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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Kangaroo Island has an estimated 5,227 residents, up from 4,894 at the 2021 Census — a change of 333 people, or 6.8%. Growth has averaged 1.1% a year over five years. 136 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 63.0% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Analysis by AreaSearch indicates that Kangaroo Island has a population of approximately 5,227 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 333 individuals (6.8%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 4,894 residents. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,212 and 136 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The density of the area stands at 1.2 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density. The growth rate of 6.8% since the 2021 census was higher than the Rest of SA (5.9%) and the SA4 region, positioning the area as a regional growth leader.
The expansion was chiefly driven by overseas arrivals, which accounted for roughly 63.0% of the overall population increases lately, though interstate migration and natural increase also made positive contributions. AreaSearch utilizes ABS and Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline for SA2 areas. In instances where SA2 details are missing or for periods after 2032, regional and LGA projections by age bracket released by the SA State Government in 2023 (using 2021 figures) are applied, utilizing weighted aggregation techniques to scale LGA data to the SA2 level. Based on recent annual ERP figures, future demographic trends point to population expansion slightly below the median of non-metropolitan areas nationwide, with an expected increase of 601 residents by 2041, representing a total gain of 11.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
263 new dwellings have been approved in Kangaroo Island over the past five years, an average of 52 a year. That places the area in the 67th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 10 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 43 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 98% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 53, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Annual residential approvals on Kangaroo Island average approximately 52, resulting in a total of 263 homes approved over the past 5 financial years. There have been 49 approvals recorded for FY-26 so far. An average of 1.1 additional residents relocated to the region for each finished home between FY-21 and FY-25, pointing to a balanced relationship between supply and demand that encourages stable market trends, with new homes showing an average construction value of $298,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $13.6 million this financial year, pointing to steady development in the commercial sector.
Construction activity per capita on Kangaroo Island is 19.0% lower than in the Rest of SA, though the area ranks in the 88th percentile when compared to national statistics. Detached houses account for 98.0% of the building approvals compared to 2.0% for attached dwellings, preserving the traditional low-density profile of the region with a focus on spacious family residences. The ratio of residents to each home approval is approximately 90, reflecting an expanding property market. Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Kangaroo Island is projected to add 586 residents by 2041. The current pace of construction suggests that the upcoming housing supply will easily accommodate this demand, ensuring favorable options for home buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Kangaroo Island
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 14 current infrastructure and development projects inside Kangaroo Island. A further 40 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.78 billion. 14 are already under construction and 12 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, communities, precincts & urban renewal and residential development. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and regional planning initiatives are key drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has tracked 14 projects expected to influence the local area. Principal developments include the Kingscote Airport Master Plan, Seaview Motel Renovation and Expansion, Kingscote Town Centre Project, and the retail and commercial buildings for the Kangaroo Island Wool Mill, with details on the most significant projects listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Kingscote Airport Master Plan
A long-term master plan (2018-2035) for the Kingscote Airport precinct, aiming for it to be recognised as an exciting and developing urban destination supporting business and employment growth by 2030. The plan also focuses on increasing capacity for freight to connect island industries with markets.
Seaview Motel Renovation and Expansion
Renovation and expansion of the heritage-listed Seaview Motel, which includes reinstating the 100-seat restaurant and adding 28 premium and 14 standard suites, new reception, back-of-house facilities, carparks, and landscaping. This project follows damage from a fire.
Kangaroo Island Wool Mill Retail and Commercial Buildings
Design and construction of new onsite retail and commercial buildings adjoining the Kangaroo Island Wool Mill. This project aims to centralise manufacturing and production operations with a mill, factory, and retail facilities all on one site.
Kingscote Town Centre Project
A revitalisation project for the Kingscote town centre, aimed at enhancing town spirit, increasing community engagement, and driving economic growth. Phase 1 works, which commenced in March 2022, include improved pedestrian access, widened and resurfaced footpaths, street planting, and new street furniture.
Cajetan Amadio Mixed Use Development (Dauncey Street, Kingscote)
A development-approved mixed-use project comprising a 110-room hotel with a private conference room and gym, two restaurants, a retail tenancy (cellar door), and a consulting tenancy. The design integrates an existing two-storey Local Heritage building with a new five-storey modern building.
Boxer Road Quarry
A mining lease for extractive materials (Basalt) covering approximately 46.34 hectares, operated by A & G Willson Earthmovers (SA) Pty Ltd. The quarry provides essential raw materials for construction and other industries.
Kingscote Jetty Upgrade
Upgrades and refurbishments to the Kingscote main jetty and nearby Fisherman's Wharf and Screw Pile jetties. This project ensured the long-term structural integrity of the jetties and delivered a safe and reliable amenity for the local community, extending the jetty's design life by 30 years. Works included the removal of infrastructure no longer required, such as the steel wharf, slipway, and redundant 'Ro-Ro' ramp.
KI Health Service Master Plan
A master plan that has been implemented to provide greater capacity and healthcare services to the Kangaroo Island community, improving health outcomes and access to medical facilities across the island.
2,802 residents of Kangaroo Island are employed, from a labour force of 2,858. Unemployment sits at 2.0%, with participation at 65.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Kangaroo Island features a qualified labor pool with varied industry representation, an unemployment rate of 2.0%, and an estimated employment growth of 3.6% over the past year. As of March 2026, 2,802 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 3.5% lower than Regional SA's rate of 5.5%, and workforce participation exceeds standard levels at 65.2% compared to Regional SA's 58.4%. Census data indicates that a moderate 15.9% of residents work from home, although the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account. The primary sectors of employment for local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance.
