aboriginal population.
The largest population centre in the NT is Darwin, with 122,207 residents as of the 2021 census. The major settlements in the NT, in order of size, are Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Tennant Creek. Humans have inhabited the Northern Territory for an estimated 48,400 to 68,700 years, with Indigenous people arriving over 60,000 years ago.
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Population density and distribution
The Northern Territory (NT) is a self-governing territory of Australia, occupying the central section of the northern part of the continent. It is sparsely populated, with a population of 249,000 as of December 2021, which accounts for about 1% of the total population of Australia. The Northern Territory's population is the youngest in Australia, with the largest proportion (23.2%) under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion (5.7%) aged 65 and over. The NT's population is characterised by its young age profile, with a large number of persons aged 25 to 34 years in the NT, as well as the NT's large Aboriginal population, which had a median age of 27 years in 2021 compared to 36 years for the non-Aboriginal population.
The population of the Northern Territory is concentrated in coastal regions and along the Stuart Highway, which links Darwin to southern Australia. The capital, Darwin, is the largest population centre in the Northern Territory, with a population of 122,207 as of the 2021 census. The City of Darwin, the largest local government area within the Northern Territory, had a population of 80,530 in 2021. The population of the greater Darwin area, including Palmerston, was 140,000 in 2021, meaning that three in five people in the NT lived in this area.
The Northern Territory has a land area of 1,347,791 square kilometres (520,385 square miles), making it the third-largest Australian federal division and the 11th-largest country subdivision in the world. However, its population density is very low, with only a quarter of a million people living in the territory as of 2025. This is a very small number considering the size of the territory, and it is fewer than half the population of Tasmania. The low population density is partly due to the remote and very remote nature of the territory, as well as the small number of major cities in the region. The Northern Territory does not include any of the major cities of Australia, such as Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, or Melbourne.
The population of the Northern Territory has been growing, with a 10% increase in population between the 2006 and 2011 censuses, and a further increase to 233,000 people in the 2021 census. The population growth in the NT is significantly more volatile than the growth in the Australian population as a whole. In the long term, the NT's population growth has been driven by natural increase and net overseas migration. The Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy 2018-2028 provides a framework for attracting people to the Territory and encouraging those already there to stay for the long term.
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Largest cities and settlements
The Northern Territory is the most sparsely populated state or territory in Australia, with a population of only about 250,000 residents as of December 2021. The capital city of the Northern Territory is Darwin, which is also the largest city in the region with a population of around 120,000. In fact, the entire population of the Northern Territory is far smaller than that of large Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne, which have a few million residents each.
Darwin has faced several challenges that have hindered its growth. During World War II, Darwin was flattened by Japanese forces, and in 1974, it was devastated by Cyclone Tracy. The city also experiences extreme weather conditions, slow postage times, and a small-minded community, making it less attractive to potential residents. Additionally, the Northern Territory as a whole has struggled with a lack of infrastructure, high taxes, and high fuel prices, which have impeded the development of its cities.
The population of the Northern Territory is concentrated in coastal regions and along the Stuart Highway, with larger population centres located on this highway connecting Darwin to southern Australia. The major settlements in the Northern Territory, after Darwin, are Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Tennant Creek. Palmerston, located adjacent to Darwin, is a planned satellite city with a population of 36,208 as of 2018. Alice Springs, located in the Southern region of the Northern Territory, has a population of around 24,000 people and is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty and cultural significance. Katherine, situated about 300 kilometres southeast of Darwin, has a population of approximately 10,000 people and serves as a major service centre for the surrounding agricultural areas. Nhulunbuy, located on the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land, has a population of about 4,000 people and is primarily known for its bauxite mining industry. Lastly, Tennant Creek, located in the Northern Territory's Barkly Region, has a population of around 3,000 people and is a significant transport hub and service centre for the surrounding pastoral and mining industries.
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Population compared to other territories
The Northern Territory (NT) is a self-governing territory of Australia, occupying the central and northern regions of the continent. It is sparsely populated, with a population of 249,000 as of December 2021, which increased to 262,191 in the December quarter of 2024. This is a very small number of people considering the size of the Northern Territory, which covers 1,347,791 square kilometres (520,385 square miles). In comparison, the Northern Territory has fewer than half the population of Tasmania.
The population of the Northern Territory accounts for about 1% of the total population of Australia. The territory's population is the youngest in Australia, with the largest proportion (23.2%) under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion (5.7%) aged 65 and over. The median age in the Northern Territory is 33 years, compared to the Australian median age of 38 years in 2021.
The Northern Territory's population is concentrated in coastal regions and along the Stuart Highway, with the majority residing in the greater Darwin area. The capital city of Darwin is the largest population centre in the Northern Territory, with a population of 122,207 as of the 2021 census. The City of Darwin, including its suburbs, had a population of 80,530 in 2021. Other major settlements in the Northern Territory include Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Tennant Creek.
The Northern Territory's population growth has been driven by natural increase and net overseas migration. The territory has one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, with an annual growth rate of 1.2% in 2024. However, the Northern Territory does not receive as many visitors as other territories in Australia. This is partly due to its remote location and the absence of major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth.
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Population projections and predictions
The population of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia is estimated to be around a quarter of a million people, making it sparsely populated considering its size. The population growth rate in the NT is more volatile than the Australian national average and is largely influenced by variations in interstate migration, which is typically driven by employment opportunities.
The NT population accounts for about 1% of Australia's total population, with the majority of residents living in the greater Darwin area, and the rest dispersed over remote areas. The NT population is characterised by its young age profile, with the largest proportion of any Australian state or territory under 15 years of age, and the smallest proportion over 65. The median age in the NT in 2021 was 33 years, compared to the Australian median age of 38 years.
The Aboriginal population in the NT is significant, representing about 30.8% of the Territory's population as of 30 June 2021. The median age of the Aboriginal population in the NT was 27 years in 2021, compared to 36 years for the non-Aboriginal population. The NT population also has more males than females, partly due to the prevalence of male-dominated industries such as mining, construction and defence.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) conducts a census every five years, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the country's economic, social and cultural makeup. The most recent census data for the NT, from 2021, recorded a population of 233,000, up from 229,000 in 2016. The NT Government's Department of Treasury and Finance also provides quarterly population economic briefs and has developed population projections up to the year 2046. The Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy 2018-2028 aims to attract more people to the Territory and encourage existing residents to stay long-term.
The NT population has been steadily growing, with the Territory recording a population of 262,191 in the December quarter of 2024, a 1.2% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by natural increase and net overseas migration, which offset the loss from net interstate migration.
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Frequently asked questions
The population of the Northern Territory (NT) in Australia was 232,605 as of the 2021 Australian census.
The population of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, was 122,207 as of the 2021 census.
The Northern Territory's population accounts for about 1% of the Australian population.
The Aboriginal population in the Northern Territory was estimated to be 76,487 as of 30 June 2021, representing about 30.8% of the Territory's population.
