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Lake Mackay vs Papunya

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 231 km apart · Lake Mackay profile · Papunya profile

Lake Mackay Papunya

Lake Mackay and Papunya are both remote Northern Territory areas, but they differ sharply in their demographics. Lake Mackay is sparsely populated, with a typical resident aged 36 and a typical weekly family income of $2,249. In contrast, Papunya has a much younger population with a typical age of 27 and a typical weekly family income of $519. Papunya also has a much higher share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (88.8% compared to 52.0% in Lake Mackay) and far more children under 15, who make up 28.3% of its residents while there are none in Lake Mackay.

These two places have tracked differently over time, with some gaps widening. Both are entirely car-dependent, as no homes in either area are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or public transport. While both areas sit far above the national figure for people using another language at home, this is far higher in Papunya at 88.4%. This gap in language diversity, alongside a far higher share of people who speak little or no English in Papunya (21.0% compared to 0.0% in Lake Mackay), shows how differently the two areas are evolving.

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Where they differ most

Population: 413 larger in Papunya First Nations: 36.8 pts higher in Papunya Under 15: 28.3 pts higher in Papunya Other language: 44.4 pts higher in Papunya Limited English: 21.0 pts higher in Papunya

Demographics & Identity

Population in Lake Mackayin Papunya +413 larger in Papunya gap steady
25 17th pct 438 63rd pct
Median age in Lake Mackayin Papunya +9 yrs older in Lake Mackay gap widening
36 yrs 17th pct 27 yrs 0th pct
First Nations in Lake Mackayin Papunya +36.8 pts higher in Papunya gap widening
52.0% 100th pct 88.8% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Lake Mackayin Papunya +4.3 pts higher in Papunya gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 4.3% 7th pct
Under 15 in Lake Mackayin Papunya +28.3 pts higher in Papunya gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 28.3% 93rd pct
De facto in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 1.0% 2nd pct

Age structure

52.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +18.2 pts 33.8%
0.0% Children (0–14) +28.3 pts ▸ 28.3%
20.0% Youth (15–24) +0.1 pts ▸ 20.1%
12.0% Older adults (45–64) +1.0 pts ▸ 13.0%
0.0% Seniors (65+) +4.3 pts ▸ 4.3%

Marital status

54.2% Never married ◂ +15.0 pts 39.1%
16.7% Married +32.9 pts ▸ 49.5%
12.5% Widowed ◂ +7.1 pts 5.4%
0.0% Separated +6.0 pts ▸ 6.0%
0.0% Divorced +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Age & sex structure

Lake Mackay Papunya

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Lake Mackayin Papunya +13.3 pts higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
16.0% 68th pct 2.7% 13th pct

Country of birth

72.0% Australia +21.6 pts ▸ 93.6%
0.0% Philippines +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% England even 0.0%
0.0% India even 0.0%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% New Zealand even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%
0.0% Italy even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

16.0% English ◂ +13.7 pts 2.3%
12.0% Australian ◂ +8.8 pts 3.2%
0.0% Scottish +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.0% German +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.0% Irish +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Filipino +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Chinese even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% Indian even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Dutch even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Lake Mackayin Papunya +44.4 pts higher in Papunya gap widening
44.0% 95th pct 88.4% 100th pct
Limited English in Lake Mackayin Papunya +21.0 pts higher in Papunya
0.0% 0th pct 21.0% 100th pct

Language used at home

52.0% English only ◂ +45.4 pts 6.6%
0.0% Mandarin even 0.0%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%
0.0% Tagalog even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Lake Mackayin Papunya +30.0 pts higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
40.0% 48th pct 10.0% 0th pct

Religious affiliation

44.0% Christianity +24.0 pts ▸ 68.0%
40.0% No religion ◂ +30.0 pts 10.0%
12.0% Not stated +9.0 pts ▸ 21.0%
0.0% Islam even 0.0%
0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%
0.0% Buddhism even 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%
0.0% Other religions even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Lake Mackayin Papunya +42.1 pts higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
54.2% 71st pct 12.1% 0th pct
Bachelor+ in Lake Mackayin Papunya +13.9 pts higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
20.8% 70th pct 6.9% 18th pct
Schools/1k kids in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 8.06 71st pct
Schools ≤3 km in Lake Mackayin Papunya +1 more in Lake Mackay
2 62nd pct 1 43rd pct
Avg size in Lake Mackayin Papunya +32 larger in Papunya
40 14th pct 71 20th pct
ICSEA in Lake Mackayin Papunya +46 higher in Papunya
536 0th pct 582 0th pct

