Overview of Northern Territory: People

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The Northern Territory has the sparsest population of any state or territory in Australia, with approximately 211,000 people and two percent density. The region has a youthful and multicultural population, of which 30 percent are Aboriginal people and 15 percent were born overseas.

Darwin alone is home to people from more than 60 different nationalities and more than 70 different ethnic backgrounds. A large proportion of the Aboriginal population lives in remote communities throughout the NT, from the Red Centre, through to Arnhem Land and across to the Tiwi Islands. Many of these communities boast thriving art centres, where you can visit to purchase works and meet the artists. Hundreds of different Aboriginal languages are spoken by the indigenous people in the, including Yolgnu Matha in Arnhem Land, which is the second most spoken language in the NT after English.

Permits are required to visit many of these communities. The largest Aboriginal groups are the Pitjantjatjara, Arrernte, Luritja and Warlpiri in the Red Centre, and Yolngu in east Arnhem Land.

The average age of Northern Territory residents is 32 years, compared with the national average of 37 years.

The Northern Territory is close to Asia and has a large Asian culture (including language and food) that is mostly seen in Darwin.

• Cox Knob, a hill
• Helen Well, a well