Council (LGA) · Area profile
Katherine
7,417 km²
A typical resident in Katherine is just 33, making the community noticeably younger than the national figure of 38. This is a growing hub where 25.5% of people are First Nations, a proportion similar to the Northern Territory but far above the national average. The area is defined by its mobile population and high employment rates, though it remains heavily dependent on cars for daily life. It blends a strong professional workforce with a youthful, family-oriented atmosphere.
Household incomes here are high, yet Katherine's schools draw a notably less advantaged community.
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The population grew by 5.0% since 2011 to reach 9,643 people. It is a young community with 22.5% of residents under 15, which is well above the national figure, while seniors make up only 8.8% of the population.
Overseas births rose to 15.3% since 2011, though this is still far below the national average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, with a growing number of arrivals from the Philippines and Nepal.
People using another language at home rose to 18.4% since 2011, which is much higher than most areas. However, this is still far below the Northern Territory figure of 32.4%.
A significant shift has occurred since 2011, with those reporting no religion rising by 15 points to 42.4%. This is now well above both the state and national figures.
Bachelor degrees rose to 17.3% since 2011, but this is still well below the national average. Year 12 completion also rose by 7.4 points over the decade to reach 44.2%.
Typical weekly family income is $2,353, which is a little above the national figure and has risen by $594 since 2011. High earners are more common here, with 25.4% of households earning over $3,000 a week.
Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions than most Australian areas, with only 18.9% having one. Similarly, only 4.9% have a mental health condition, which is well below the national figure.
The area has a very high proportion of Defence Force veterans at 9.8%, well above the national average. However, volunteering has fallen by 3.9 points since 2011 to 14.9%.
First Nations people make up a large part of the community, with 34.6% speaking a First Nations language. This is far above the national figure, though well below the state average.
Homes here tend to be larger, with 2.7 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 56.6% of all families.
Renting is very common at 52.9%, which is far above the national average. While 77.5% of homes are separate houses, only 15.7% are owned outright.
The community is almost entirely car-dependent, with 0% of people using public transport to commute. There are no public transport stops or routes available in the area.
Katherine is a highly mobile place, with 45.7% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are also much more common here than in most other areas.
Full-time employment is very high at 74.6%, far above the national average. The workforce is concentrated in public administration, safety, and health care.
The area is rated as having high job skills and education relative to other regions, and it has seen a population growth of 5.6% since 2021.
The environment is hot and humid, with average maximum temperatures of 35.5°C. Rainfall is far above the Northern Territory average, totaling 784mm annually.
Walkability is very low, with a score of 3.0. Only 31.6% of homes have a walkable neighborhood, and most residents must drive to reach groceries or health services.