Highest year of school

41.7% Year 9 or below +19.8 pts ▸ 61.4%
54.2% Year 12 ◂ +42.1 pts 12.1%
0.0% Year 10 +15.7 pts ▸ 15.7%
0.0% Year 11 +6.2 pts ▸ 6.2%

Highest qualification level

50.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +43.4 pts 6.6%
0.0% Bachelor degree +24.6 pts ▸ 24.6%
0.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +13.1 pts ▸ 13.1%
0.0% Certificate III / IV +8.2 pts ▸ 8.2%
0.0% Graduate diploma / certificate +4.9 pts ▸ 4.9%
0.0% Certificate I / II +4.9 pts ▸ 4.9%

Field of qualification

80.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +80.0 pts 0.0%
0.0% Education +18.0 pts ▸ 18.0%
0.0% Agriculture & environment +13.1 pts ▸ 13.1%
0.0% Society & culture +9.8 pts ▸ 9.8%
0.0% Creative arts +8.2 pts ▸ 8.2%
0.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +8.2 pts ▸ 8.2%
0.0% Engineering & related +6.6 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.0% Health +6.6 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.0% Management & commerce +6.6 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%
0.0% Architecture & building even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Lake Mackayin Papunya +$334 higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
$574 21st pct $240 0th pct
Household income in Lake Mackayin Papunya +$333 higher in Papunya gap narrowing
$1,187 24th pct $1,520 49th pct
Family income in Lake Mackayin Papunya +$1,730 higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
$2,249 71st pct $519 0th pct
High earners in Lake Mackayin Papunya +2.8 pts higher in Papunya
0.0% 0th pct 2.8% 23rd pct
High-income homes in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 7.0% 21st pct

Household income distribution

40.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.2 pts 33.8%
0.0% $1,500–$2,999 +31.0 pts ▸ 31.0%
0.0% Under $650 +12.7 pts ▸ 12.7%
0.0% $3,000–$3,999 +7.0 pts ▸ 7.0%
0.0% $4,000 or more even 0.0%

Personal income distribution

16.7% Under $650 +65.4 pts ▸ 82.0%
33.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +27.7 pts 5.7%
0.0% $1,500–$2,999 +6.6 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.0% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Lake Mackayin Papunya +8.6 pts higher in Lake Mackay
28.0% 46th pct 19.4% 13th pct
Mental health in Lake Mackayin Papunya +2.7 pts higher in Papunya
0.0% 0th pct 2.7% 15th pct
Needs assistance in Lake Mackayin Papunya +7.0 pts higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
12.0% 94th pct 5.0% 55th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

20.0% Other condition ◂ +15.9 pts 4.1%
12.0% Diabetes ◂ +3.1 pts 8.9%
12.0% Heart disease ◂ +8.3 pts 3.7%
0.0% Mental health +2.7 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.0% Asthma +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.0% Arthritis +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Stroke +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Dementia even 0.0%
0.0% Lung condition even 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.0% None +14.0 pts ▸ 74.0%
24.0% One condition ◂ +6.9 pts 17.1%
0.0% Two conditions +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.0% Three or more even 0.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Lake Mackayin Papunya +42.7 pts higher in Lake Mackay
45.8% 98th pct 3.2% 1st pct
Unpaid carers in Lake Mackayin Papunya +13.2 pts higher in Papunya
0.0% 0th pct 13.2% 55th pct
Unpaid child care in Lake Mackayin Papunya +29.3 pts higher in Papunya gap narrowing
25.0% 48th pct 54.3% 100th pct
Defence service in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Housework 15h+ in Lake Mackayin Papunya +13.4 pts higher in Papunya
12.5% 10th pct 25.9% 60th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Lake Mackayin Papunya +376 larger in Papunya
13 62nd pct 389 86th pct
Median age in Lake Mackayin Papunya +34 yrs older in Lake Mackay
58 yrs 93rd pct 24 yrs 43rd pct
Year 12 in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 5.3% 0th pct
Unemployment in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 16.1% 75th pct
Median income in Lake Mackayin Papunya +$137 higher in Lake Mackay
$362 12th pct $225 2nd pct
Household income in Lake Mackayin Papunya +$1,219 higher in Lake Mackay
$2,250 71st pct $1,031 20th pct
Indigenous language in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 96.9% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Lake Mackayin Papunya +2.2 larger in Papunya gap widening
2.4 43rd pct 4.6 100th pct
One-parent in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 34.2% 100th pct
Living alone in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 26.8% 61st pct

Family composition

33.3% Couples with children +20.8 pts ▸ 54.2%
44.4% Couples without children ◂ +31.5 pts 12.9%
0.0% One-parent families +34.2 pts ▸ 34.2%
33.3% Other families ◂ +32.3 pts 1.1%

