Coober Pedy
Statistical Area - sa2

Coober Pedy has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Coober Pedy's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 1,518 as of August 2025. This represents a decrease of 48 people, a 3.1% drop from the 2021 Census figure of 1,566. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,527 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 19.5 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future trends indicate an overall population decline, with a projected reduction of 17 people by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over group, which is projected to increase by 53 people.

Residential dwelling approval activity has been practically non-existent in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy has seen minimal development activity, averaging less than one approval per year over five years, with only two approvals in total. This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs are typically met based on local demand rather than broader market forces. It is important to note that due to the small sample size, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and comparative statistics.

Coober Pedy's development levels are notably lower than those in the rest of South Australia and below national averages. With stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure may remain low, presenting favorable conditions for buyers in the area.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Coober Pedy may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Coober Pedy has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects likely to affect this area. Major initiatives include Gawler Craton Rail Access, Bulk Water Supply Security, Northern Water Supply Project, and Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

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

Coober Pedy has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 15.2% as of June 2025, which is 10.6% higher than the Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%.

Workforce participation in Coober Pedy lags significantly at 43.1%, compared to the Rest of SA's 54.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Notably, employment levels in accommodation & food are 2.8 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 0.0% of Coober Pedy's workforce compared to Rest of SA's 14.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, while labour force increased by 5.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 2.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of SA saw a 1.2% decrease in employment and a 0.1% expansion in labour force, with unemployment rising by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coober Pedy's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022, Coober Pedy had a median income among taxpayers of $45,028 with the average level standing at $53,629. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $46,889 and $56,582 across Rest of SA respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% from financial year ended June 2022 to March 2025, current estimates would be approximately $49,905 (median) and $59,437 (average). From the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Coober Pedy all fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the largest segment comprises 34.9% earning $400 - $799 weekly (529 residents), differing from patterns across the region where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 27.5%. Lower income households are notably prevalent, with 52.7% earning below $800 weekly, indicating affordability pressures for many residents. While housing costs are modest with 89.1% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 3rd percentile nationally.

Coober Pedy is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Coober Pedy, as per the latest Census evaluation, 88.6% of dwellings were houses while 11.3% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This contrasts with Non-Metro SA's 85.7% houses and 14.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coober Pedy stood at 47.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 15.6% and rented ones at 37.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $630, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,138. Median weekly rent in Coober Pedy was $163, compared to Non-Metro SA's $187. Nationally, Coober Pedy's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $630 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Coober Pedy features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 42.3% of all households, including 12.7% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 57.7%, with lone person households at 53.3% and group households making up 3.7% of the total. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 19.2%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (30.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education. Coober Pedy Area School provides local educational services within Coober Pedy, with an enrollment of 156 students as of the latest data. Educational conditions vary across Coober Pedy. All 1 schools offer integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. School places per 100 residents (10.2) fall below the regional average (15.4), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas as of the most recent statistics available.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Coober Pedy faces notable health challenges with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 47% of its total population (~713 people) has private health cover, compared to 53.1% in the rest of South Australia (SA). Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.5%) and diabetes (6.9%). A significant proportion, 64.5%, report no medical ailments, compared to 68.2% in the rest of SA. The area has a higher percentage of residents aged 65 and over at 30.2% (458 people), compared to 16.3% in the rest of SA. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Coober Pedy are strong, even outperforming general population metrics.

Coober Pedy was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coober Pedy's population shows significant diversity, with 33.3% born overseas and 27.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 51.2% of its population. Buddhism, at 6.4%, is substantially higher compared to the Rest of SA average of 0.9%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian-born parents comprise 20.3%, English 19.4%, and Australian Aboriginal 12.0%, each notably lower than regional averages. Croatian (3.2%) and Serbian (2.0%) are overrepresented compared to the region's averages of 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively, while Hungarian (0.9%) is also higher than the regional average of 0.2%.

Coober Pedy ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Coober Pedy is 50 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of SA's average of 47 and considerably older than Australia's national norm of 38. Comparing with the Rest of SA average, those aged 25-34 are notably over-represented at 13.3% in Coober Pedy, while those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 6.2%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 7.7% to 9.4%, whilst the 5-14 age group has declined from 7.8% to 6.2%. By 2041, Coober Pedy's age composition is projected to shift noticeably. The number of those aged 85 and above is expected to rise substantially by 49 people (a 164% increase) from 30 to 80. Notably, the combined total population growth will be predominantly driven by the 65+ age groups, accounting for 75%, reflecting Coober Pedy's aging demographic trend. Conversely, both the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease in number.