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South Australia vs Northern Territory

State / Territory comparison ≈ 1,136 km apart · South Australia profile · Northern Territory profile

South Australia Northern Territory

South Australia and the Northern Territory are distinct regions with different population profiles. South Australia has a much older population, with a typical resident aged 41 and 20.0% of people aged 65 and over, compared to 33 years and 9.0% in the Northern Territory. There is also a significant difference in First Nations presence; 26.3% of people in the Northern Territory are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and 60.1% speak a First Nations language, while those figures are 2.4% and 13.4% in South Australia. Housing differs too, as homes are far more likely to be owned outright in South Australia (32.8%) than in the Northern Territory (15.8%).

Both regions sit near the national figure for the unemployment rate, which is 5.4% in South Australia and 5.6% in the Northern Territory. They are also similar in that they are both somewhat walkable, with about 64% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Over time, the gap in household incomes has narrowed slightly, though the typical weekly income remains well higher in the Northern Territory at $2,061 compared to $1,455 in South Australia.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 23.9 pts higher in Northern Territory Population: 1,548,911 larger in South Australia Renting: 20.0 pts higher in Northern Territory Owned outright: 17.0 pts higher in South Australia Other language: 14.6 pts higher in Northern Territory

Demographics & Identity

Population in South Australiain Northern Territory +1,548,911 larger in South Australia gap widening
1,781,516 232,605
Median age in South Australiain Northern Territory +8 yrs older in South Australia gap steady
41 yrs 33 yrs
First Nations in South Australiain Northern Territory +23.9 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
2.4% 26.3%
Aged 65+ in South Australiain Northern Territory +11.0 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
20.0% 9.0%
Under 15 in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.0 pts higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
17.0% 21.0%
De facto in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.1 pts higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
11.2% 15.3%

Age structure

25.9% Young adults (25–44) +7.9 pts ▸ 33.8%
25.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.1 pts 23.3%
17.0% Children (0–14) +4.0 pts ▸ 21.0%
20.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +11.0 pts 9.0%
11.7% Youth (15–24) +1.2 pts ▸ 12.9%

Marital status

46.1% Married ◂ +4.6 pts 41.6%
35.4% Never married +8.9 pts ▸ 44.3%
9.5% Divorced ◂ +2.1 pts 7.4%
5.7% Widowed ◂ +2.5 pts 3.3%
3.2% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

South Australia Northern Territory

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in South Australiain Northern Territory +2.2 pts higher in South Australia gap narrowing
24.1% 21.8%

Country of birth

71.5% Australia ◂ +2.0 pts 69.5%
5.3% England ◂ +3.2 pts 2.2%
0.9% Philippines +1.9 pts ▸ 2.7%
2.5% India ◂ +0.4 pts 2.2%
0.8% New Zealand +1.0 pts ▸ 1.7%
1.4% China ◂ +0.7 pts 0.7%
0.4% Nepal +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%
1.0% Vietnam ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%
0.9% Italy ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%
0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Ancestry

38.0% English ◂ +14.8 pts 23.1%
32.5% Australian ◂ +8.4 pts 24.1%
8.4% Scottish ◂ +2.1 pts 6.3%
7.6% Irish ◂ +0.4 pts 7.3%
7.6% German ◂ +4.0 pts 3.6%
5.8% Italian ◂ +3.9 pts 1.9%
1.2% Filipino +2.4 pts ▸ 3.5%
3.3% Chinese ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%
2.4% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 2.2%
2.3% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 1.8%
1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
1.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

Language

Other language in South Australiain Northern Territory +14.6 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
17.8% 32.4%
Limited English in South Australiain Northern Territory +1.2 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
2.7% 3.9%

Language used at home

77.6% English only ◂ +20.3 pts 57.3%
1.8% Mandarin ◂ +0.7 pts 1.1%
1.2% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%
1.3% Italian ◂ +1.1 pts 0.3%
0.4% Tagalog +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%
1.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%
1.1% Punjabi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%
0.6% Arabic ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%
0.6% Cantonese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%
0.6% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Religion

No religion in South Australiain Northern Territory +7.3 pts higher in South Australia gap widening
45.8% 38.5%

