Darwin City · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
High levels of education and a booming population shape daily life in Darwin City. While overall advantage is higher than most areas, there is a striking gap between the high skills of residents and their actual access to money and resources.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Darwin City — higher than 86% of areas.
| Darwin City | 9 |
|---|---|
| 0800, NT | 9 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is very advantaged overall, with a typical score of 1,084 that is higher than about 83% of similar places. This is driven by education and job skills, which are higher than about 90% of other areas, though access to money and resources is much lower.
9
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
8
Higher than 71% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
9
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
1,084
Higher than 82% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 rapid, climbing 13.4% since 2021. This is much higher than most areas and well above the Northern Territory figure of 6.6%.
8,597
Lower than 60% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
13.4%
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Darwin City is a major hub for local industry, with 1,450 businesses, making it larger than about 75% of similar areas.
1,450
Higher than 74% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Darwin City [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/701011002/darwin-city/topic/economy-advantage
