Council (LGA) · Area profile
Roper Gulf
185,213 km²
A strong First Nations identity defines Roper Gulf, where 75.2% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This community is notably young, with a typical resident aged 29 and a high proportion of children. Living conditions are often crowded, and the area faces significant economic challenges. It is a place where traditional culture and language remain deeply influential in daily life.
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The population is far younger than the national figure, with 23.3% of people under 15. While it grew by 6% since 2011, those aged 65 and over make up only 6.1%, which is far below the Australian average.
Very few residents were born overseas, at just 3.7%, which is far below both the Territory and national figures. The most common ancestries are Australian and English.
Language diversity is very high, with 64.6% of people using another language at home, far above the national figure of 22.3%. However, 7.2% of residents speak little or no English.
Christianity is the most common faith at 44.1%. Those with no religion make up 30.4%, which is well below the typical figure for the Territory and Australia.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 22% of people completing Year 12 and 5.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher. The region has a high number of schools per 1,000 children.
Incomes are very low, with a typical weekly family income of $756, far below the national figure of $2,120. Only 8.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most of the country, with only 18.2% having one. Similarly, only 3.1% have a mental health condition, which is well below the national figure.
Unpaid care is common here; 46.7% of people care for children without pay, far above the national figure. However, only 6% of residents volunteer, which is well below the national average.
First Nations people make up a huge part of the community, and 83.8% speak a First Nations language. This group faces hardship, with a 23.2% unemployment rate and a typical personal income of $255.
Homes are large and often crowded, with 4.1 people per home and 32.7% of households containing six or more people. One-parent families are also common at 25%.
Renting is very common at 67.3%, far above the national rate. The typical weekly rent is just $75, and the typical household has 1.7 people per bedroom, far above the national figure.
Car ownership is low, with 42% of homes having no motor vehicle, far above the national figure. Because of this, 38.6% of workers walk to their jobs.
The population is relatively stable, with only 18.8% moving in the last five years, far below the national figure. Interestingly, 29.6% of recent arrivals came from overseas.
Working or looking for work is far less common here than elsewhere, at only 31.8%. Those who are employed often work in education, agriculture, or public administration.
The area is among the most disadvantaged in the country, ranking 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. Population growth since 2021 has been slow at 2.2%.
The region is very hot, with an average maximum temperature of 36.2°C. It is also much wetter than the rest of the Territory, receiving 721mm of annual rainfall.
The area is heavily car-dependent with a walkability score of 1.9. Most residents live far from amenities, and 0% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.