# List of places in the Northern Territory by population

The Northern Territory is a self-governing territory of Australia. It has a population of 232,605 as of the 2021 Australian census, the most recent census for which data has been released, and occupies an area of 1,347,791 square kilometres (520,385 sq mi). Official population statistics are published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which conducts a census every five years. The ABS publishes data for various types of geographic structures, including urban centres and localities, which represent the built-up area of cities and towns with more than 200 people, and local government areas.

## Urban centres and localities by population

Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1s) are areas that subdivide all of Australia. SA1s generally have a population between 200 and 800 people, but this can reach as low as 180 for small towns and 90 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Urban centres and localities (UCLs) are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as clusters of urban SA1s. Clusters with a population higher than 1,000 are considered urban centres and clusters with a population between 200 and 999 are considered localities. The population of a locality is allowed to fall below 200 for two consecutive censuses before it is declassified as a locality.
The largest UCL within the Northern Territory is Darwin, with a population of 122,207 at the 2021 census. There are a total of 70 UCLs in the Northern Territory as of 2021, of which twelve have a population above 1,000.
List of urban centres and localities by population :
| Rank | Urban centre or locality | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| Rank | Urban centre or locality | 2011 census | Ref. | 2016 census | Ref. | 2021 census | Ref. |
| 1 | Darwin | 103,016 | | 118,456 | | 122,207 | |
| 2 | Alice Springs | 24,208 | | 23,726 | | 24,855 | |
| 3 | Katherine | 6,094 | | 6,303 | | 5,980 | |
| 4 | Nhulunbuy | 3,933 | | 3,088 | | 3,267 | |
| 5 | Tennant Creek | 3,062 | | 2,991 | | 2,949 | |
| 6 | Maningrida | 2,293 | | 2,308 | | 2,518 | |
| 7 | Galiwinku | 2,124 | | 2,088 | | 2,199 | |
| 8 | Wadeye | 2,112 | | 2,280 | | 1,924 | |
| 9 | Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) | 1,527 | | 1,563 | | 1,421 | |
| 10 | Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) | 1,171 | | 1,117 | | 1,153 | |
| 11 | Milingimbi | 1,081 | | 1,225 | | 1,097 | |
| 12 | Ngukurr | 1,056 | | 1,149 | | 1,088 | |
| 13 | Angurugu | 835 | | 855 | | 883 | |
| 14 | Yulara | 888 | | 759 | | 853 | |
| 15 | Ramingining | 833 | | 872 | | 814 | |
| 16 | Jabiru | 1,129 | | 1,081 | | 755 | |
| 17 | Borroloola | 926 | | 871 | | 755 | |
| 18 | Alyangula | 986 | | 873 | | 751 | |
| 19 | Yuendumu | 687 | | 759 | | 740 | |
| 20 | Gapuwiyak | 874 | | 923 | | 705 | |
| 21 | Numbulwar | 687 | | 723 | | 681 | |
| 22 | Humpty Doo | 569 | | 678 | | 660 | |
| 23 | Yirrkala | 843 | | 809 | | 657 | |
| 24 | Lajamanu | 656 | | 598 | | 653 | |
| 25 | Minyerri | 484 | | 618 | | 650 | |
| 26 | Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Purte) | 555 | | 580 | | 603 | |
| 27 | Daguragu – Kalkarindji | 542 | | 575 | | 575 | |
| 28 | Howard Springs | 612 | | 595 | | 569 | |
| 29 | Hermannsburg | 625 | | 605 | | 551 | |
| 30 | Wugular (Beswick) | 511 | | 531 | | 542 | |
| 31 | Ampilatwatja | 365 | | 418 | | 439 | |
| 32 | Papunya | 418 | | 404 | | 438 | |
| 33 | Warruwi | 423 | | 389 | | 432 | |
| 34 | Ilparpa | 433 | | 360 | | 424 | |
| 35 | Wagait Beach – Mandorah | 368 | | 461 | | 422 | |
| 36 | Walungurru (Kintore) | 454 | | 410 | | 420 | |
| 37 | Umbakumba | 441 | | 503 | | 419 | |
| 38 | Milikapiti | 447 | | 401 | | 414 | |
| 39 | Ali Curung | 535 | | 494 | | 394 | |
| 40 | Batchelor | 336 | | 466 | | 371 | |
| 41 | Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa) | 377 | | 390 | | 364 | |
| 42 | Alpurrurulam | 441 | | 420 | | 350 | |
| 43 | Nauiyu Nambiyu (Daly River) | 454 | | 378 | | 350 | |
| 44 | Barunga | 313 | | 363 | | 337 | |
| 45 | Mataranka | 244 | | 310 | | 327 | |
| 46 | Pine Creek | 380 | | 328 | | 318 | |
| 47 | Pirlangimpi | 371 | | 371 | | 317 | |
| 48 | Mutitjulu | 210 | | 323 | | 296 | |
| 49 | Elliot | 348 | | 339 | | 287 | |
| 50 | Yarralin | 266 | | 293 | | 283 | |
| 51 | Timber Creek | — | | 249 | | 278 | |
| 52 | Minjilang | 309 | | 247 | | 265 | |
| 53 | Jilkminggan | 280 | | 301 | | 263 | |
| 54 | Bulman – Weemol | 291 | | 280 | | 263 | |
| 55 | Nyirripi | 210 | | 236 | | 251 | |
| 56 | Adelaide River | 237 | | 265 | | 243 | |
| 57 | Gunyangara | — | | 240 | | 241 | |
| 58 | Binjari | 238 | | 190 | | 240 | |
| 59 | Areyonga | 235 | | 195 | | 236 | |
| 60 | Amoonguna | 275 | | 239 | | 229 | |
| 61 | Kaltukatjara (Docker River) | 295 | | 394 | | 229 | |
| 62 | Willowra | 221 | | 301 | | 222 | |
| 63 | Atitjere | — | | 224 | | 204 | |
| 64 | Titjikala | 201 | | 227 | | 196 | |
| 65 | Aputula (Finke) | — | | 192 | | 191 | |
| 66 | Laramba | 251 | | 239 | | 189 | |
| 67 | Robinson River (Mungoorbada) | 258 | | 222 | | 180 | |
| 68 | Yuelamu | 207 | | 220 | | 149 | |
| 69 | Canteen Creek | 217 | | 184 | | 147 | |
| 70 | Wutunugurra | 207 | | 166 | | 143 | |

