Working in the NT Overview

A little about the Territory

The estimated population of the Northern Territory in June 2009 was 224,800. The Northern Territory's population is the youngest in Australia and has the largest proportion under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion aged 65 and over. The median age of residents of the Northern Territory is 30.3 years, almost six years younger than the national median age.

More than 100 nationalities are represented in the Northern Territory's population, including more than 50 organisations representing different ethnic groups. Indigenous Australians own close to 49% of the land. There are communities in many parts of the territory, the largest ones being the Pitjantjatjara near Uluru, the Arrernte near Alice Springs, the Luritja between those two, the Warlpiri further north, and the Yolngu in eastern Arnhem Land.

More than 54% of Territorians live in Darwin, located in the territory's north (Top End). The greater Darwin metropolitan area and nearby Palmerston is home to 120,900 people. Less than half of the territory's population live in the rural Northern Territory.


The Northern Territory has two distinctive climate zones.



The central region is the desert centre of the country, which includes Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, and is semi-arid with little rain usually falling during the hottest months from October to March. Central Australia receives less than 250 mm (9.8 in) of rain per year. The highest maximum temperature recorded in the territory was 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) at Finke on 1 and 2 January 1960. The lowest minimum temperature was ?7.5 °C (18 °F) at Alice Springs on 12 July 1976. Wikipedia 2009.

A great website that has a myriad of helpful information about the Northern Territory is