Coober Pedy

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Coober Pedy's population is around 1,526 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease of 40 people (2.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,566 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,526 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 19.6 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. 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 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to reduce by 17 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 53 people. See the age section for more details.

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

Coober Pedy experiences very limited development activity, averaging less than 1 approval per year (2 approvals over five years). These low development levels reflect the rural nature of the area, where development is typically driven by specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand. Note: the small sample size means that individual development projects can substantially influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Coober Pedy has substantially lower development levels than the Rest of SA. Development levels are likewise under national averages.

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

Coober Pedy has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 6thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 0 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Gawler Craton Rail Access, Bulk Water Supply Security, Northern Water Supply Project, and Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 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, and an unemployment rate of 21.8%. As of December 2025579 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 16.0% above Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (54.4% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a low 5.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in accommodation and food, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in accommodation and food, with employment levels at 2.8 times the regional average. On the other hand, agriculture, forestry and fishing is under-represented, with only 0.0% of Coober Pedy's workforce compared to 14.5% in Regional SA. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.5% while employment declined by 10.8%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 10.8 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 3.1%, with a 2.2 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Coober Pedy. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Coober Pedy's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Coober Pedy SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $49,884 with the average level standing at $56,289. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $48,920 and $58,933 across Regional SA respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $54,274 (median) and $61,242 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Coober Pedy all fall between the 0th and 3rd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the largest segment comprises 34.9% earning $400 - 799 weekly (532 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

Dwelling structure within Coober Pedy, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Coober Pedy was well beyond that of Regional SA, at 47.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (15.6%) or rented (37.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional SA average at $630, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $163, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Coober Pedy's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are 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 dominate at 42.3% of all households, comprising 12.7% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 57.7%, with lone person households at 53.3% and group households comprising 3.7% of the total. The median household size of 1.8 people is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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 (19.2%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents 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 feature prominently, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (30.3%).

Educational participation is notably 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.

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 significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~724 people). The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and diabetes, impacting 9.5% and 6.9% of residents, respectively, while 64.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 30.6% of residents aged 65 and over (467 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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 was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 33.3% of its population born overseas and 27.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Coober Pedy is Christianity, which makes up 51.2% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 6.4% of the population, substantially higher than the Regional SA average of 0.6%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Coober Pedy are Australian, comprising 20.3% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 31.3%, English, comprising 19.4% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 32.5%, and Australian Aboriginal, comprising 12.0% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 3.3%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Croatian is notably overrepresented at 3.2% of Coober Pedy (vs 0.3% regionally), Serbian at 2.0% (vs 0.1%) and Hungarian at 0.9% (vs 0.1%).

Coober Pedy ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The 50-year median age in Coober Pedy is marginally above Regional SA's average of 47 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional SA average, the 25 - 34 cohort is notably over-represented (13.2% locally), while 5 - 14 year-olds are under-represented (5.7%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 7.7% to 9.9% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 15.7% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 7.8% to 5.7% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.4% to 11.1%. By 2041, Coober Pedy is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand substantially, increasing by 41 people (109%) from 38 to 80. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 70% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, both 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups will see reduced numbers.