Wadeye

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

As of November 2025, Wadeye's population is estimated at around 2,258 based on ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch. This reflects an increase of 334 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,924. The current population was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,254 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 108 persons per square kilometer. Wadeye's growth rate of 17.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (8.9%) and the state average, making it a growth leader in the region. The primary driver of population growth was natural increase.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 estimates, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population trends indicate an increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, Wadeye is expected to grow by 261 persons, reflecting a total gain of 10.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Development activity data is being compiled for this area.

Wadeye naturally has much lower development activity compared to the Rest of NT. The development pattern in Wadeye is also well below national averages.

Wadeye has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified zero projects impacting this region. Key initiatives are East Kimberley Clean Energy Project, Northern Territory Freight Rail And Logistics Capacity Improvements, Network Optimisation Program - Rail, and Coastal Hazards Adaptation Strategy.

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

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

Wadeye has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notably in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 24.8% as of June 2025, higher than the Rest of NT's 5.9%.

There were 448 residents employed while the participation rate was 25.4%, compared to the Rest of NT's 50.7%. Key industries for employment are education & training, public administration & safety, and other services, with a strong specialization in education & training at 2.4 times the regional level. However, accommodation & food has limited presence at 1.7% compared to the regional 6.9%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as seen by the difference between Census working population and resident population.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Wadeye's labour force decreased by 1.0% while employment declined by 3.7%, increasing unemployment by 2.1 percentage points. In contrast, the Rest of NT saw a marginal fall in unemployment despite employment contracting by 1.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wadeye's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Wadeye had a median taxpayer income of $29,616 and an average income of $39,533. These figures are below the national averages of $51,655 and $61,577 respectively in Rest of NT. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.01% since financial year 2022, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $33,173 and $44,281 respectively. Census income data is not available for detailed analysis in Wadeye. The data shows 28.5% of the population (643 individuals) fall within the $0 - 399 income range, unlike surrounding regions where 33.6% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Lower income households are prevalent with 50.2% earning below $800 weekly. While housing costs are modest with 93.5% of income retained, total disposable income ranks at just the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

In Wadeye, as per the latest Census findings, 72.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 27.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NT's figures of 83.6% houses and 16.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wadeye was at 1.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 0.0% and rented ones at 98.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $0, significantly lower than Non-Metro NT's average of $1,346. The median weekly rent figure in Wadeye was $50, substantially lower than Non-Metro NT's $80 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Wadeye's mortgage repayments were considerably lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households account for 85.0% of all households, including 50.1% couples with children, 12.5% couples without children, and 20.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 15.0%, with lone person households at 11.9% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 4.8 people, larger than the Rest of NT average of 3.5.

Wadeye 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 9.9%, significantly below Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational pathways account for 15.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 4.5% and certificates at 10.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 19.6% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College provides local educational services within Wadeye, with an enrollment of 456 students as of a recent report. The area has varied educational conditions (ICSEA: 656). All 1 schools offer integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (20.2 places per 100 residents vs 13.7 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Wadeye'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 Wadeye, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 43% of the total population (~961 people), compared to 47.5% in the Rest of NT and a national average of 55.3%. Heart disease and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 4.7% and 3.4% of residents respectively, while 86.7% report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 78.5% in the Rest of NT.

Only 4.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (97 people), lower than the 9.4% in the Rest of NT. Health outcomes among seniors align with the general population's health profile.

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

Wadeye has a higher-than-average cultural diversity, with 2.6% of its population born overseas and 87.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wadeye, accounting for 46.5% of the population. However, the most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 14.1% of the population, significantly higher than the Rest of NT average of 6.9%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian Aboriginal is the most represented group in Wadeye at 83.4%, substantially higher than the regional average of 64.6%. Australian and English groups are notably underrepresented in Wadeye, comprising 4.0% and 3.9% respectively, compared to regional averages of 9.9% and 10.2%. Notably, Korean ethnicity is overrepresented in Wadeye at 0.2%, compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

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

Wadeye's median age is 28 years, which is marginally below the Rest of NT average of 31 years and substantially under Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NT, Wadeye has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (19.6%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (7.6%). This 15-24 concentration is well above the national average of 12.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 15.0% to 16.8%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 2.4% to 3.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 19.7% to 16.9%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 19.5% to 17.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Wadeye's age structure. The 45 to 54 group is projected to grow by 55%, reaching 371 people from the current 239. However, population declines are projected for the 85+ and 15 to 24 cohorts.