One of the least populated parts of the country is set for an explosion in numbers, with statistics predicting the Northern Territory’s population will skyrocket in coming years.

Currently just over 240,000 people live in NT, making it the least populated region of mainland Australia. However, figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggest Territory residents could number closer to 360,000 by 2040.

The ABS says current trends indicate a fairly long-term influx – increasing the population by 50 per cent over 27 years.

“Growth projections have the Northern Territory at around 450,00 people 50 years from now,” ABS director of demography, Bjorn Jarvis, says.

“Of that, our population in Darwin is expected to be around 226,000 and the rest of the NT would be around 227,000.”

If growth continues essentially as it is, Australia’s population will double by 2075.

The UN estimates the global population will hit 10 billion between 2050 and 2100.