Religious affiliation

45.8% No religion ◂ +7.3 pts 38.5%
40.0% Christianity +0.5 pts ▸ 40.5%
6.4% Not stated +6.0 pts ▸ 12.4%
2.1% Hinduism +0.5 pts ▸ 2.7%
1.5% Other religions +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%
2.3% Islam ◂ +0.8 pts 1.4%
1.9% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.8 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
54.6% 49.8%
Bachelor+ in South Australiain Northern Territory +1.2 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
22.7% 21.5%

Highest year of school

54.6% Year 12 ◂ +4.8 pts 49.8%
14.3% Year 10 +2.5 pts ▸ 16.8%
16.2% Year 11 ◂ +5.1 pts 11.0%
9.4% Year 9 or below +1.7 pts ▸ 11.0%

Highest qualification level

29.7% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.3 pts 26.3%
25.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.6 pts 22.1%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.3 pts 12.3%
8.8% Postgraduate degree +0.4 pts ▸ 9.1%
3.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.1 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.3% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

17.9% Management & commerce ◂ +1.6 pts 16.4%
14.6% Engineering & related ◂ +1.2 pts 13.4%
13.2% Society & culture ◂ +1.5 pts 11.7%
12.2% Health ◂ +1.6 pts 10.6%
8.1% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 7.6%
5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%
4.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.6 pts 4.2%
3.2% Creative arts ◂ +1.1 pts 2.2%
3.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.0 pts 2.1%
2.8% Information technology ◂ +0.4 pts 2.3%
2.4% Agriculture & environment +0.2 pts ▸ 2.6%

Income

Personal income in South Australiain Northern Territory +$202 higher in Northern Territory gap steady
$734 $936
Household income in South Australiain Northern Territory +$606 higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
$1,455 $2,061
Family income in South Australiain Northern Territory +$324 higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
$1,889 $2,213
High earners in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.1 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
9.1% 13.2%
High-income homes in South Australiain Northern Territory +9.1 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
16.5% 25.6%

Household income distribution

28.8% $1,500–$2,999 +3.0 pts ▸ 31.7%
29.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +9.2 pts 20.6%
18.3% Under $650 ◂ +7.2 pts 11.1%
8.0% $4,000 or more +5.3 pts ▸ 13.3%
8.5% $3,000–$3,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 12.4%

Personal income distribution

42.9% Under $650 ◂ +8.0 pts 34.8%
32.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.9 pts 27.8%
15.4% $1,500–$2,999 +6.2 pts ▸ 21.6%
3.2% $3,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in South Australiain Northern Territory +11.2 pts higher in South Australia
31.0% 19.8%
Mental health in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.7 pts higher in South Australia
9.8% 5.1%
Needs assistance in South Australiain Northern Territory +3.1 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
6.7% 3.6%

Long-term health conditions reported

10.1% Arthritis ◂ +5.6 pts 4.5%
9.8% Mental health ◂ +4.7 pts 5.1%
8.9% Asthma ◂ +3.3 pts 5.6%
8.8% Other condition ◂ +2.7 pts 6.1%
5.7% Diabetes ◂ +1.4 pts 4.3%
4.6% Heart disease ◂ +1.5 pts 3.1%
3.2% Cancer ◂ +1.6 pts 1.6%
2.0% Lung condition ◂ +0.9 pts 1.2%
1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.5%
1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.1% None +6.0 pts ▸ 68.0%
20.3% One condition ◂ +5.8 pts 14.6%
6.9% Two conditions ◂ +3.3 pts 3.6%
3.8% Three or more ◂ +2.2 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in South Australiain Northern Territory +2.9 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
17.0% 14.1%
Unpaid carers in South Australiain Northern Territory +3.6 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
13.1% 9.5%
Unpaid child care in South Australiain Northern Territory +3.7 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
26.5% 30.2%
Defence service in South Australiain Northern Territory +2.0 pts higher in Northern Territory
3.2% 5.2%
Housework 15h+ in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.4 pts higher in South Australia gap narrowing
21.5% 17.1%

