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RDA Northern TerritoryCommunity profile

RDA Northern Territory

Household size

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In 2021, 24% of households in the RDA Northern Territory contained only one person, compared with 23.4% in Greater Darwin, with the most dominant household size being 2 persons per household.

The size of households in general follows the life-cycle of families. Households are usually small at the stage of relationship formation (early marriage), and then increase in size with the advent of children. They later reduce in size again as these children reach adulthood and leave home. Household size can also be influenced by a lack (or abundance) of affordable housing. Overseas migrants and indigenous persons often have a tradition of living with extended family members which significantly affects household size.

Household size in Australia has generally declined since the 1970s, but the rate of decline has slowed in recent years.

An increasing household size in an area may indicate a lack of affordable housing opportunities for young people, an increase in the birth rate or an increase in family formation in the area. A declining household size may indicate children leaving the area when they leave home, an increase in retirees settling in the area, or an attraction of young singles and couples to the area.

For greater insight, the RDA Northern Territory's Household Size data should be viewed in conjunction with Household Summary, Age Structure, Dwelling Type, Household Income and Language Spoken at Home.

Q:

Derived from the three Census questions:

'Name of each person including visitors who spent the night of Tuesday, 10 August 2021 in this dwelling', and 'Where does the person usually live?', and 'Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling but was away on Tuesday, 10 August 2021.'

Household size
RDA Northern Territory - Households (Enumerated)20212011Change
Number of persons usually residentNumber%Greater Darwin %Number%Greater Darwin %2011 to 2021
1 person16,81423.823.413,33221.921.3+3,482
2 persons21,21030.031.918,87831.033.3+2,332
3 persons11,82616.718.19,98616.417.9+1,840
4 persons10,54914.915.99,19615.116.2+1,353
5 persons5,0787.26.84,4697.37.1+609
6 or more persons5,1797.33.95,0608.34.3+119
Total classifiable households70,656100.0100.060,921100.0100.0+9,735
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Household size - Summary
RDA Northern Territory - Enumerated20212011Change
DwellingsNumber%Greater Darwin %Number%Greater Darwin %2011 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings85,374----72,579----+12,795
Persons in occupied private dwellings234,234----210,460----+23,774
Average household size (persons per dwelling)2.74--2.612.90--2.67-0.16
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

The 'Dwellings' table is enumerated data.

Dominant groups

Analysis of the number of persons usually resident in a household in the RDA Northern Territory compared with Greater Darwin shows that there were a similar proportion of lone person households, and a higher proportion of larger households (those with 4 persons or more). Overall there were 23.8% of lone person households, and 29.4% of larger households, compared with 23.4% and 26.6% respectively for Greater Darwin.

The major differences in the household size for the RDA Northern Territory and Greater Darwin were:

  • A larger percentage of households with 6 or more persons usually resident (7.3% compared to 3.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 2 persons usually resident (30.0% compared to 31.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 3 persons usually resident (16.7% compared to 18.1%)

Emerging groups

The number of households in RDA Northern Territory increased by 9,735 between 2011 and 2021.

The largest changes in the number of persons usually resident in a household in the RDA Northern Territory between 2011 and 2021 were:

  • 1 person (+3,482 households)
  • 2 persons (+2,332 households)
  • 3 persons (+1,840 households)
  • 4 persons (+1,353 households)

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