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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Tiwi Islands has an estimated 2,767 residents, up from 2,348 at the 2021 Census — a change of 419 people, or 17.8%. Natural increase accounts for 61.9% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's calculations, the population of Tiwi Islands stands at approximately 2,767 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 419 people (17.8%) compared to the 2,348 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 2,767 alongside 21 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. The density of the population corresponds to 0.40 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious living environment. The local growth rate of 17.8% since the 2021 census outstripped both the state trajectory and the national average (9.3%), positioning the area as a regional growth frontrunner.
Natural increase was the primary contributor to this demographic expansion, accounts for about 61.9% of the overall population rise over the recent timeframe. Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this coverage, and to calculate trends past 2032, growth rate projections by age bracket from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, utilizing 2022 baseline data) are applied. Future outlooks suggest the population expansion here will exceed the median rate for national regional areas, with an anticipated increase of 413 individuals up to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a 14.9% expansion over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity is minimal in Tiwi Islands, averaging 3 new dwellings approved annually, which sums to 19 over the preceding five years. Low volumes of construction are typical for rural areas where housing requirements remain steady and building works are constrained by local requirements and infrastructure capabilities. Given these minimal figures, individual building approvals have a disproportionate impact on annual fluctuations and relative performance metrics. Construction volumes in Tiwi Islands are naturally much lower than those in Rest of NT. These development rates also fall below national averages. Long-term forecasts indicate that Tiwi Islands will add 413 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch.
If building activity remains at its current pace, the supply of new housing may fail to match population expansion, which could intensify competition among buyers and underpin stronger price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tiwi Islands
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Tiwi Islands, worth an estimated $75 million. A further 16 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $1.41 billion. 8 are already under construction and 7 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans education & training, communities and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning decisions are major drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 5 projects that are expected to influence the local area. The most significant initiatives include the Tiwi Islands Tourism and Residential Development Opportunities, the Tiwi Islands Roads Upgrades Program, the Tiwi Islands Fire and Carbon Project, and the Tiwi H2 (Hydrogen) Project, with details of the most relevant projects listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Tiwi Islands Roads Upgrades Program
Joint Northern Territory and Australian Government road infrastructure program upgrading key roads across the Tiwi Islands. The Paru Road upgrade has been substantially progressed, including a new bridge and sealed road sections. Planning and procurement for the next stage of Pirlangimpi Road upgrades continue, with the 2026 NT Budget confirming ongoing funding for further road improvements across the Tiwi Islands.
Tiwi Islands Tourism and Residential Development Opportunities
Expressions of interest are being sought for tourism and residential developments across selected sites on Bathurst and Melville Islands under the Tiwi Development Framework Agreement. Concepts promoted include cabin-style accommodation, small eco-lodges and glamping, with the goal of creating local jobs and long-term benefits for Tiwi communities.
Tiwi Islands Fire and Carbon Project
An independent, Indigenous owned carbon enterprise focused on savanna fire management across approximately 8000 square kilometres of Aboriginal land. The project generates Australian carbon credit units and supports the Tiwi community in self-determination, job creation, and cultural stewardship.
Lee Point Master-planned Urban Development
A 131 hectare master-planned community by Defence Housing Australia at Lee Point in Darwin's northern suburbs. The project will deliver around 800 homes including detached houses, townhouses and apartments, with approximately 200 reserved for Defence families. Planned community infrastructure includes a primary school, childcare centre, sports facilities and a mixed-use tourism and retail precinct with hotel, cafes, restaurants and shops. Stage 1A has been completed and planning and design work for the remaining stages continues while legal proceedings are ongoing, with overall completion anticipated around 2033.
Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade
Construction of a new three-storey mental health inpatient facility providing 18 acute inpatient beds and a 6-bed Stabilisation Assessment and Referral Area (SARA). The unit connects to the Emergency Department via an elevated enclosed walkway across Nightingale Road. Internal fitout is currently underway as of May 2026. The project also encompasses upgrades to the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) to meet modern reprocessing standards and clinical safety requirements.
Royal Darwin Hospital Expansion
A multi-phase expansion of the Northern Territory's primary tertiary hospital. Key components currently under construction include a new $57 million three-storey Mental Health Inpatient Facility providing 24 beds and a $18.2 million 32-bed modular multipurpose ward. The expansion aims to improve acute care capacity for bariatric, renal, and general patients while providing modern therapeutic environments.
Edgeview Court Water Main Replacement
Construction of approximately 430 metres of replacement DN150 DICL water main in Edgeview Court, Leanyer, including decommissioning and removal of the existing asbestos water main. The works, tendered as T24-1256 by Power and Water Corporation, involved survey and realignment to minimise clashes with services and trees, traffic management, temporary servicing to existing customers, and testing and commissioning of the new main to ensure a reliable water supply to residents.
CDU - Centre for Better Health Futures
A completed $30.8 million, three-storey health teaching and research facility at Charles Darwin University's Casuarina campus, known as CDU Blue 8. The Centre for Better Health Futures includes clinical and preclinical simulation environments, laboratories, and research infrastructure, including a simulated emergency department and a 10-bed hospital ward. The building is home to CDU's new School of Medicine and the Menzies Medical Program, and more than 2000 students from 10 health disciplines began using the facility throughout 2026.
