CensusAtlas

Compare

Western Australia vs Northern Territory

State / Territory comparison ≈ 1,397 km apart · Western Australia profile · Northern Territory profile

Western Australia Northern Territory

Western Australia and the Northern Territory are vast regions with very different social makeups. The Northern Territory has a far higher First Nations population, at 26.3%, compared to 3.3% in Western Australia, and far more people speak a First Nations language (60.1% versus 16.0%). Housing also differs sharply; Western Australia has far more separate houses (79.7% versus 66.8%) and larger homes, with 82.2% having three or more bedrooms compared to 66.9% in the Northern Territory. Western Australia is also more populous and has a far higher share of people born overseas at 32.2%.

Everyday life shares some similarities, as both regions are somewhat walkable and have almost identical typical weekly incomes of around $2,214. They also share a similar unemployment rate, sitting between 5.1% and 5.6%. While the gap in the share of people born overseas has narrowed since 2011, the difference in language use has widened, with the Northern Territory now seeing a far higher share of people using another language at home than Western Australia.

Open map →

Where they differ most

First Nations: 22.9 pts higher in Northern Territory Population: 2,427,421 larger in Western Australia Renting: 20.2 pts higher in Northern Territory 3+ bedrooms: 15.2 pts higher in Western Australia Other language: 14.0 pts higher in Northern Territory

Demographics & Identity

Population in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2,427,421 larger in Western Australia gap widening
2,660,026 232,605
Median age in Western Australiain Northern Territory +5 yrs older in Western Australia gap steady
38 yrs 33 yrs
First Nations in Western Australiain Northern Territory +22.9 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
3.3% 26.3%
Aged 65+ in Western Australiain Northern Territory +7.2 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
16.1% 9.0%
Under 15 in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.0 pts higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
19.0% 21.0%
De facto in Western Australiain Northern Territory +3.1 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
12.2% 15.3%

Age structure

28.3% Young adults (25–44) +5.6 pts ▸ 33.8%
24.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.6 pts 23.3%
19.0% Children (0–14) +2.0 pts ▸ 21.0%
16.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +7.2 pts 9.0%
11.7% Youth (15–24) +1.2 pts ▸ 12.9%

Marital status

47.3% Married ◂ +5.7 pts 41.6%
36.1% Never married +8.2 pts ▸ 44.3%
8.8% Divorced ◂ +1.5 pts 7.4%
4.4% Widowed ◂ +1.2 pts 3.3%
3.3% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Western Australia Northern Territory

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Western Australiain Northern Territory +10.4 pts higher in Western Australia gap narrowing
32.2% 21.8%

Country of birth

62.0% Australia +7.5 pts ▸ 69.5%
7.4% England ◂ +5.2 pts 2.2%
2.8% New Zealand ◂ +1.1 pts 1.7%
1.4% Philippines +1.3 pts ▸ 2.7%
2.3% India ◂ +0.1 pts 2.2%
1.7% South Africa ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%
0.2% Nepal +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%
1.1% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%
0.7% Italy ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%
0.7% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Ancestry

37.6% English ◂ +14.5 pts 23.1%
29.7% Australian ◂ +5.6 pts 24.1%
8.8% Irish ◂ +1.5 pts 7.3%
8.7% Scottish ◂ +2.5 pts 6.3%
5.2% Italian ◂ +3.3 pts 1.9%
4.4% Chinese ◂ +1.4 pts 3.0%
2.9% German +0.6 pts ▸ 3.6%
1.8% Filipino +1.8 pts ▸ 3.5%
2.9% Indian ◂ +0.7 pts 2.2%
2.0% Dutch ◂ +0.9 pts 1.1%
0.6% Greek +1.2 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Language

Other language in Western Australiain Northern Territory +14.0 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
18.4% 32.4%
Limited English in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.6 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
2.3% 3.9%

Language used at home

75.3% English only ◂ +18.0 pts 57.3%
1.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.9 pts 1.1%
0.2% Greek +1.2 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.7% Tagalog +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%
1.0% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%
0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%
0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%
0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%
0.6% Arabic ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%
0.4% Hindi even 0.4%

