Northern Territory · Postcode 0872
Papunya postcode and suburb data
Northern Territory · Phone area code 08 · 1200 km from Darwin
Suburb snapshot
Papunya at a glance vs NT
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NT
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where Papunya ranks: SEIFA decile 1 places it in the bottom 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Papunya vs the NT average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Papunya | NT avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,520 -NT | $2,022 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $83 -NT | $309 | $390 |
| Median age | 27 | 33.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 1/10 -NT | 3.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 10.4% +NT | 7.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NT average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Papunya is a very remote community in Northern Territory, with postcode 0872. It lies roughly 1200 km from Darwin, classified by the ABS as very remote Australia. The area is administered by MacDonnell.
According to the 2021 Census, Papunya has a population of 438 with a median age of 27. The median weekly household income is $1,520, below the NT average. The unemployment rate is 10.4%, higher than the NT average. The Indigenous population is 389 (88.8% of residents).
Housing in Papunya includes a median weekly rent of $83, 71 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the NT average. Rental properties account for 100.0% of dwellings.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Papunya scores in decile 1 out of 10, which is well below the national average.
Schools in Papunya include Papunya School and Mbunghara School.
Papunya is part of the Barkly statistical area in Northern Territory.
Papunya details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 0872 |
| State | Northern Territory (NT) |
| Phone Area Code | 08 |
| Population (2021) | 438 |
| Median Age | 27 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,520/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $240/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $83 |
| Average Household Size | 4.6 persons |
| Area | 4.7 km² |
| Population Density | 92/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 71 |
| Australian Citizens | 94.7% |
| Indigenous Population | 389 (88.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.4% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 1/10 (well below average) |
| Latitude | -23.2039 |
| Longitude | 131.915 |
| Distance from Darwin | 1200 km |
| Region (SA4) | Northern Territory - Outback |
| Area (SA3) | Barkly |
| Local Government | MacDonnell |
| State Electorate | Namatjira |
| Time Zone | ACST (UTC+9:30), Australia/Darwin (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 123 (28.1%) |
| 15–24 years | 88 (20.1%) |
| 25–44 years | 146 (33.3%) |
| 45–64 years | 62 (14.2%) |
| 65+ years | 16 (3.7%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Diabetes | 39 (8.9%) |
| Heart Disease | 16 (3.7%) |
| Asthma | 12 (2.7%) |
| Arthritis | 3 (0.7%) |
| Lung Condition | 3 (0.7%) |
| Cancer | 3 (0.7%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 35 (47.9%) |
| 1 vehicle | 26 (35.6%) |
| 2 vehicles | 6 (8.2%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 6 (8.2%) |
Schools in Papunya
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Papunya. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Papunya
Same Postcode (0872)
More Papunya Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.