The Territory’s population showed a shock decline in the December 2023 quarter

The Northern Territory’s population dropped in the last three months of 2023. Read what caused the fall.

The Northern Territory recorded a net population decline in the December 2023 statistical quarter, with 67 fewer residents calling the NT home than at the beginning of the month.

Figures released on Thursday by the Bureau of Statistics showed the Territory’s population actually fell in the three months to December, in part on the back of a statistical quirk with the ABS upwardly revising its September quarter figures.

The ABS data also shows almost 4000 more people moved interstate from the Territory than moved here from interstate during 2023.

The ABS data showed there were 733 births and 365 deaths in the Territory during the December quarter, delivering a natural population increase of 365.

There were fewer Territorians in December than there were in September, according to the ABS.

In total 1189 Territorians migrated interstate in the December quarter, with 757 people settling in the NT from overseas.

The 67 fewer residents represented a 0.03 per cent decline in the NT’s December quarter population.

By the end of December 2023, 3957 Territorians migrated interstate to live, with that number offset by the 4272 overseas immigrants who have settled here.

In total the NT’s population increased by 2386 in 2023, a 0.95 per cent increase.

Population is emerging as a key issue at August’s election, with the CLP attacking Labor’s population record during this week’s Budget Estimates hearings.

At one point, under questioning from Opposition Leader Finocchiaro, Ms Lawler responded by saying “our population is increasing”.

“Leader of the Opposition, you may be 30 years younger than me, but we have always seen Territorians come and go,” Ms Lawler said.

“Anywhere I travel around Australia or on any holiday, I catch up with people who have lived in the Northern Territory and gone back somewhere else. That is a fact of our population.”

Ms Finocchiaro accused Ms Lawler of not addressing issues around population.

“All you are talking about is future things that may or may not happen,” she said.

“None of them seem to be within your control. I am talking about Master Builders saying that we are on track to build the least number of homes since records began.

“The Darwin Major Business Groups report found that private investment is very low. We have ABS data showing, for example, population figures. There was (a)

story not that long ago saying that over 17,000 people had departed and only 14,000 had moved here, with net migration at 3270.

“People are leaving. We had businesses closing their doors. We have CommSec saying that we are the worst-performing economy in the nation. All the data keeps adding up.

“Is everyone wrong? Are you the only person who is right? All these other economic indicators and reports are wrong. Is that what you are saying?”

Originally published as The Territory’s population showed a shock decline in the December 2023 quarter