Coober Pedy

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

Coober Pedy's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 1,526. This figure represents a decrease of 40 people from the 2021 Census count of 1,566, indicating a 2.6% decline. The estimated resident population of 1,526 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date supports this inference. This population density translates to 19.6 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

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 released in 2023, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends indicate a decline of 17 persons by 2041, while specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over group, projected to increase by 53 people.

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

Coober Pedy averaged less than one approval per year for developments over five years, with a total of two approvals. This low level reflects the rural nature of the area, where development is primarily driven by local housing needs rather than broader market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Coober Pedy's development levels are substantially lower than those in the Rest of SA and below national averages. With stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure may be less in Coober Pedy, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects likely to impact this area. Key projects include Gawler Craton Rail Access, Bulk Water Supply Security, Northern Water Supply Project, and Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

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

Coober Pedy's skilled workforce has essential services sectors well represented, with an unemployment rate of 19.4% as of September 2025. There are 603 residents in work, and the unemployment rate is 14.0% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. The workforce participation rate is lower at 54.9%, compared to Rest of SA's 58.5%.

Census responses show that only 5.7% of residents work from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Employment is concentrated in accommodation & food (2.8 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with 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 the working population vs resident population count.

Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 3.9%, while employment declined by 4.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 7.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA experienced employment growth of 0.3% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with an increase in unemployment rate of 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Coober Pedy's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

In financial year 2023, Coober Pedy SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $49,884 and an average income of $56,289, both below the national averages. In comparison, Rest of SA had median and average incomes of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,274 (median) and $61,242 (average), based on an 8.8% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, Coober Pedy's household, family, and personal incomes fell within the 0th to 3rd percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket in Coober Pedy comprised 34.9% earning $400-$799 weekly (532 residents), differing from the regional pattern where $1,500-$2,999 dominated with 27.5%. Notably, 52.7% of households earned below $800 weekly, indicating affordability pressures. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.1% income retention, total disposable income ranked 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). This is similar to Non-Metro SA's composition of 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coober Pedy was higher at 47.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (15.6%) or rented (37.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $630, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent in Coober Pedy was recorded at $163, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220. 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 at 53.3% and group households comprising 3.7% of the total. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Rest of 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's university qualification rate is 19.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - 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, 9.6% in secondary, 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 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 very low at approximately 48% of the total population, which consists of around 724 people. This figure is lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and diabetes, impacting 9.5 and 6.9% of residents respectively. Conversely, 64.5% of residents declare themselves as completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across the Rest of SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 30.6% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 467 people, which is higher than the 27.1% in the Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those of 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's population shows significant cultural diversity, with 33.3% born overseas and 27.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 51.2%. Buddhism is notably overrepresented at 6.4%, compared to the Rest of SA average of 0.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (20.3%), English (19.4%), and Australian Aboriginal (12.0%). Notably, Croatian (3.2% vs regional 0.3%), Serbian (2.0% vs regional 0.1%), and Hungarian (0.9% vs regional 0.1%) are overrepresented in Coober Pedy's population.

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 years and significantly older than Australia's national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 25-34 age cohort is notably over-represented at 13.2% in Coober Pedy, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 5.7%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 7.7% to 9.9%, and the 65 to 74 cohort has grown from 15.7% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 7.8% to 5.7%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.1%. By 2041, Coober Pedy's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand substantially by 41 people (109%), growing from 38 to 80. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 70% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups will see reduced numbers.