The Blackwood Basin, as a whole, has a population of just over 37,000 people (2004). Most of the upper Basin has been cleared of vegetation and is used for agricultural production.  Townsites range in sizes from the regional centre of Narrogin (population 4,219 in 2011) to small wheatbelt towns such as Toolibin (population 196 in 2011).

The total population for the Upper Blackwood can be estimated to be 15,469 persons in the 2011 Census. The population is spread over numerous locations as shown below.

The median age varies between the locations with Nyabing having the youngest median age of 33 and Wagin the oldest at 45.

Forecast Growth

Growth in the Upper Blackwood catchment is expected to vary with increases in the regional centres of Katanning and Narrogin and decreases in surrounding rural areas (WAPC, 2012).

Source

• ABS 2011 Community Profile Statistics.
• WAPC 2012 Western Australia Tomorrow Population Report No. 7, 2006 to 2026. Accessed online: http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/LGASummary.pdf