Tiwi Islands
Statistical Area - sa2

Tiwi Islands is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of Tiwi Islands is approximately 2,744 as of August 2025. This figure represents a rise of 396 individuals from the 2021 Census total of 2,348 people, marking a 16.9% increase. The change was inferred from ABS estimates and additional validated addresses since the Census date in June 2024. This results in a population density ratio of 0.40 persons per square kilometer. Tiwi Islands' growth exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages, demonstrating its status as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52.9% to the overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort from the latest Greater Capital Region projections, released by ABS in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends project an above-median growth for national regional areas, with Tiwi Islands expected to increase by 453 persons to reach a total of 3,197 by 2041, reflecting a 16.5% overall increase over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Tiwi Islands is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Tiwi Islands has averaged approximately eight new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 41 approvals across the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, with zero approvals so far in FY26. Over these five years, an average of only 0.1 person per year moved to the area for each dwelling built.

This indicates that new construction is matching or outpacing demand, providing more options for buyers and facilitating population growth that may exceed current expectations. Compared to the Rest of NT, Tiwi Islands has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

However, construction activity has recently eased. Nationally, development levels are higher than in Tiwi Islands, reflecting market maturity and suggesting possible development constraints. Population forecasts indicate that Tiwi Islands will gain 453 residents by the year 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Tiwi Islands has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Five projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area: Tiwi Islands Tourism and Residential Development Opportunities, Tiwi Islands Roads Upgrades Program, Tiwi Islands Fire and Carbon Project, Tiwi H2 Hydrogen Project.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment conditions in Tiwi Islands face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Tiwi Islands has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs. Key sectors include essential services.

As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 14.2%. There are 890 residents in work. The unemployment rate is 8.3% higher than the Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags at 34.9%, compared to the Rest of NT's 50.7%.

Employment is concentrated in education & training, public administration & safety, and health care & social assistance. Education & training has a strong share of employment at 2.6 times the regional level. Health care & social assistance employs 12.9% of local workers, below the Rest of NT's 18.8%. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.9%, with a 4.6% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 2.4 percentage points. This contrasts with the Rest of NT, where employment contracted by 1.7%, and unemployment fell marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tiwi Islands' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.1% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in Tiwi Islands was $39,270 with an average of $52,420. This compares to Rest of NT where median income was $51,655 and average was $61,577. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% from June 2022 to March 2025, estimated median income in Tiwi Islands would be approximately $43,370 and average $57,893 by March 2025. Census income data is unavailable for detailed analysis. In Tiwi Islands, 27.7% of individuals earn between $400 - $799 weekly, unlike regional trends where 33.6% earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. A majority (53.2%) earn less than $800 weekly, indicating limited household budgets. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.9% income retention, Tiwi Islands' total disposable income ranks at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Tiwi Islands is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census evaluated dwelling structures in the Tiwi Islands with 82.2% being houses and 17.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NT's 83.6% houses and 16.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tiwi Islands was at 4.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (0%) or rented (95.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Tiwi Islands was $845, below Non-Metro NT's average of $1,346, and nationally, it is significantly lower at $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Tiwi Islands was recorded at $80, which is substantially below the national figure of $375.

Tiwi Islands features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.0% of all households, including 32.5% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 20.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 19.0%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households at 1.7%. The median household size is 3.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 3.5.

Tiwi Islands faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 10.2%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.7%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.0% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.5%. Vocational pathways account for 18.1% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 2.7% and certificates at 15.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 14.2% in primary, 11.4% in secondary, and 1.4% in tertiary education. Tiwi Islands has 5 schools with a combined enrollment of 418 students, operating under varied educational conditions across the islands. The educational mix includes 1 primary school, 1 secondary school, and 3 K-12 schools.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Tiwi Islands's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Tiwi Islands with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is found to be extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~1,267 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are diabetes and heart disease, affecting 4.5% and 4.4% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 83.6%, report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than the Rest of NT's figure of 78.5%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 6.0% (165 people), compared to the Rest of NT's 9.4%. Health outcomes among seniors align closely with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Tiwi Islands was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The Tiwi Islands region exhibited a higher level of cultural diversity compared to the national average, with 2.4% of its population born overseas and 86.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Tiwi Islands, accounting for 89.4% of the population, which is significantly higher than the regional average of 61.0%. Regarding ancestry, Australian Aboriginal was the most represented group, comprising 85.4% of the population, substantially higher than the regional average of 64.6%.

English ancestry made up 4.3% of the population, notably lower than the regional average of 10.2%, while Australian ancestry constituted 3.6%, also notably lower than the regional average of 9.9%.

Tiwi Islands hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Tiwi Islands has a median age of 30 years, close to Rest of NT's 31 and significantly lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NT, Tiwi Islands has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (17.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (16.3%). Between the 2021 Census and present day, the population aged 55-64 grew from 9.5% to 11.7%, while those aged 65-74 increased from 3.8% to 5.0%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5-14 declined from 16.3% to 13.3%, and the age group 45-54 dropped from 14.6% to 13.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Tiwi Islands' age profile. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 38%, reaching 507 people from 368. However, both the 85+ and 15-24 age groups are expected to decrease in number.