Indigenous Location · Area profile

Papunya

5 km²

Nearly 97% of people in Papunya speak a First Nations language, far above the national figure. This remote community in the MacDonnell region is defined by its deep cultural roots and a very young population. While it has easy access to essential health and school services, it faces significant challenges with low incomes and limited educational attainment. The town is largely car-dependent, reflecting its isolated setting in the Northern Territory.

Open map →

📍 Papunya, Indigenous Location

Explore Papunya by topic

First Nations

Explore First Nations →

First Nations residents here are very young, with a typical age of 24. While 16.1% are unemployed—which is above the national rate—most of the community maintains a strong linguistic connection, far exceeding the Northern Territory average for speaking a First Nations language.

389 First Nations people

24 yrs Median age Here 24 yrs NT 26 yrs Aus 24 yrs

5.3% Year 12 Here 5.3% NT 23.2% Aus 37.0%

16.1% Unemployment Here 16.1% NT 20.8% Aus 12.3%

$225 Median income Here $225 NT $323 Aus $540

$1,031 Household income Here $1,031 NT $1,318 Aus $1,507

Walkability

Explore Walkability →

Almost every home is within a short walk of health services and a school, yet no homes are within 15 minutes of groceries or parks. This creates a car-dependent environment with a walkability score of 1.7, which is far below the Northern Territory average.

1.7 Walk score

3.0 Types ≤15 min