Coober Pedy
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Coober Pedy's population, according to AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 1,518 as of August 2025. This figure represents a decrease of 48 people, equating to a 3.1% decline since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,566. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,527 as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 19.5 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 used, based on 2021 data and released in 2023, with adjustments made via weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future trends indicate a decline in overall population, with a projected reduction of 17 persons 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 with an average of less than one approval per year over five years (two approvals). This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are specific and locally driven rather than market-driven. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Coober Pedy's development levels are notably lower than the rest of South Australia and below national averages. With stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure in Coober Pedy is expected to remain low, potentially benefiting buyers.

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

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects expected to impact this area. Notable projects 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:.

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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 2022.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.4%. As of June 2025649 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 10.6%, significantly higher than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lagged at 43.1% compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Employment among residents was concentrated in accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

The area had a particularly notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 2.8 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, with only 0.0% of Coober Pedy's workforce compared to 14.5% in Rest of SA. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.4% while labour force increased by 5.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of SA saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force expand by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Coober Pedy's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Coober Pedy had a median income among taxpayers of $45,028. The average income was $53,629. Both figures are below the national average. In comparison, Rest of SA had median and average incomes of $46,889 and $56,582 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $50,805 (median) and $60,510 (average). The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Coober Pedy fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate 34.9% of residents earn $400 - $799 weekly, contrasting with the regional pattern where 27.5% earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. A notable 52.7% of households earn below $800 weekly, suggesting affordability pressures for many residents. Despite modest housing costs with 89.1% of income retained, total disposable income ranks at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

Coober Pedy's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to 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, below 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 than the Australian 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 57.7%, with lone person households making up 53.3% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Rest of South Africa 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 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 – 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. Coober Pedy Area School provides local educational services within Coober Pedy, with an enrollment of 156 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates varied educational conditions across Coober Pedy. All 1 schools offer integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. School places per 100 residents stand at 10.3, falling below the regional average of 15.4, with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas.

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 with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 713 people), compared to 53.1% across the Rest of SA, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and diabetes, impacting 9.5% and 6.9% of residents respectively.

Meanwhile, 64.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.2% across the Rest of SA. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.2% (around 458 people), compared to 16.3% in the Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health 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 showed significant cultural diversity, with 33.3% born overseas and 27.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 51.2% of the population. Buddhism was notably overrepresented, comprising 6.4%, compared to the Rest of SA average of 0.9%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian-born parents made up 20.3%, lower than the regional average of 28.5%. English ancestry accounted for 19.4%, also below the regional average of 25.2%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry was at 12.0%, less than the regional average of 17.2%. Certain ethnic groups showed notable divergences: Croatian, at 3.2% compared to 0.4% regionally; Serbian, at 2.0% versus 0.2%; and Hungarian, at 0.9% against 0.2%.

Coober Pedy ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Coober Pedy is 50 years, which is marginally above Rest of SA's average of 47 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 13.3% in Coober Pedy, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 6.2%. According to the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 7.7% to 9.4% of the population since then. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 7.8% to 6.2%. By 2041, Coober Pedy is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand substantially by 49 people, an increase of 164%, from 30 to 80. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 75% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, both the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.