Region (SA4) · Area profile
Darwin
3,168 km²
Higher-than-average weekly incomes and a strong job market define Darwin. This is a young, mobile community where the typical resident is just 34, making it noticeably younger than the national figure. The city is a diverse regional hub with a high proportion of overseas-born residents and a significant First Nations population. It is a place of constant movement, where nearly half the population has changed homes in the last five years.
Household incomes here are high, yet Darwin's schools draw a notably less advantaged community.
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Darwin is a young city with 20.2% of residents under 15 and a typical age of 34. Seniors are far less common here than across Australia, while de facto relationships are well above the national figure.
Overseas birthplaces are common, with 27.8% of people born outside Australia, a figure that rose 6.1 points since 2011. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Irish, Scottish and Filipino.
A quarter of the population uses a language other than English at home, which is a little above the national figure. This diversity has grown significantly, with the proportion of people using another language rising 7.8 points since 2011.
People with no religion make up 42.1% of the community, which is well above the figures for both the Northern Territory and Australia. This trend has grown by 16 points since 2011.
The community is well-qualified, with 26.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has also climbed, rising 12 points since 2011 to reach 57.9%.
Typical weekly incomes are much higher than most areas, with the typical family earning $2,485. This prosperity is evident in the 28.6% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, a figure that rose 12 points since 2011.
Residents report fewer health issues than the national average, with only 20.2% having a long-term condition. The rate of people needing help with daily activities is also much lower than in most other areas.
Defence Force veterans are well represented here, with 6.7% of residents having served, among the highest at this level. Volunteering is also more common than the national figure at 15.9%.
First Nations residents have a typical personal income of $699, which is far above the territory average. Employment is also stronger for this group, with an unemployment rate of 11.1%, well below the territory figure.
Families tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. This helps explain why only 23.4% of people live alone, which is much lower than in most other areas.
Renting is very common at 43.8%, far above the national average. Homes are often smaller, with 68.5% having three or more bedrooms, which is well below the national figure.
Most people drive to work, and very few—just 4.3%—work from home, which is far below the national figure. Public transport is used by only 2.3% of commuters.
The population is highly transient, with 47.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up a significant 19.8% of the community.
Jobs are plentiful and often full-time, with 69.7% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is much lower than in most similar areas.
The population continues to grow, with a 7.6% increase since 2021, which is a little above the Northern Territory average.
The area is very hot and wet, with an average maximum temperature of 34.4°C and annual rainfall of 1,652mm, which is far above the territory average.
The city is somewhat walkable, with 70.9% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Access to transport is a highlight, as 85.3% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of a stop.