Katherine

The population is far younger than the national figure, with 23.5% of residents being children under 15. This young profile is reflected in the marital trends, as 46.8% of people have never married, while de facto relationships are much more common here than in most other areas.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (9.6%) than the rest of the territory or the nation. Australian and English are the most common ancestries reported.

Language diversity is very high, with 41.3% of people using a language other than English at home, a figure far above the national average. This trend has risen by 6.2 percentage points since 2011.

Christianity is the most common faith at 42.7%. Those reporting no religion make up 35.5% of the community, which is a little below the Northern Territory average but has grown by 10 percentage points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 33.6% of people completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%, and only 11.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level; the typical personal weekly income is just $560, which is well below the national figure of $805. The typical family earns $1,316 a week, far below the territory average.

Residents report fewer long-term health and mental health conditions than the national average. For example, only 3.8% have a mental health condition, which is well below the 8.8% seen across Australia.

The community has a high rate of unpaid childcare, with 35.5% of people caring for children. There is also a strong connection to the military, as 6% of people served in the Defence Force, well above the national figure.

First Nations people make up a huge part of the community, with 71.8% speaking a First Nations language. However, they face significant challenges, including an unemployment rate of 23.2% and a typical personal income of just $276.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 3.2 people per household. One-parent families are also much more common than in most areas, making up 21.2% of all households.

Rental properties are very common, with 58.8% of households renting, far above the national figure. This is coupled with high density in the home, with 1.2 people per bedroom, which is well above the Australian average.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 19.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, among the highest rate for its level. There are no public transport stops or routes available for residents.

Movement into the area is relatively low, with 34.3% of people moving in the last five years, well below the national figure. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas are well above the national average at 24.2%.

Full-time employment is higher here than in most areas at 71.6%, but fewer adults are working or looking for work overall (49.5%). Many people work in public administration, safety, or health services.

The population has grown by 4.3% since 2021, though this is a little below the Northern Territory's growth rate. The total population estimate stands at 22,026.

Katherine experiences extreme heat, with average maximum temperatures among the highest at this level. It is also much wetter than the rest of the territory, with an average annual rainfall of 770mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.7, far below the territory average. Very few people live within a 15-minute walk of health services or groceries.