The Northern Territory’s population has slightly grown but interstate turnover remains high, new ABS data reveals
The Northern Territory has an interstate migration problem – and a demographer warns it could be a long time before it gets any better. Find out why.
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The Northern Territory recorded a net population increase of 746 in the June 2024 quarter, with data showing natural increase and overseas migration continue to remain the highest contributors to the NT’s marginally growing population.
According to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Territory’s population increased by 0.3 per cent to 255,100 in the three months to June.
The ABS data showed there were 912 births and 319 deaths in the June quarter – a natural population increase of 593.
It also showed overseas migration contributed 810 to the Territory population in the June quarter – a 6.8 per cent decrease from the previous March quarter and a 31.2 per cent decrease compared to last year’s June quarter.
Detracting from the Territory’s population in the three months to June was interstate migration, which saw 657 more people leave the NT than arrive.
This improves on the previous March quarter, which detracted 1061, and the June 2023 quarter, which detracted 969.
In total, 3882 Territorians migrated interstate and 1216 settled from overseas in the June quarter.
Associate professor and demographer at Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute Dr Andrew Taylor said overseas migration was helping to offset the net losses from interstate migration.
“We see significant growth within specific immigrant communities, particularly those from Southern Asia,” he said.
“The Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, and Filipino communities in the Territory are all continuing to grow.
“The Indian community, for example, has been growing rapidly for about 15 years, with many of the people coming from regions like Kerala, which has a tropical climate similar to Darwin’s.”
Dr Taylor said there were a number of factors that could improve interstate migration trends.
“Education is a key factor; we need to ensure our local universities are seen as high-performing and attract both local and overseas students,” he said.
“Creating job opportunities and improving housing affordability could also help. The NT is now much cheaper than other states to buy a home, with median house prices less than half of what they are in Melbourne, Brisbane, or Sydney.
“In addition to economic factors, improving public services, health, crime rates, and access to community and leisure activities can make the NT more attractive.
“This high turnover is a longstanding characteristic of the Territory, and it’s likely to continue. However, the challenge is to improve the population growth rate at the margins.”
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