At the 2016 Australian census, Lajamanu had a population of 606, of whom 89.3 percent are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, chiefly Warlpiri people.

In 1970, a council of twelve men was elected, including Maurice Jupurrurla Luther MBE, who had been taken to Hooker Creek from Yuendumu in 1958.

[8] In November 2021 the community was put into lockdown by the Northern Territory Government, as a wave of infections hit the Katherine region during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

The first COVID-19 case in Lajamanu was recorded on 1 December, a day after the lockdown orders were changed to that of a lockout.

[7] Lajamanu is difficult to access, mainly due to the distance from major cities and towns.

[20][21] However, this species has exceptionally good dispersal abilities and can migrate via overland flow, leading to its being commonly found scattered on the ground following heavy rain and mistaken reports of having fallen from the sky.

[22] Warlpiri people have a long history of creating art on wooden artefacts, the body, the ground and rocks.

[25][26] Lajamanu artists have been finalists in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.