Tiwi Islands

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, the Tiwi Islands's population is around 2,750 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 402 people (17.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,348 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,744 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 21 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 0.40 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Tiwi Islands's 17.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 52.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is applying growth rates by age cohort to each area, as provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). As we examine future population trends, an above-median population growth for national regional areas is projected, with the area expected to increase by 453 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 16.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

Tiwi Islands experiences very limited development activity, averaging 3 approvals per year (19 dwellings over the five-year period). These low development levels reflect the rural nature of the area, where development is typically driven by specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand. Note: given the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Tiwi Islands has substantially lower development levels than the Rest of NT. The development pattern is also well below national averages.

Looking ahead, Tiwi Islands is expected to grow by 447 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Tiwi Islands has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 5 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Tiwi Islands Tourism and Residential Development Opportunities, Tiwi Islands Roads Upgrades Program, Tiwi Islands Fire and Carbon Project, and Tiwi H2 (Hydrogen) Project, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Tiwi Islands possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 14.5%. As of December 2025902 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 8.4% above Regional NT's rate of 6.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (47.5% compared to Regional NT's 71.4%). Based on Census responses, a low 3.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are education & training, public administration & safety, and health care & social assistance. The area shows particularly strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 2.6 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 12.9% versus the regional average of 18.8%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force increased by 1.1% while employment declined by 0.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NT, where employment rose by 0.7%, the labour force grew by 1.1%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Tiwi Islands. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Tiwi Islands's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Tiwi Islands SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $41,141 and an average of $54,961 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is lower than average on a national basis, contrasting with Regional NT's median income of $53,572 and average income of $63,776. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $44,613 (median) and $59,600 (average) as of September 2025. Census income data is not available for detailed analysis. The data shows 27.7% of the population (761 individuals) fall within the $400 - 799 income range, contrasting with the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 33.6%. The concentration of 53.2% in sub-$800 weekly brackets highlights economic challenges facing a significant portion of the community. While housing costs are modest with 89.9% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just 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

Dwelling structure within Tiwi Islands, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.2% houses and 17.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NT's 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Tiwi Islands was lagging that of Regional NT, at 4.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (0.0%) or rented (95.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NT average at $845, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $80, compared to Regional NT's $1,733 and $150. Nationally, Tiwi Islands's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 81.0% of all households, comprising 32.5% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 20.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 19.0%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size of 3.4 people is larger than the Regional NT average of 3.1.

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 (10.2%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 6.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Vocational pathways account for 18.1% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (2.7%) and certificates (15.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.2% in primary education, 11.4% in secondary education, and 1.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Tiwi Islands's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

The Tiwi Islands' health metrics sit close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~1,287 people). This compares to 51.6% across Regional NT. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be diabetes and heart disease, impacting 4.5 and 4.4% of residents, respectively, while 83.6% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 78.4% across Regional NT. The area has 6.5% of residents aged 65 and over (179 people), which is lower than the 8.3% in Regional NT. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

The Tiwi Islands were found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 2.4% of its population born overseas and 86.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in the Tiwi Islands was found to be Christianity, which makes up 89.4% of people in the Tiwi Islands. This compares to 54.1% across Regional NT.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in the Tiwi Islands are Australian Aboriginal, comprising 85.4% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 43.6%, English, comprising 4.3% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 14.3%, and Australian, comprising 3.6% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 14.9%.

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

Tiwi Islands's median age of 30 years stands close to Regional NT's 31 as well as significantly lower than the 38-year national average. Relative to Regional NT, Tiwi Islands has a higher concentration of 15 - 24 residents (17.1%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (16.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 age group has grown from 9.5% to 11.8% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 3.8% to 5.3%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 16.3% to 13.3% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 14.6% to 13.3%. Demographic modeling suggests Tiwi Islands's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 38% (139 people), reaching 507 from 367. Conversely, both the 85+ and 15 to 24 age groups will see reduced numbers.