Kangaroo Island

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

Kangaroo Island's population is around 5,517 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 623 people 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 level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.3 persons per square kilometer. 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 contributing approximately 42.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation is expected. The area is expected to expand by 636 persons to 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 approximately 52 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 263 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, 27 approvals have been recorded to date. On average, between FY-21 and FY-25, only one person moved to the area for each dwelling built, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings over this period was $298,000.

This year, commercial development approvals have totalled $13.6 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity compared to residential growth. In terms of urban planning and growth, Kangaroo Island shows around 75% of the construction activity per person when compared to the rest of South Australia. Nationally, it ranks among the 88th percentile of areas assessed for new building activity.

The majority of new dwellings approved on the island are detached houses (98.0%), with a small percentage being attached dwellings (2.0%). This maintains the area's traditional low-density character and appeals to those seeking space, particularly families. The location has approximately 90 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Kangaroo Island is expected to grow by 286 residents through to 2041. 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that may impact this area. Notable ones include the Kingscote Airport Master Plan, Seaview Motel Renovation and Expansion, Kingscote Town Centre Project, and Kangaroo Island Wool Mill Retail and Commercial Buildings. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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 places Kangaroo Island well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Kangaroo Island has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year. As of that date, 2747 residents were in work, and the unemployment rate was 3.5% lower than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%.

Workforce participation on the island was 64.6%, compared to Rest of SA's 58.5%. According to Census responses, 15.9% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Manufacturing employs only 3.6% of local workers, below Rest of SA's 9.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12 months prior to September 2025, employment increased by 0.8%, while labour force grew by 1.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of SA recorded employment growth of 0.3%, labour force growth of 2.3%, and an increase in unemployment of 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.6% over ten years.

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 financial year 2023, Kangaroo Island SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $41,897 and an average level of $50,726. These figures are below the national average. In comparison, Rest of SA had levels of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Kangaroo Island would be approximately $45,584 (median) and $55,190 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Kangaroo Island all fall between the 8th and 23rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the predominant cohort spans 27.3% of locals (1,506 people) with incomes in the $400 - 799 category, differing from the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 27.5%. Housing costs are modest, with 89.4% of income retained, but 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

The dwelling structure in Kangaroo Island, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.5% houses and 4.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kangaroo Island stood at 46.5%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (30.0%) or rented (23.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,023, below Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153 and Australia's national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $208, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.8% of all households, including 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 is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

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

Kangaroo Island trail residents aged 15+ have 21.4% university degree holders, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.7%, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 28.1%. A significant 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing education, including 12.1% in primary, 6.2% in secondary, and 1.4% in tertiary education.

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 for Kangaroo Island shows positive outcomes, with mortality rates and health conditions broadly matching national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,532 people), compared to 48.9% in Rest of SA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.0%) and mental health issues (7.6%), with 65.4% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 62.5% in Rest of SA. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 30.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,703 people), higher than the 27.1% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.2% of its population being citizens and 84.1% born in Australia. English is spoken exclusively at home by 95.5%. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 35.3% of people on Kangaroo Island.

Judaism, while still a minority, has a higher representation here compared to the rest of South Australia, with 0.1% versus 0%. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.1%), Australian (31.0%), and Scottish (8.2%). Notably, German ancestry is overrepresented at 6.8%, Dutch at 1.6%, and Maori at 0.8%, compared to regional averages of 8.2%, 1.3%, and 0.2% respectively.

Kangaroo Island ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Kangaroo Island is 50 years, which is slightly higher than the Rest of South Australia's average of 47 years and significantly older than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented on Kangaroo Island at 16.9%, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 7.0%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 8.2% to 10.9% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age cohort has declined from 17.4% to 14.9%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.1%. By 2041, Kangaroo Island is projected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is expected to expand substantially, growing by 234 people (141%) from 166 to 401. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 69% of total population growth, reflecting Kangaroo Island's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, both the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.