## Local government areas by population

The Northern Territory is divided into 17 local government areas plus several unincorporated areas. Local government area boundaries are set by an independent local government representation review committee, which consists of the Northern Territory's electoral commissioner, surveyor-general, and the chief executive officer of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses an approximation of these boundaries for its statistics. The largest local government area within the Northern Territory is the City of Darwin, with a population of 80,530 as of the 2021 census.
List of local government areas by population :
| Rank | Local government area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| Rank | Local government area | 2011 census | Ref. | 2016 census | Ref. | 2021 census | Ref. |
| 1 | City of Darwin | 72,930 | | 78,804 | | 80,530 | |
| 2 | City of Palmerston | 27,703 | | 33,786 | | 37,247 | |
| 3 | Town of Alice Springs | 25,186 | | 24,753 | | 25,912 | |
| 4 | Litchfield Municipality | 18,994 | | 23,855 | | 21,411 | |
| 5 | Town of Katherine | 9,187 | | 9,717 | | 9,643 | |
| 6 | East Arnhem Region | 9,098 | | 9,026 | | 8,778 | |
| * | Unincorporated areas | 8,089 | | 6,907 | | 6,802 | |
| 7 | Roper Gulf Region | 6,121 | | 6,505 | | 6,486 | |
| 8 | Barkly Region | 6,823 | | 6,655 | | 6,316 | |
| 9 | West Arnhem Region | 6,232 | | 6,188 | | 6,281 | |
| 10 | MacDonnell Region | 5,831 | | 6,029 | | 5,748 | |
| 11 | Central Desert Region | 3,720 | | 3,677 | | 3,591 | |
| 12 | West Daly Region | — | | 3,166 | | 2,973 | |
| 13 | Victoria Daly Region | 5,924 | | 2,810 | | 2,815 | |
| 14 | Tiwi Islands Region | 2,580 | | 2,453 | | 2,348 | |
| 15 | Coomalie Shire | 1,106 | | 1,319 | | 1,276 | |
| 16 | Wagait Shire | 369 | | 463 | | 423 | |
| * | Darwin Waterfront Precinct | — | | — | | 293 | |
| 17 | Belyuen Shire | 181 | | 164 | | 149 | |