Katherine · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A 5.6% population increase has shaped the recent economic landscape of Katherine. While the area has a strong overall advantage score of 965, there is a stark gap between the high levels of job skills and the limited access to money and resources.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Katherine — higher than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Education and job skills are a major strength here, scoring 8 out of 10, which is higher than about 80% of similar areas. However, access to money and resources is much lower, scoring just 2 out of 10.
7
Higher than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
4
Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
2
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
8
Higher than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
965
Higher than 60% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
The population grew by 5.6% since 2021, a rate that is higher than most areas and about the same as the Northern Territory figure of 6.6%.
11,282
Lower than 54% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
5.6%
Higher than 68% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 918 businesses operating in the area. Recent activity is modest, with 32 new dwellings approved, which is smaller than about 56% of similar areas.
918
Lower than 59% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
32
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Katherine [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA72200/katherine/topic/economy-advantage
