APY Lands

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

As of February 2026, APY Lands' population is approximately 2,658, reflecting a 13.9% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 2,333 people. This growth was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 2,654 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. The population density is 0.00 persons per square kilometer. APY Lands' growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (4.7%) and SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 50% to recent population gains, with all drivers being positive factors. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, APY Lands' population is projected to decline by 62 persons overall, but the 35 to 44 age group is expected 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 4 new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling 20 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 3 approvals have been recorded. On average, 7.4 people have moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating significant demand outpacing supply, which typically influences prices upward and intensifies competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $199,000, lower than regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $6.2 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential character. Compared to Rest of SA, APY Lands has slightly higher development activity, with 14.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, recent periods have shown moderation in development activity.

Nationally, development activity is lower than that in APY Lands, suggesting market maturity and potential constraints. Recent building activity comprises solely standalone homes, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Population projections indicate stability or decline, which should alleviate housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that may affect the region. Notable ones 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 likely to be 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 balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 54.6%. There are 427 residents in work, while the unemployment rate is 49.3% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation lags significantly at 45.3%, compared to Rest of SA's 58.5%. According to Census responses, only 1.5% of residents work from home. 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 versus resident population. In a 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force increased by 5.1%, while employment declined by 34.9%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 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. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that APY Lands' local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

The median taxpayer income in APY Lands SA2 is $27,968 and the average is $34,446 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of SA's median income being $48,920 and average income $58,933. By September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $30,429 (median) and $37,477 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023. Household income ranks at the 18th percentile ($1,266 weekly) and personal income is 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 only at 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

In APY Lands, as per the latest Census data, 91.1% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 9.0% being semi-detached houses, apartments, and other types of dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in APY Lands was 2.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 0.0% and rented dwellings at 97.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $0, considerably lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in APY Lands was recorded at $85, significantly lower than Non-Metro SA's $220 and the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute 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 the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are 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 based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of the total population (~1,193 people), compared to 48.9% in Rest of SA and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are diabetes (9.5%) and asthma (4.6%). 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. Only 4.8% of residents are aged 65 and over (127 people), lower than the 27.1% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, ranking higher than the general population nationally.

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 main religion, comprising 53.7% of people in APY Lands. Notably, the 'Other' category made up 9.4%, significantly higher than the Rest of SA average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian Aboriginal was the highest at 85.1%, substantially more than the regional average of 3.3%. English ancestry followed at 3.7%, notably lower than the regional average of 32.5%. Australian ancestry constituted 3.6%, also notably lower than the regional average of 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, which is notably lower than the average for the Rest of South Australia (Rest of SA), at 47 years, and also substantially lower than the Australian median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of SA, APY Lands has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 years, at 21.3%, but fewer residents aged 65-74 years, at 3.2%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the population aged 35 to 44 years grew from 12.9% to 15.6%, while the 55 to 64 age group increased from 8.0% to 9.2%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group declined from 18.8% to 16.2%, and the 0 to 4 age group dropped from 8.4% to 6.1%. By the year 2041, APY Lands is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 19%, increasing from 296 to 354 people. Meanwhile, both the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.