First Nations

First Nations people in South Australiain Northern Territory +18,553 larger in Northern Territory
42,562 61,115
Median age in South Australiain Northern Territory +2 yrs older in Northern Territory
24 yrs 26 yrs
Year 12 in South Australiain Northern Territory +11.5 pts higher in South Australia
34.7% 23.2%
Unemployment in South Australiain Northern Territory +5.2 pts higher in Northern Territory
15.6% 20.8%
Median income in South Australiain Northern Territory +$164 higher in South Australia
$487 $323
Household income in South Australiain Northern Territory +$36 higher in Northern Territory
$1,282 $1,318
Indigenous language in South Australiain Northern Territory +46.7 pts higher in Northern Territory
13.4% 60.1%

Family & Households

Household size in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.4 larger in Northern Territory gap narrowing
2.4 2.8
One-parent in South Australiain Northern Territory +2.7 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
14.8% 17.5%
Living alone in South Australiain Northern Territory +4.7 pts higher in South Australia gap narrowing
28.5% 23.8%

Family composition

55.1% Couples with children +3.2 pts ▸ 58.3%
28.8% Couples without children ◂ +6.2 pts 22.6%
14.8% One-parent families +2.7 pts ▸ 17.5%
1.2% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.6%

Household size

34.7% 2 people ◂ +4.7 pts 30.0%
28.5% 1 person ◂ +4.7 pts 23.8%
15.0% 3 people +1.7 pts ▸ 16.7%
14.0% 4 people +0.9 pts ▸ 14.9%
2.4% 6 or more +4.9 pts ▸ 7.3%
5.4% 5 people +1.8 pts ▸ 7.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in South Australiain Northern Territory +$25 higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
$300 $325
Mortgage in South Australiain Northern Territory +$500 higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
$1,500 $2,000
People / bedroom in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.20 higher in Northern Territory gap widening
0.80 1.00
Renting in South Australiain Northern Territory +20.0 pts higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
27.6% 47.6%
Owned outright in South Australiain Northern Territory +17.0 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
32.8% 15.8%
Separate houses in South Australiain Northern Territory +11.2 pts higher in South Australia gap narrowing
78.0% 66.8%
3+ bedrooms in South Australiain Northern Territory +10.2 pts higher in South Australia gap widening
77.2% 66.9%

How homes are owned or rented

27.6% Rented +20.0 pts ▸ 47.6%
35.6% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.4 pts 30.2%
32.8% Owned outright ◂ +17.0 pts 15.8%
2.6% Other tenure +1.6 pts ▸ 4.2%
1.4% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

Types of homes

78.0% Separate house ◂ +11.2 pts 66.8%
6.8% Flat or apartment +11.1 pts ▸ 17.9%
14.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +1.9 pts 12.7%
0.4% Other dwelling +1.3 pts ▸ 1.7%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +9.4 pts 42.1%
18.0% 2 bedrooms +4.3 pts ▸ 22.4%
21.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.8 pts 19.9%
3.3% 1 bedroom +4.0 pts ▸ 7.3%
4.1% 5 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 5.0%
0.2% Studio / none +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

Weekly rent distribution

42.8% $200–$349 ◂ +20.0 pts 22.8%
29.0% $350–$549 +2.3 pts ▸ 31.3%
20.9% Under $200 +5.4 pts ▸ 26.4%
2.9% $550–$749 +7.5 pts ▸ 10.4%
0.8% $750 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 2.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +11.5 pts 28.0%
24.1% $1,800–$2,999 +14.3 pts ▸ 38.3%
22.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +11.4 pts 11.3%
8.9% $3,000 or more +8.2 pts ▸ 17.1%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in South Australiain Northern Territory +3.9 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
7.2% 11.1%
Work from home in South Australiain Northern Territory +5.3 pts higher in South Australia gap widening
9.6% 4.2%
PT commute in South Australiain Northern Territory +1.9 pts higher in South Australia gap steady
4.1% 2.2%
PT stops in South Australiain Northern Territory +8,062 more in South Australia
8,830 768
Stops/1k in South Australiain Northern Territory +1.65 more in South Australia
4.96 3.30
Departures/1k in South Australiain Northern Territory +811.2 more in South Australia
1,317.0 505.8
PT routes in South Australiain Northern Territory +456 more in South Australia
539 83

