Region (SA4) · Area profile
Northern Territory - Outback
1,344,967 km²
The population of Northern Territory - Outback has remained steady since 2011, staying at around 89,000 people. This is a young community where the typical resident is just 31, and more than half the population is First Nations. It is a place of striking contrasts, with very high language diversity and a strong presence of traditional cultures, yet many residents face significant challenges with low typical incomes and limited access to services. The region is defined by its vast scale and a population that is noticeably younger than the national average.
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About 50.8% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is far above the national figure. The community is very young, with children under 15 making up 22.6% of the population and seniors over 65 representing only 7.4%.
Most residents were born in Australia (78.7%), and the proportion born overseas is far below the national average at 12.7%.
Language diversity is very high, with 46.9% of people using a language other than English at home—a figure far above the national average. This is consistent with the high First Nations population.
While 46.7% of people identify as Christians, those with no religion make up 33.0%, which is well below the national figure.
Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 37.9% of people completing Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.
Incomes are among the lowest in the country; the typical personal weekly income is just $539, which is well below the national figure of $805.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions (18.9%) and mental health conditions (4.0%) compared to the national average.
Unpaid care for children is very common here, with 36.2% of people providing this support, which is well above the national figure.
First Nations people make up a huge part of the community, with 75.8% speaking a First Nations language. However, unemployment is very high at 25.9%, far above the national rate.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 3.1 people per household, and one-parent families are well above the national average at 21.9%.
Renting is very common at 55.1%, far above the national average, while typical weekly rents are among the lowest in the country at $150.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 22.4% of homes have no motor vehicle—far above the national figure—and public transport use is very low.
Residents are less likely to have moved recently compared to other areas, though recent arrivals from overseas are well above the national average.
Full-time employment is far above the national average at 69.5%, but the overall rate of people working or looking for work is much lower than most areas.
The population grew by 5.1% since 2021, which is a little below the state average of 6.6%.
The region is very hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 34.9°C and annual rainfall of 362mm.
Most residents are car-dependent, as the walkability score is well below the state average and only 42.6% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed.