Mannum

Mannum has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Mannum's population is around 7,296 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 702 people (10.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,594 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,931 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 112 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2.2 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Mannum's 10.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.4%) and the Rest of SA, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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. As we examine future population trends, lower quartile growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the area expected to increase by 79 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a reduction of 3.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Mannum among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Mannum has experienced around 91 dwellings receiving development approval per year, totalling 459 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 61 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of only 0.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $308,000. Additionally, $1.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating the area's residential nature.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Mannum records 133.0% more development activity (per person), which should provide buyers with ample choice. This level is well above average nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity shows 97.0% standalone homes and 3.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 56 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

With the population expected to remain stable or decline, Mannum should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Mannum has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 9 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Mannum Waters Residential Marina - Mannum SA, the Regional North-South Freight Route Upgrade, the Summerfield Battery, and the Tanunda Recreation Park Redevelopment, 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.

Employment performance in Mannum has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Mannum has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 5.3%, and 1.5% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 2,970 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.4% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, and workforce participation lags significantly (51.9% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 13.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has a particular employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Meanwhile, education & training has a limited presence with 5.5% employment compared to 8.2% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.5% and the labour force increased by 3.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.9 percentage points. By comparison, Regional SA recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 3.1%, with 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 Mannum. 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 Mannum's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.8% 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 Mannum SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $43,193 with the average level standing at $51,408. 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 $46,994 (median) and $55,932 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Mannum all fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. The data shows the predominant cohort spans 34.2% of locals (2,495 people) in the $400 - 799 category, unlike trends in the surrounding region where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. The concentration of 45.3% in sub-$800 weekly brackets highlights economic challenges facing a significant portion of the community. While housing costs are modest with 87.1% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 4th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure within Mannum, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 94.2% houses and 5.8% 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 Mannum was well beyond that of Regional SA, at 51.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.3%) or rented (17.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional SA average at $1,083, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $215, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Mannum's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 62.8% of all households, comprising 17.2% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 37.2%, with lone person households at 34.8% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Mannum 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 (10.7%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 7.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (33.8%).

A substantial 23.4% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Mannum is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Mannum faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,363 people). This compares to 48.9% across Regional SA. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.7 and 9.7% of residents, respectively, while 57.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 35.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,586 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The latest Census data sees Mannum placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mannum was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 88.8% of its population being citizens, 87.9% born in Australia, and 98.1% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Mannum is Christianity, which makes up 46.3% of people. 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 in Mannum are English, comprising 33.7% of the population, Australian, comprising 31.2% of the population, and German, comprising 12.6% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Dutch is notably overrepresented at 1.3% of Mannum (vs 1.3% regionally), Welsh at 0.5% (vs 0.5%) and Polish at 0.6% (vs 0.4%).

Mannum ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 55, Mannum is significantly above the Regional SA figure of 47 and similarly higher than the Australian median of 38. Relative to Regional SA, Mannum has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (19.6%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (6.9%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.6% to 12.4% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 11.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Mannum's age structure. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 109%, adding 273 residents to reach 525. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 100% of anticipated growth. On the other hand, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.