Urban Centre · Area profile
Wadeye
21 km²
A very young population marks the community of Wadeye, where the typical resident is just 27. This is a place with a strong Indigenous presence, as 85.8% of people are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Families here tend to be large and often live together, creating a distinct social character in this remote part of the Northern Territory. While the population shrank by about 188 people since 2011, it remains a significant hub for its region.
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The area is far younger than the national figure, with 26.8% of the population being children under 15. It has a very high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, although this fell 5.6 points since 2011.
Most of the 1,924 residents were born in Australia, with only 2.5% born overseas. This is far below both the Northern Territory and national figures.
Language diversity is very high, with 83.8% of people using another language at home, far above the national figure of 22.3%. Around 17.5% of residents speak little or no English, though this fell 9.2 points since 2016.
Christianity is the most common faith at 39.0%. Those reporting no religion make up 34.0% of the community, a figure that rose 29 points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than most areas, with only 5.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, 38.1% of residents have completed Year 12, which is a 3.6 point increase since 2011.
Incomes are far below the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $767. Personal income is also very low, as the typical person earns just $181 per week.
Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions than most of Australia, with only 12.0% affected. Mental health conditions are also well below the national figure at 1.7%.
Unpaid care is common, with 45.2% of people caring for children, though this fell 23 points since 2011. Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level at 5.5%.
Homes are much larger than usual, with an average of 4.8 people per dwelling. This helps explain why 39.8% of households contain six or more people.
Renting is the primary tenure for 82.6% of households, far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is very low at $50, and very few people—just 0.9%—own their home outright.
Most homes have no motor vehicle, at 65.9%, which is far above the national figure. Consequently, 43.1% of people walk to work.
The community is relatively stable, with only 12.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 24.5% of the population, though this fell 19 points since 2016.
Very few adults are working or looking for work, at 25.4%, which is far below the national figure. Among those employed, 28.1% work in education and training.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, schools, and groceries. However, the area is still considered mostly car-dependent, and no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.