The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) of the Kimberley in 2007 was 34,270. From 1997 to 2007, the region's population increased at an average rate of 2.5 per cent per annum, making it the second fastest growing region in the State.

The region has a young population relative to Australia and Western Australia. The median age of the Kimberley population is 30 years compared to 36 years for WA (2006 Census).

The region also has a very high proportion of Aboriginal persons compared to other regions and to Western Australia. The 2006 Census recorded 47.7 per cent of the Kimberley resident population were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, while for Western Australia, the proportion of indigenous people was around 3.5 per cent.

Population mobility is a significant demographic feature in the Kimberley, particularly among the non-Aboriginal workforce. The majority of Aboriginal residents tend to be represented in the stable population.

A second major demographic feature of the Kimberley is the large number of short-term visitors during the popular tourist period between May and October.