Religion

No religion in Western Australiain Northern Territory +4.5 pts higher in Western Australia gap widening
42.9% 38.5%

Religious affiliation

42.9% No religion ◂ +4.5 pts 38.5%
41.1% Christianity ◂ +0.6 pts 40.5%
8.0% Not stated +4.4 pts ▸ 12.4%
2.0% Hinduism +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%
2.5% Islam ◂ +1.1 pts 1.4%
1.1% Other religions +1.3 pts ▸ 2.4%
2.2% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 2.1%
0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Western Australiain Northern Territory +8.1 pts higher in Western Australia gap narrowing
58.0% 49.8%
Bachelor+ in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.4 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
23.8% 21.5%

Highest year of school

58.0% Year 12 ◂ +8.1 pts 49.8%
19.2% Year 10 ◂ +2.5 pts 16.8%
6.7% Year 9 or below +4.4 pts ▸ 11.0%
8.8% Year 11 +2.3 pts ▸ 11.0%

Highest qualification level

28.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.6 pts 26.3%
25.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.7 pts 22.1%
14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.4 pts 12.3%
8.0% Postgraduate degree +1.1 pts ▸ 9.1%
3.7% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.2 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.6% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

17.6% Management & commerce ◂ +1.3 pts 16.4%
17.1% Engineering & related ◂ +3.7 pts 13.4%
10.8% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 11.7%
10.6% Health even 10.6%
8.0% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 7.6%
5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%
5.0% Architecture & building ◂ +0.8 pts 4.2%
3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.4 pts 2.1%
3.2% Creative arts ◂ +1.1 pts 2.2%
2.0% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 2.6%
2.5% Information technology ◂ +0.1 pts 2.3%

Income

Personal income in Western Australiain Northern Territory +$88 higher in Northern Territory gap steady
$848 $936
Household income in Western Australiain Northern Territory +$246 higher in Northern Territory gap narrowing
$1,815 $2,061
Family income in Western Australiain Northern Territory even gap narrowing
$2,214 $2,213
High earners in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.6 pts higher in Western Australia gap narrowing
14.7% 13.2%
High-income homes in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.4 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
23.2% 25.6%

Household income distribution

28.8% $1,500–$2,999 +2.9 pts ▸ 31.7%
23.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.2 pts 20.6%
14.8% Under $650 ◂ +3.7 pts 11.1%
12.6% $4,000 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 13.3%
10.6% $3,000–$3,999 +1.8 pts ▸ 12.4%

Personal income distribution

38.1% Under $650 ◂ +3.3 pts 34.8%
28.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.9 pts 27.8%
19.6% $1,500–$2,999 +2.0 pts ▸ 21.6%
5.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 4.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Western Australiain Northern Territory +6.3 pts higher in Western Australia
26.1% 19.8%
Mental health in Western Australiain Northern Territory +3.1 pts higher in Western Australia
8.3% 5.1%
Needs assistance in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.0 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
4.6% 3.6%

Long-term health conditions reported

8.3% Mental health ◂ +3.1 pts 5.1%
7.6% Arthritis ◂ +3.2 pts 4.5%
7.4% Other condition ◂ +1.3 pts 6.1%
7.3% Asthma ◂ +1.7 pts 5.6%
4.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%
3.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.5 pts 3.1%
2.7% Cancer ◂ +1.1 pts 1.6%
1.6% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%
0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

65.1% None +3.0 pts ▸ 68.0%
18.2% One condition ◂ +3.6 pts 14.6%
5.3% Two conditions ◂ +1.8 pts 3.6%
2.6% Three or more ◂ +1.0 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.9 pts higher in Western Australia gap widening
15.9% 14.1%
Unpaid carers in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.3 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
10.7% 9.5%
Unpaid child care in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.7 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
28.5% 30.2%
Defence service in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.3 pts higher in Northern Territory
2.9% 5.2%
Housework 15h+ in Western Australiain Northern Territory +3.0 pts higher in Western Australia gap narrowing
20.1% 17.1%

