Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Karama
2 km²
A growing number of residents now call Karama home as its population has remained steady and its diverse makeup has shifted since 2011. This is a young community where the typical resident is 35, and children under 15 make up over 22% of the population. It is a multicultural hub with a high proportion of overseas-born residents and a strong First Nations presence. The area feels like a genuine family suburb, with large households and a very high level of walkability to local services.
Families are well catered for: 14 schools serve Karama.
Explore Karama by topic
The community is noticeably younger than the national average, with children under 15 making up 22.7% of the population. First Nations people represent 18.8% of residents, a figure that has risen since 2011 and is far above the Australian average.
Born overseas, 30.8% of residents come from other countries, which is well above the national figure. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, and Filipino.
Multiculturalism is evident here, with 33.5% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national average, and the number of people who speak little or no English has risen since 2016.
Christianity is the most common faith at 47.5%. While those with no religion make up 33.3% of the area, this is well below the typical figure for both the Northern Territory and Australia.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with 50.4% of residents completing Year 12. However, this is an improvement from 2011, and the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has also risen.
Typical weekly household income is $1,783, which is about the same as the national figure. Both typical family and personal incomes have risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 22.7% of people, which is well below the national average. Mental health conditions are also much less common here than in most other areas.
The area has a high rate of unpaid care, with 28.2% of people caring for children and 12.6% providing other unpaid care. About 14.8% of residents are volunteers.
First Nations people are a significant part of the community, with a typical age of 21, which is noticeably younger than in the rest of the territory. About 16.8% of residents speak a First Nations language.
Homes are often crowded, with 2.9 people per household and a very high proportion of one-parent families at 22.9%. One-person households have increased since 2011.
Renting is common, with 37.5% of households paying rent, though the typical weekly rent of $293 is much lower than the national average. Detached houses are the most common dwelling type.
The area is well served by public transport, with more stops per person than the territory average. However, only 3.1% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.
The community is relatively stable, with 35% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 16.9% of the population.
Full-time employment is high at 65.4%, which is well above the national average. However, the unemployment rate of 7.0% is higher than in most other areas.
The area ranks low for overall advantage and access to resources, and it has seen a slight population decline of 1.8% since 2021.
Karama experiences a tropical climate with high average minimum temperatures and annual rainfall that is far above the Northern Territory average.
The area is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, and public transport. Nearly all residents can also reach groceries and health services on foot within 15 minutes.