Household size

0.0% 6 or more +46.5 pts ▸ 46.5%
40.0% 1 person ◂ +13.2 pts 26.8%
30.0% 5 people ◂ +25.8 pts 4.2%
0.0% 2 people +12.7 pts ▸ 12.7%
0.0% 4 people +5.6 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.0% 3 people even 0.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— $83 3rd pct
People / bedroom in Lake Mackayin Papunya +0.40 higher in Papunya gap steady
1.10 93rd pct 1.50 100th pct
Renting in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 77.5% 100th pct
Owned outright in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 0.0% 0th pct
Separate houses in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 91.5% 36th pct
3+ bedrooms in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 80.3% 52nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

100.0% Other tenure ◂ +74.6 pts 25.4%
0.0% Rented +77.5 pts ▸ 77.5%
0.0% Owned outright even 0.0%
0.0% Owned with a mortgage even 0.0%
0.0% Not stated even 0.0%

Types of homes

80.0% Separate house +11.5 pts ▸ 91.5%
40.0% Other dwelling ◂ +40.0 pts 0.0%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

0.0% 3 bedrooms +46.5 pts ▸ 46.5%
0.0% 2 bedrooms +25.4 pts ▸ 25.4%
0.0% 4 bedrooms +18.3 pts ▸ 18.3%
0.0% 5 or more +15.5 pts ▸ 15.5%
0.0% 1 bedroom +5.6 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 51.5% 100th pct
Work from home in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 0.0% 0th pct
PT commute in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 0.0% 0th pct
PT stops in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

37.5% Walked +15.3 pts ▸ 52.8%
18.8% Car (driver) ◂ +0.8 pts 18.0%
18.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +8.6 pts 10.1%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bus even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%
0.0% Worked at home even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

87.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +49.3 pts 38.2%
0.0% No vehicle +51.5 pts ▸ 51.5%
0.0% 2 vehicles +8.8 pts ▸ 8.8%
0.0% 3 vehicles +8.8 pts ▸ 8.8%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Lake Mackayin Papunya +17.1 pts higher in Papunya gap narrowing
12.5% 7th pct 29.6% 45th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 10.4% 90th pct
Participation in Lake Mackayin Papunya +36.4 pts higher in Lake Mackay gap widening
66.7% 72nd pct 30.3% 1st pct
Full-time in Lake Mackayin Papunya
— 44.9% 8th pct

Industries people work in

93.8% Arts & recreation ◂ +87.0 pts 6.7%
31.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +27.9 pts 3.4%
0.0% Public administration & safety +27.0 pts ▸ 27.0%
0.0% Health care & social assistance +18.0 pts ▸ 18.0%
0.0% Education & training +14.6 pts ▸ 14.6%
0.0% Retail trade +9.0 pts ▸ 9.0%
0.0% Construction +3.4 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.0% Other services +3.4 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%
0.0% Manufacturing even 0.0%
0.0% Electricity, gas & water even 0.0%
0.0% Wholesale trade even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

37.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +33.0 pts 4.5%
18.8% Professionals +9.3 pts ▸ 28.1%
0.0% Community & personal service +27.0 pts ▸ 27.0%
0.0% Managers +10.1 pts ▸ 10.1%
0.0% Sales workers +4.5 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.0% Labourers +4.5 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.0% Technicians & trades +3.4 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Lake Mackayin Papunya +1.7 higher in Papunya
0.0 0th pct 1.7 64th pct
Types ≤15 min in Lake Mackayin Papunya +3.0 more in Papunya
0.0 0th pct 3.0 72nd pct
15-min city in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Lake Mackayin Papunya +99.0 pts higher in Papunya
0.0% 0th pct 99.0% 99th pct
Walk to a park in Lake Mackayin Papunya even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to health in Lake Mackayin Papunya +100.0 pts higher in Papunya
0.0% 0th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Amenities/1k in Lake Mackayin Papunya +33.2 more in Lake Mackay
40.0 77th pct 6.8 34th pct
Intersections/km² in Lake Mackayin Papunya +11 higher in Papunya
0 1st pct 11 72nd pct
Mean slope in Lake Mackayin Papunya +1.5 pts higher in Lake Mackay
4.2% 32nd pct 2.7% 7th pct

Compare Lake Mackay with nearby areas

Nyirripi Kintore Mount Liebig Kunparrka Chilla Well Yuendumu Tjukurla Papunya

Compare Papunya with nearby areas

Haasts Bluff Kunparrka Mount Zeil Mount Liebig Mereenie Areyonga Namatjira Yuendumu

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Lake Mackay vs Papunya [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL70154/lake-mackay/vs/SAL70218/papunya