First Nations

First Nations people in Western Australiain Northern Territory +27,578 larger in Western Australia
88,693 61,115
Median age in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2 yrs older in Northern Territory
24 yrs 26 yrs
Year 12 in Western Australiain Northern Territory +9.4 pts higher in Western Australia
32.5% 23.2%
Unemployment in Western Australiain Northern Territory +4.9 pts higher in Northern Territory
15.9% 20.8%
Median income in Western Australiain Northern Territory +$158 higher in Western Australia
$481 $323
Household income in Western Australiain Northern Territory +$162 higher in Western Australia
$1,480 $1,318
Indigenous language in Western Australiain Northern Territory +44.1 pts higher in Northern Territory
16.0% 60.1%

Family & Households

Household size in Western Australiain Northern Territory +0.3 larger in Northern Territory gap steady
2.5 2.8
One-parent in Western Australiain Northern Territory +4.0 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
13.5% 17.5%
Living alone in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.6 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
25.4% 23.8%

Family composition

58.9% Couples with children ◂ +0.6 pts 58.3%
26.5% Couples without children ◂ +3.8 pts 22.6%
13.5% One-parent families +4.0 pts ▸ 17.5%
1.1% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.6%

Household size

33.5% 2 people ◂ +3.5 pts 30.0%
25.4% 1 person ◂ +1.6 pts 23.8%
15.9% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 16.7%
15.9% 4 people ◂ +1.0 pts 14.9%
2.9% 6 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 7.3%
6.4% 5 people +0.8 pts ▸ 7.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Western Australiain Northern Territory +$15 higher in Western Australia gap narrowing
$340 $325
Mortgage in Western Australiain Northern Territory +$158 higher in Northern Territory gap widening
$1,842 $2,000
People / bedroom in Western Australiain Northern Territory +0.20 higher in Northern Territory gap widening
0.80 1.00
Renting in Western Australiain Northern Territory +20.2 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
27.3% 47.6%
Owned outright in Western Australiain Northern Territory +13.3 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
29.2% 15.8%
Separate houses in Western Australiain Northern Territory +12.9 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
79.7% 66.8%
3+ bedrooms in Western Australiain Northern Territory +15.2 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
82.2% 66.9%

How homes are owned or rented

27.3% Rented +20.2 pts ▸ 47.6%
40.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +9.7 pts 30.2%
29.2% Owned outright ◂ +13.3 pts 15.8%
2.1% Other tenure +2.1 pts ▸ 4.2%
1.4% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

Types of homes

79.7% Separate house ◂ +12.9 pts 66.8%
6.5% Flat or apartment +11.4 pts ▸ 17.9%
13.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.3 pts 12.7%
0.6% Other dwelling +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

Bedrooms per home

37.5% 3 bedrooms +4.6 pts ▸ 42.1%
38.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +18.5 pts 19.9%
12.6% 2 bedrooms +9.8 pts ▸ 22.4%
3.7% 1 bedroom +3.7 pts ▸ 7.3%
6.3% 5 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 5.0%
0.3% Studio / none +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

Weekly rent distribution

38.8% $350–$549 ◂ +7.4 pts 31.3%
34.9% $200–$349 ◂ +12.1 pts 22.8%
14.4% Under $200 +11.9 pts ▸ 26.4%
5.7% $550–$749 +4.7 pts ▸ 10.4%
2.4% $750 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

34.2% $1,800–$2,999 +4.1 pts ▸ 38.3%
31.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +3.4 pts 28.0%
14.9% $3,000 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 17.1%
13.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +2.6 pts 11.3%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Western Australiain Northern Territory +6.1 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
5.0% 11.1%
Work from home in Western Australiain Northern Territory +3.3 pts higher in Western Australia gap widening
7.5% 4.2%
PT commute in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.5 pts higher in Western Australia gap steady
4.7% 2.2%
PT stops in Western Australiain Northern Territory +13,817 more in Western Australia
14,585 768
Stops/1k in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.18 more in Western Australia
5.48 3.30
Departures/1k in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1,117.2 more in Western Australia
1,623.0 505.8
PT routes in Western Australiain Northern Territory +324 more in Western Australia
407 83

