Income

Individual income quartiles

About this topic

Individual income quartiles group people aged 15 years and over into four evenly sized income ranges so the distribution of personal income can be compared objectively across areas and over time. The quartile method focuses on relative position in the income distribution rather than raw dollar brackets.

This topic is useful because direct income amounts are affected by inflation and wider economic change. Quartiles provide a clearer way to compare whether an area is becoming relatively lower, middle, or higher income over time.

Interpretation notes

  • This is a derived distribution of personal income for people aged 15 years and over, with each quartile representing a quarter of the income distribution.
  • Quartiles show relative position rather than fixed dollar brackets, which makes them more robust for comparisons over time.

Key insight

In 2021, the highest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Unincorporated NT, accounting for 38.1%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Unincorporated NT - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Unincorporated NT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated NT, with comparison markers for Regional NT.

Unincorporated NT
Regional NT

Lowest group

2021 count

628

% of total

15.2%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

753

% of total

18.2%

Change from 2016

+4.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

1,181

% of total

28.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Highest group

2021 count

1,580

% of total

38.1%

Change from 2016

-6.7pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Unincorporated NT. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.

Individual income quartiles for Unincorporated NT. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Individual income quartiles for Unincorporated NT. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NT%Count%Regional NT%Countpp
Lowest group62815.2%39.9%59113.4%36.6%+37+1.8pp
Medium lowest75318.2%18.7%60713.8%18.3%+146+4.4pp
Medium highest1,18128.5%19.6%1,23828.0%19.7%-57+0.5pp
Highest group1,58038.1%21.8%1,97844.8%25.4%-398-6.7pp
Total persons aged 15+4,142100.0%100.0%4,414100.0%100.0%-2720.0pp