Waikerie

Waikerie is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Waikerie's population was 6,849 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 203 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 3.1% growth from the previous population count of 6,646. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,772 in June 2024 and an additional 73 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections were used, based on 2021 data and adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. Waikerie is expected to expand by 63 persons to 2041, reflecting a decrease of 0.2% in total over the 17 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Waikerie recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Waikerie has averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26, 26 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $269,000.

This financial year, $7.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of SA, Waikerie shows moderately higher building activity, with 13.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, while preserving reasonable buyer options and sustaining existing property demand. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The location has approximately 130 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Waikerie should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Waikerie has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that could impact this region. Notable ones are Morgan Whyalla Pipeline Renewal, Solar River Energy Project, Robertstown Solar Project, and Project EnergyConnect. The following details these projects, focusing on those most relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Waikerie are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Waikerie has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. As of September 2025, 3,082 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, below Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%.

Workforce participation is lower at 50.2% compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has strong representation with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 9.9% versus the regional average of 13.9%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census data on working population vs resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment declined by 0.1%, raising unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment rise by 0.3% and labour force grow by 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Waikerie's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, assuming constant population levels.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Waikerie SA2 had lower income levels than the national average in financial year 2022, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The median income among taxpayers was $44,104 and the average income stood at $50,624. These figures compared to Rest of SA's median income of $46,889 and average income of $56,582 respectively. By September 2025, estimates based on a 12.83% increase from the Wage Price Index suggest median incomes would be approximately $49,763 and average incomes around $57,119. Census data indicated that household, family, and personal incomes in Waikerie fell between the 4th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed that 30.5% of individuals earned between $400 - $799, unlike surrounding regions where earnings between $1,500 - $2,999 dominated with 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.1% income retention, total disposable income ranked at the 8th percentile nationally.

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

Waikerie's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 92.1% houses and 7.8% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waikerie was 46.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.4% and rented ones at 22.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $953, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,083. Median weekly rent in Waikerie was $200, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220. Nationally, Waikerie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $953 vs Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 64.7% of all households, including 21.2% couples with children, 33.9% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.3%, with lone person households at 32.7% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

Waikerie faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 8.4% and certificates make up 30.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.1% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Waikerie is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Waikerie faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% (around 3,164 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.8% of residents) and asthma (8.0%). About 62.2% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the Rest of SA's 61.8%. Waikerie has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 29.5% (around 2,017 people), compared to Rest of SA's 26.2%. Health outcomes among seniors in Waikerie are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Waikerie had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 85.2% of its population being citizens, 87.9% born in Australia, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 49.8% of Waikerie's population. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, with 1.8% compared to 1.5% across Rest of SA.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (31.6%), English (30.8%), and German (13.6%) were the top three groups represented. Notably, Hungarian (0.3%), Australian Aboriginal (1.9%), and Welsh (0.5%) groups had higher representations compared to regional averages.

Waikerie ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Waikerie 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 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Waikerie at 17.3%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.0%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.9% to 9.7% of Waikerie's population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age cohort has declined from 9.4% to 8.0%. By 2041, Waikerie is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age cohort is expected to grow steadily, increasing by 317 people (48%) from 660 to 978. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 91% of total population growth, reflecting Waikerie's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to decrease in number.