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) +1.3 pts ▸ 63.4%
2.2% Walked +5.4 pts ▸ 7.6%
7.5% Worked at home ◂ +3.3 pts 4.2%
4.6% Car (passenger) +2.0 pts ▸ 6.6%
2.9% Bus ◂ +0.8 pts 2.1%
0.7% Bicycle +1.3 pts ▸ 2.0%
1.8% Train ◂ +1.7 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +4.3 pts 35.3%
34.5% 1 vehicle +0.3 pts ▸ 34.8%
13.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.2 pts 12.2%
5.0% No vehicle +6.1 pts ▸ 11.1%
7.6% 4 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 6.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Western Australiain Northern Territory +3.0 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
39.0% 42.0%
Recent arrivals in Western Australiain Northern Territory +10.4 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
10.6% 21.0%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Western Australiain Northern Territory +0.5 pts higher in Northern Territory gap steady
5.1% 5.6%
Participation in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.2 pts higher in Western Australia gap widening
63.9% 61.7%
Full-time in Western Australiain Northern Territory +8.5 pts higher in Northern Territory gap widening
60.2% 68.7%

Industries people work in

5.9% Public administration & safety +12.2 pts ▸ 18.2%
13.6% Health care & social assistance +1.3 pts ▸ 14.9%
8.8% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.8% Construction ◂ +0.8 pts 8.0%
8.8% Retail trade ◂ +1.5 pts 7.2%
7.5% Mining ◂ +5.1 pts 2.4%
6.5% Accommodation & food +0.9 pts ▸ 7.4%
6.9% Professional & technical ◂ +2.0 pts 4.9%
5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +3.0 pts 2.2%
4.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.5 pts 4.0%
3.9% Other services even 3.9%
3.1% Administrative & support ◂ +0.1 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

22.0% Professionals +0.1 pts ▸ 22.0%
11.8% Community & personal service +3.9 pts ▸ 15.7%
15.3% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.5 pts 13.8%
12.1% Clerical & administrative +1.1 pts ▸ 13.2%
12.3% Managers +0.6 pts ▸ 12.9%
9.4% Labourers ◂ +0.9 pts 8.5%
7.8% Sales workers ◂ +1.3 pts 6.5%
7.7% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.5 pts 5.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2,779,826 higher in Western Australia
3,044,382 264,556
Growth in Western Australiain Northern Territory +4.1 pts higher in Western Australia
10.7% 6.6%

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Western Australiain Northern Territory +177 higher in Northern Territory
185 362
Max temp in Western Australiain Northern Territory +3.6 higher in Northern Territory
31.3 34.9
Min temp in Western Australiain Northern Territory +4.4 higher in Northern Territory
15.6 20.0

Walkability

Walk score in Western Australiain Northern Territory +0.3 higher in Western Australia
5.4 5.1
Types ≤15 min in Western Australiain Northern Territory +0.3 more in Western Australia
5.2 5.0
15-min city in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.1 pts higher in Western Australia
64.0% 61.8%
Walk to shops in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.5 pts higher in Northern Territory
61.5% 64.0%
Walk to transit in Western Australiain Northern Territory +12.0 pts higher in Western Australia
80.9% 68.9%
Walk to school in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.4 pts higher in Western Australia
71.9% 70.5%
Walk to a park in Western Australiain Northern Territory +7.3 pts higher in Western Australia
88.9% 81.6%
Walk to health in Western Australiain Northern Territory +1.0 pts higher in Northern Territory
48.5% 49.5%
Amenities/1k in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.4 more in Northern Territory
16.6 19.0
Intersections/km² in Western Australiain Northern Territory even
0 0
Mean slope in Western Australiain Northern Territory +2.1 pts higher in Western Australia
5.7% 3.7%

Compare Western Australia with nearby areas

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

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). Western Australia vs Northern Territory [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ste/5/western-australia/vs/7/northern-territory