Population Structure and Characteristics
The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) of the Kimberley in 2005 was 35,748. It currently has 2 per cent of the State's population and 7 per cent of regional Western Australia's population. From 1995 to 2005, the Kimberley's average annual growth rate was 3.6 per cent, making it the second fastest growing region in the State.

Population Distribution
The Shire of Broome is the Region’s largest population centre with 40.6 per cent of the Region's population in 2005. Followed by the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley with 25.5 per cent, the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley with 21.7 per cent and the Shire of Halls Creek with 12.2 per cent.

Over the past ten years, there have been significant intra-regional differences in population growth. Between 1995 and 2005, the Shire of Broome's population increased by 55 per cent, Halls Creek 54 per cent, Derby-West Kimberley 41 per cent and Wyndham-East Kimberley 20 per cent.

In the period from 2000 to 2005, the Region had an average annual growth rate of 2.7 per cent, more than double the 1.2 per cent growth rate for regional Western Australia.

From the 2001 Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that 47.3 per cent of the Region's population were Indigenous Australians, significantly higher than the statewide representation of 3.5 per cent. Within the Region, Indigenous Australians comprise 84.0 per cent of the population in the Shire of Halls Creek, 57.2 per cent in Derby-West Kimberley, 37.3 per cent in Wyndham-East Kimberley and 35.7 per cent of the population of the Shire of Broome.

The Region's demography has a number of unique characteristics. The Indigenous component of the Region's labour force tends to be more stable and less mobile than the non-Indigenous population. During the peak tourism period employment prospects attract non-Indigenous workers from other regions and states, altering the population mix for the duration of the season.

In addition, the median age of the resident population at the 2001 Census, for the Kimberley was 28 years compared to 34 years for the State as a whole. The Region therefore has one of the youngest regional populations in the State.

Population Projections
The Kimberley is expected to continue as one of the fastest growing regions in Western Australia over the next 15 years. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure's projections for the Region's population indicates an expected average annual growth rate of 2.7 per cent from 2006 to 2021. The projected growth rates are likely to result in the Kimberley's population reaching 38,600 by 2006, 57,900 by 2021 and 70,400 by 2031.