Council (LGA) · Area profile
Central Desert
281,338 km²
A shrinking population marks the recent trend for Central Desert, which has lost about 129 people since 2011. This is a young community where nearly 80% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Families here tend to be large and often live in rented homes. The area is shaped by a strong connection to First Nations culture and a typical resident who is far younger than the national figure.
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The typical resident is just 28, which is far younger than the national figure of 38. Children under 15 make up 26.9% of the population, a figure well above the national average.
Most of the community was born in Australia, with only 3.6% born overseas, which is far below the national figure.
Language diversity is very high, with 76.2% of people using another language at home, far above the national figure of 22.3%.
Christianity is the most common faith at 65.5%, while 20.5% of residents report having no religion, which is far below the national figure.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 19.2% of residents completing Year 12 and 6.2% holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are far below the national figure, with a typical weekly family income of just $635 and a typical personal income of $272.
The community reports fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, with only 19.2% of people affected.
Caring for children is a major part of local life, as 46.7% of people provide unpaid childcare, which is far above the national figure.
First Nations people make up a huge part of the community, with 92.2% speaking a First Nations language, far above the national figure.
Homes are much more crowded than most areas, with an average of 4.1 people per home and 30.6% of households containing six or more people.
Renting is very common at 71.9%, far above the national figure, and typical weekly rent is much lower than most areas at $75.
Many homes lack a car, with 31% of households having no motor vehicle, which is far above the national figure.
While few people have moved into the area recently, there has been a rise in recent arrivals from overseas, now making up 32.1% of the population.
Job opportunities are limited, with only 34.5% of adults working or looking for work and an unemployment rate of 18.4%, which is far above the national figure.
The area is among the most disadvantaged in the country, ranking at the lowest level for access to money, resources, and job skills.
The region is very dry and hot, with an average annual rainfall of 268mm, which is well below the Northern Territory average.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score, though nearly 70% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.