The area is highly specialized in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with its share of employment reaching 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, the manufacturing sector accounts for only 3.6% of local employment, which is lower than the 9.3% average for Regional SA. A comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests that a portion of the local workforce travels outside the area for employment. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that over the 12-month period, the number of employed individuals rose by 3.6% and the labor force grew by 4.2%, which led to a 0.5 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional SA experienced a 1.2% rise in employment, a 2.6% increase in the labor force, and a 1.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-term employment projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional perspectives on future labor demand for Kangaroo Island. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential employment trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Weighted extrapolation based on these national sector trends suggests local employment could grow by 5.4% over five years and 11.6% over ten years, though this simple model does not incorporate local population growth forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Kangaroo Island is $1,128 a week (about $59,000 a year), with median personal income at $672 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,897 a year against an average of $50,726. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated postcode data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year indicates that the median income for taxpayers in the Kangaroo Island SA2 was $41,897, with the average income at $50,726. These figures are below the national averages and compare to Regional SA figures of $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average). Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $46,158 for median income and $55,885 for average income. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes on Kangaroo Island placed between the 8th and 23rd percentiles nationwide.
The largest income group contains 27.3% of local taxpayers (1,426 people) earning in the $400 - 799 range, which contrasts with the wider region where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the largest at 27.5%. Although residents retain 89.4% of their income due to low housing costs, total disposable income is low, ranking in the 14th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Kangaroo Island had 1,940 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 30% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 47% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $208 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,023 a month. Rent absorbs 18.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that residential properties on Kangaroo Island consist of 95.5% standalone houses and 4.4% other formats such as townhouses, apartments, or alternative dwellings, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings in Regional SA. Home ownership is high at 46.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 30.0% and rented properties accounting for 23.5%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,023, which is lower than the Regional SA average, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $208, compared to Regional SA figures of $1,153 and $220. Locally, mortgage repayments are lower than the national average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the Australian median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Kangaroo Island counted 1,940 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,072 today, averaging 2.2 people each. 20% are couples with children, fewer than in 86% of areas nationally, against 36% couples without children. 34% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 63.8% of all households in the region, with couples without children representing 36.3%, couples with children at 20.3%, and single parents at 6.4%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 36.2%, consisting of lone-person households at 33.7% and group housing at 2.5%. The median size of households is 2.2 residents, which is slightly lower than the Regional SA median of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
21.4% of adults in Kangaroo Island hold a university qualification, including 15.4% with a bachelor degree and 3.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 28.1% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 713 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 993 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications on Kangaroo Island is lower than regional benchmarks, with 21.4% of people aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% nationally. Among these, bachelor degrees are held by 15.4%, postgraduate degrees by 3.6%, and graduate diplomas by 2.4%. Vocational education is common, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding trade or technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (28.1%). A total of 24.3% of the resident population is enrolled in formal studies. This group comprises 12.1% in primary school, 6.2% in secondary school, and 1.4% in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Kangaroo Island means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
65.4% of residents in Kangaroo Island report no long-term health condition. 4.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 45.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health outcomes for residents of Kangaroo Island are generally positive, with mortality rates and medical conditions aligning closely with national averages. The prevalence of common illnesses remains low in both younger and older demographics. However, private health insurance uptake is low, with approximately 46% of the population (~2,399 people) covered, compared to 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues, affecting 10.0% and 7.6% of residents, respectively. A total of 65.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA.
Among working-age individuals, the prevalence of chronic health issues is higher than average. The population includes 1,601 people aged 65 and over, representing 30.6% of residents, which exceeds the Regional SA average of 27.1%. Senior citizens in the area show strong health profiles, with national health rankings that exceed those of the general local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Kangaroo Island is largely Australian-born, at 84.1% of residents, with 4.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.1%) and Australian (31.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Kangaroo Island exhibits lower cultural diversity relative to broader averages, with citizenship at 86.2%, Australian-born residents at 84.1%, and households where only English is spoken at 95.5%. Christianity is the largest religious group, representing 35.3% of the population. The most distinct statistical variation is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of residents compared to 0.0% across Regional SA. The top parental ancestries reported on Kangaroo Island are English at 34.1%, Australian at 31.0%, and Scottish at 8.2%. Significant variations from regional trends include German ancestry at 6.8% (compared to 8.2% regionally), Dutch ancestry at 1.6% (compared to 1.3%), and Maori ancestry at 0.8% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Kangaroo Island is 50, older than 91% of areas nationally. 17.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of residents on Kangaroo Island is 50, which is higher than the Regional SA average of 47 and older than the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age bracket is over-represented at 16.6% compared to Regional SA, while the 15 - 24 age bracket is under-represented at 7.3%. The proportion of residents aged 65 - 74 is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 increased from 8.2% to 11.1%, while the 55 to 64 group decreased from 17.4% to 14.9%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.3% to 11.1%.
Demographic shifts by 2041 are expected to show a substantial 154% increase in the 85+ cohort, growing by 237 individuals from 154 to 392. The combined cohorts aged 65 and over are projected to drive 61% of total population growth, pointing to a aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 35 to 44 and 65 to 74 age brackets are projected to decrease in size.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Kangaroo Island
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 14 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 136 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,894 at the 2021 Census → 5,227 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (407011145). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.