APY Lands

APY Lands has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, APY Lands' population was around 2,658 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 325 people (13.9%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,333 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,654 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 0.00 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. APY Lands' 13.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.4%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 50.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category released in 2023 based on 2021 data were adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering the projected demographic shifts, over this period, projections indicated a decline in overall population with the area's population expected to decline by 62 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts was anticipated, led by the 35 to 44 age group which was projected to expand by 71 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in APY Lands according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

APY Lands has averaged approximately four new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling 20 homes. As of FY-26, three approvals have been recorded. On average, 7.4 people per year have moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand significantly outpaces supply. This typically exerts upward pressure on prices and intensifies competition among buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $199,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers in the area. In FY-26, $6.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting APY Lands' primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of SA, APY Lands has experienced slightly higher development activity, with 14.0% more approvals per person over the past five years.

This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, recent periods have seen a moderation in development activity. Nationally, development activity is lower than in APY Lands, indicating market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent building activity has consisted entirely of standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Population projections suggest stability or decline, which should reduce housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers in APY Lands.

APY Lands has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could impact the area's performance. Key projects include APY Lands Groundwater Quantity and Quality Investigation, Umuwa Multi-Agency Facility, Umuwa Central Power House Renewable Energy Upgrade, and Fregon Anangu School Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in APY Lands face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

APY Lands has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 54.6%. The employment rate in APY Lands is 49.3% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation lags significantly at 45.5%, compared to Rest of SA's 58.5%. According to Census responses, only 1.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents are education & training, health care & social assistance, and arts & recreation. APY Lands shows strong specialization in education & training with an employment share 3.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 3.1% compared to the regional average of 14.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. In the 12-month period ending May-25, labour force increased by 5.1%, while employment declined by 34.9%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 27.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA where employment rose by 0.3%, labour force grew by 2.3%, and unemployment rose by 1.9 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to APY Lands's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The APY Lands SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $27,968 and an average of $34,446 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This was lower than national averages, contrasting with Rest of SA's median income of $48,920 and average income of $58,933. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $30,429 (median) and $37,477 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023. According to census data, household income ranks at the 18th percentile ($1,266 weekly), while personal income sits at the 0th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 32.2% of residents (855 people) fall into the $800 - 1,499 bracket, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 27.5%. Housing costs are modest, with 93.5% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 29th percentile nationally.

APY Lands is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census showed that 91.1% of dwellings in APY Lands were houses, with the remaining 9.0% comprising semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwelling types. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in APY Lands was at 2.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 0.0% and rented dwellings at 97.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $0, compared to Non-Metro SA's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure for APY Lands was $85, while Non-Metro SA recorded $220 and Australia's national average was $375.

APY Lands features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 80.0% of all households, including 35.2% couples with children, 17.3% couples without children, and 20.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 20.0%, with lone person households at 17.5% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 4.0 people, larger than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

APY Lands faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational pathways account for 19.1% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 3.2% and certificates at 15.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.7% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 1.0% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in APY Lands is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

APY Lands faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of the total population (~1,193 people), compared to 48.9% across Rest of SA and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are diabetes and asthma, impacting 9.5 and 4.6% of residents respectively. However, 78.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across Rest of SA. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 4.6% of residents aged 65 and over (122 people), which is lower than the 26.5% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in APY Lands was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

APY Lands had a higher cultural diversity with 2.7% of its population born overseas and 88.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 53.7% of people in APY Lands. The category 'Other' had an overrepresentation of 9.4%, significantly higher than the Rest of SA average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian Aboriginal was the most represented group at 85.1%, substantially higher than the regional average of 3.3%. English and Australian groups were notably lower at 3.7% and 3.6% respectively, compared to regional averages of 32.5% and 31.3%.

APY Lands hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in APY Lands is 28 years, significantly lower than the Rest of South Australia's average of 47 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of SA, APY Lands has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (22.1%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (3.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of APY Lands' population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 20.4% to 22.1%, while the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.9% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 0 to 4 age group has decreased from 8.4% to 6.0%, and the 15 to 24 age group has dropped from 18.8% to 16.8%. By 2041, APY Lands is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. Notably, the 35 to 44 age group is expected to grow by approximately 20%, increasing from 377 to 452 people. Meanwhile, both the 65 to 74 and 25 to 34 age groups are anticipated to decrease in number.