How people get to work

63.9% Car (driver) ◂ +0.5 pts 63.4%
9.6% Worked at home ◂ +5.3 pts 4.2%
2.5% Walked +5.1 pts ▸ 7.6%
4.3% Car (passenger) +2.3 pts ▸ 6.6%
3.1% Bus ◂ +1.0 pts 2.1%
0.9% Bicycle +1.1 pts ▸ 2.0%
0.6% Train ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 35.3%
36.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.6 pts 34.8%
12.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.2 pts 12.2%
7.2% No vehicle +3.9 pts ▸ 11.1%
7.1% 4 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 6.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in South Australiain Northern Territory +5.1 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
36.9% 42.0%
Recent arrivals in South Australiain Northern Territory +5.9 pts higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
15.1% 21.0%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.2 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
5.4% 5.6%
Participation in South Australiain Northern Territory +1.7 pts higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
60.0% 61.7%
Full-time in South Australiain Northern Territory +11.5 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
57.2% 68.7%

Industries people work in

6.7% Public administration & safety +11.5 pts ▸ 18.2%
16.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.5 pts 14.9%
9.7% Retail trade ◂ +2.4 pts 7.2%
8.8% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.3% Construction ◂ +0.3 pts 8.0%
6.6% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 7.4%
7.2% Manufacturing ◂ +5.0 pts 2.2%
6.2% Professional & technical ◂ +1.3 pts 4.9%
4.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.0%
3.9% Other services even 3.9%
3.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.8 pts 2.9%
3.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +1.5 pts 2.3%

Occupations people work in

21.5% Professionals +0.5 pts ▸ 22.0%
13.0% Community & personal service +2.7 pts ▸ 15.7%
13.2% Technicians & trades +0.6 pts ▸ 13.8%
12.5% Clerical & administrative +0.7 pts ▸ 13.2%
13.0% Managers ◂ +0.1 pts 12.9%
10.5% Labourers ◂ +2.0 pts 8.5%
8.5% Sales workers ◂ +2.0 pts 6.5%
6.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.9 pts 5.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in South Australiain Northern Territory +1,638,109 higher in South Australia
1,902,665 264,556
Growth in South Australiain Northern Territory +1.1 pts higher in Northern Territory
5.6% 6.6%

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in South Australiain Northern Territory +219 higher in Northern Territory
143 362
Max temp in South Australiain Northern Territory +5.5 higher in Northern Territory
29.4 34.9
Min temp in South Australiain Northern Territory +6.2 higher in Northern Territory
13.8 20.0

Walkability

Walk score in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.4 higher in South Australia
5.5 5.1
Types ≤15 min in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.4 more in South Australia
5.4 5.0
15-min city in South Australiain Northern Territory +5.1 pts higher in South Australia
67.0% 61.8%
Walk to shops in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.4 pts higher in South Australia
64.4% 64.0%
Walk to transit in South Australiain Northern Territory +7.2 pts higher in South Australia
76.1% 68.9%
Walk to school in South Australiain Northern Territory +2.1 pts higher in Northern Territory
68.4% 70.5%
Walk to a park in South Australiain Northern Territory +3.3 pts higher in South Australia
84.9% 81.6%
Walk to health in South Australiain Northern Territory +3.0 pts higher in South Australia
52.4% 49.5%
Amenities/1k in South Australiain Northern Territory +2.8 more in Northern Territory
16.3 19.0
Intersections/km² in South Australiain Northern Territory even
0 0
Mean slope in South Australiain Northern Territory +0.9 pts higher in South Australia
4.6% 3.7%

Compare South Australia with nearby areas

Northern Territory Queensland Victoria New South Wales Western Australia Australian Capital Territory Tasmania Other Territories

Compare Northern Territory with nearby areas

South Australia Queensland Western Australia New South Wales Victoria Australian Capital Territory Tasmania Other Territories

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). South Australia vs Northern Territory [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ste/4/south-australia/vs/7/northern-territory