916 residents of Tiwi Islands are employed, from a labour force of 1,065. Unemployment sits at 14.0%, with participation at 47.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce of Tiwi Islands displays a balanced distribution between white and blue collar jobs, with solid representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 14.0%, and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 3.0%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 916, while the local unemployment rate stood at 8.1% above the Regional NT benchmark of 5.9%, pointing to opportunities for labor market improvement. Workforce participation is low, sitting at 47.5% compared to the 69.9% seen across Regional NT. Census returns indicated that only 3.0% of the working population performed their duties from home, though this figure may have been influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns.
The primary sectors employing local residents are education & training, public administration & safety, and health care & social assistance. Education & training is highly represented, with the local workforce share reaching 2.6 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, health care & social assistance has a smaller presence at 12.9% compared to the regional benchmark of 18.8%. Comparison of the Census working population against resident workers indicates that local employment opportunities are somewhat restricted within the immediate area. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics indicates that for the 12 months leading to March 2026, local employment expanded by 3.0% and the labour force grew by 2.7%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. This differed from Regional NT, where employment expanded by 2.8%, the labour force grew by 2.7%, and the unemployment rate fell slightly. For future context, national employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide perspective on potential demand trends. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local workforce profile to model future trajectories. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Applying these sectoral projections to the employment composition of Tiwi Islands suggests local jobs could grow by 6.1% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration that excludes localized demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Tiwi Islands is $757 a week (about $39,000 a year), with median personal income at $240 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,141 a year against an average of $54,961. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxpayer statistics at the postcode level from the ATO, compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, show a median income of $41,141 and an average income of $54,961 in the Tiwi Islands SA2. This is below national benchmarks, contrasting with the median of $53,572 and average of $63,776 in Regional NT. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since financial year 2023, estimated values would stand at approximately $45,012 for the median and $60,133 for the average as of March 2026. Detailed Census income files are unavailable for analysis.
The figures show that 27.7% of local taxpayers (766 individuals) earn weekly incomes between $400 - 799, whereas the broader region is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 33.6%. The concentration of 53.2% of the community in weekly brackets below $800 points to economic constraints for many residents. Although housing costs consume a small share of earnings, leaving 89.9% of income retained, overall disposable income sits at the 3rd percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Tiwi Islands had 604 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 82% detached houses and 10% apartments. 0% are owned with a mortgage, 96% rented and 5% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $80 a week and the median mortgage repayment $845 a month. Rent absorbs 10.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Tiwi Islands consisted of 82.2% separate houses and 17.8% other dwelling types like semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings in Regional NT. The rate of home ownership was lower than the regional average, standing at 4.5%, with the remaining properties occupied by renters (95.5%) or those with mortgages (0.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $845 was lower than the Regional NT average, while the median weekly rent was $80, compared to regional averages of $1,733 and $150.
Nationally, the mortgage payments in Tiwi Islands are far below the Australian average of $1,863, and rent costs are also well below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Tiwi Islands counted 604 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 712 today, averaging 3.4 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 20% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of households at 81.0%, which includes couples with children at 32.5%, couples without children at 20.4%, and single parents at 20.1%. The remaining 19.0% consists of non-family living arrangements, with single-person households at 19.2% and group housing making up 1.7%. The typical household size of 3.4 individuals is larger than the Regional NT average of 3.1.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.2% of adults in Tiwi Islands hold a university qualification, including 6.7% with a bachelor degree and 1.5% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 97% of areas nationally. A further 15.4% hold a vocational qualification. 5 schools serve the area, with 418 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 650 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment levels present challenges in the area, with the university qualification rate of 10.2% falling well below the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear opportunity for targeted education programs. Among residents with tertiary qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Vocational training accounts for 18.1% of qualifications for residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (2.7%) and certificates (15.4%). Participation in study is high in the community, with 30.6% of the population currently enrolled in educational institutions.
This enrollment consists of 14.2% in primary schools, 11.4% in secondary schools, and 1.4% in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
83.6% of residents in Tiwi Islands report no long-term health condition. 3.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 14.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health outcomes in Tiwi Islands align closely with national averages, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the frequency of chronic illnesses, showing typical rates of common medical conditions across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is low, held by approximately 47% of the population (~1,294 people), compared to 51.6% in Regional NT and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent health issues among residents are diabetes and heart disease, affecting 4.5% and 4.4% of the population respectively, while 83.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 78.4% in Regional NT.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 6.7% of the population (184 people), which is lower than the 8.5% average for Regional NT. Senior residents show particularly positive health indicators, ranking higher than the general population on a national scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Tiwi Islands is largely Australian-born, at 97.6% of residents, with 86.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (85.4%) and English (4.3%). 85.4% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Tiwi Islands exhibits high cultural diversity, with 2.4% of residents born outside Australia and 86.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 89.4% of the population, compared to 54.1% in Regional NT. Regarding parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestral groups represented in Tiwi Islands are Australian Aboriginal at 85.4% of the population, which is much higher than the regional average of 43.6%, English at 4.3%, which is much lower than the regional average of 14.3%, and Australian at 3.6%, which is much lower than the regional average of 14.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Tiwi Islands is 31, younger than 97% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 33.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Tiwi Islands is 31 years, matching the Regional NT average of 31 but falling below the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NT, Tiwi Islands has a larger proportion of young people aged 15 - 24 (17.4%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (16.1%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 grew from 9.5% to 11.6%, and the 65 to 74 group rose from 3.8% to 5.5%, while the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 16.3% to 13.4%.
By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant shifts, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 138 people (37%) from 376 to 515, while declines are projected for the 85+ and 15 to 24 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Tiwi Islands
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 last month all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 21 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,348 at the 2021 Census → 2,767 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (702031060). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.