Where the oldest and youngest Territorians live

Words: Lee Robinson Producer: Simone Kealy

The latest population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed where the oldest and the youngest Territorians are choosing to live.

33.5 years

According to the latest population data on the NT from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Darwin CBD has a median age of the youngest of the Territory’s metro areas and the youngest capital city in Australia.

29.7 years

Other areas with high numbers of young people living there were Stuart Park, Parap and the Woolner – Bayview – Winnellie area. In Darwin’s more outer suburbs, Lyons had the lowest median age of 29.7 years, trailed by Karama, Nightcliff and Wulagi.

And in the Palmerston and Litchfield areas, it was Palmerston South and Koolpinyah with the youngest Territorians.

33.7 years

Over in Alice Springs, Flynn had the youngest median age of 33.7 years, with East Side, Larapinta and Mount Johns all popular choices for youngsters who call Alice Springs home.

29.8 years

Further afar in the Red Centre, the average age of residents in the Tanami region was 29.8 years, equal lowest with Yuendumu.

55.4 years

Meanwhile, East Point may appeal to silver-haired Territorians, with the inner Darwin suburb taking out the title of the Territory’s oldest population. In East Point, residents have a median age of 54.5 years, more than seven years older than any other area.

40 - 47

The Darwin Airport area, East Arm and Virginia had the next oldest populations in the Top End, with average ages between 40 and 47.

The median age in Petermann was 45.6 years.

Down south, it was the Petermann locality, which encompasses Uluru, with the most long in the tooth Territorians.

33.6 years

The median age across all of the Northern Territory is 33.6 years.

On a national level, Australia’s population has aged in the past 50 years. The median age increased by more than 10 years, from 27.5 years in 1971 to 38.2 years in 2021.

According to the ABS, the ageing population was the result of declining fertility and lower mortality. “People are living longer and having fewer babies,” according to a recent release from the bureau. “The arrival of younger overseas migrants, and their subsequent children, partly offset the ageing population.