It had a population of approximately 14,500 as at the 2016 Census of which only a few hundred live outside the settlement boundaries.

[3] It underwent substantial boundary changes on 28 April 1972, losing approximately 5,669 square kilometres to the Shire of Marble Bar and gaining approximately 18.3 square kilometres from the Shire of Roebourne.

[3] In June 2019 the Council was suspended by the state government and replaced with a commissioner.

[5] In October 2019, the government of Western Australia announced that there would be no further residential development of the West End of Port Hedland to protect sensitive population groups from health effects caused by dust generated by Port activities.

The towns and localities of the Port Hedland with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:[6][7] As of 2023, 81 places are heritage-listed in the Town of Port Hedland,[23] of which seven are on the State Register of Heritage Places.