Kangaroo Island

Population growth drivers in Kangaroo Island are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Kangaroo Island's population is around 5,517 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 623 people (12.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,894 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,167 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 127 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1.3 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Kangaroo Island's 12.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of SA (7.6%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 42.9% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including interstate migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

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. Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to expand by 636 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 5.2% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Kangaroo Island when compared nationally

Kangaroo Island has seen around 52 new homes approved per year, totalling 263 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 31 approvals have been recorded. With an average of only 1 person per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential for population growth above projections, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $298,000. Additionally, $13.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Kangaroo Island shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks within the 88th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New building activity consists of 98.0% detached houses and 2.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 90 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Looking ahead, Kangaroo Island is expected to grow by 286 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Kangaroo Island has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 14 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Kingscote Airport Master Plan, the Seaview Motel Renovation and Expansion, the Kingscote Town Centre Project, and the Kangaroo Island Wool Mill Retail and Commercial Buildings, 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Kangaroo Island significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Kangaroo Island possesses a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of just 2.0%, and 2.7% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 2,774 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 3.7% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (65.4% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 15.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. The area shows particularly strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. In contrast, manufacturing employs just 3.6% of local workers, below Regional SA's 9.3%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 2.7% alongside the labour force increasing by 3.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points. By comparison, Regional SA recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 3.1%, and unemployment rising 2.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Kangaroo Island. 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 Kangaroo Island's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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 FY-23, the Kangaroo Island SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $41,897 with the average level standing at $50,726. 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 $45,584 (median) and $55,190 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Kangaroo Island all fall between the 8th and 23rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the predominant cohort spans 27.3% of locals (1,506 people) in the $400 - 799 category, diverging from the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 27.5%. While housing costs are modest with 89.4% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 14th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure within Kangaroo Island, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 95.5% houses and 4.4% 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 Kangaroo Island was well beyond that of Regional SA, at 46.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (30.0%) or rented (23.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional SA average at $1,023, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $208, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Kangaroo Island's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 63.8% of all households, comprising 20.3% couples with children, 36.3% couples without children, and 6.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.2%, with lone person households at 33.7% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Kangaroo Island fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications on Kangaroo Island trail regional benchmarks, with 21.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% in Australia. This gap highlights the potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (28.1%).

A substantial 24.3% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 12.1% in primary education, 6.2% in secondary education, and 1.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Kangaroo Island's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Kangaroo Island residents. AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions shows results broadly in line with national benchmarks, with the prevalence of common health conditions remaining low across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is low, at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,532 people), compared to 48.9% across Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.0% and 7.6% of residents, respectively, while 65.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 30.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,703 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

Kangaroo Island is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kangaroo Island was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 86.2% of its population being citizens, 84.1% born in Australia, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. The main religion on Kangaroo Island is Christianity, which makes up 35.3% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.0% across Regional SA.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups on Kangaroo Island are English, comprising 34.1% of the population, Australian, comprising 31.0% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 8.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: German is represented at 6.8% of Kangaroo Island (vs 8.2% regionally), Dutch at 1.6% (vs 1.3%) and Maori at 0.8% (vs 0.2%).

Kangaroo Island ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The 50-year median age in Kangaroo Island 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 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (16.9% locally), while 15 - 24 year-olds are under-represented (7.0%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.2% to 10.9% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 17.4% to 14.9% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.3% to 11.1%. By 2041, Kangaroo Island is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand substantially, increasing by 234 people (141%) from 166 to 401. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 69% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, both the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age groups will see reduced numbers.