Roper Gulf · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Daily life in Roper Gulf is shaped by significant economic challenges, with an overall advantage score of 709 being among the lowest in the country. This represents a region where residents face a stark lack of access to money, resources, and education compared to most other areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Roper Gulf — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks 1 out of 10 for overall advantage, as well as for education and access to resources, placing it behind about 90% of similar regions. These scores show a high level of disadvantage across the board.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
709
Lower than 99% 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.
Population growth has been slow at 2.2% since 2021, which is well below the Northern Territory's 6.6% increase. The total population now stands at 7,597 people.
7,597
Lower than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.2%
Lower than 65% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Business activity is limited, with only 115 businesses operating in the region. There were also only 15 new dwellings approved, both of which are low figures compared to most similar areas.
115
Lower than 90% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
15
Lower than 68% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Roper Gulf [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA73600/roper-gulf/topic/economy-advantage
