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, as of May 2026, is approximately 6,817. This figure represents an increase of 171 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,646. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,793 in June 2025 and an additional 121 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Projected demographic shifts suggest lower quartile growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Waikerie expected to expand by 90 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 1.0% in total over the 16 years.

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 annually over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26, 45 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice. The average value of new homes being built is $269,000.

This financial year, $7.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of SA, Waikerie shows moderately higher building activity, with 14.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, while preserving reasonable buyer options and sustaining existing property demand. All recent building activity consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

There are approximately 130 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Waikerie is expected to grow by 66 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.

Waikerie has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects are Morgan Whyalla Pipeline Renewal, Solar River Energy Project, Robertstown Solar Project, and Project EnergyConnect. Details about these projects can be found below.

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

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

Waikerie has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, diverse industry representation, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. In the past year, employment grew by 1.5%. As of December 2025, 3,101 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is 1.6% lower than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%.

Workforce participation in Waikerie is 55.9%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. According to Census data, 10.0% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Waikerie has a high specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 9.9% compared to Regional SA's 13.9%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. In the 12 months up to May-25, employment increased by 1.5%, labour force by 3.4%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.8 percentage points. Regional SA recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 3.1%, and unemployment rose by 2.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Waikerie's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, assuming no changes in population projections.

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

The Waikerie SA2's median income among taxpayers was $45,316 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $51,636 during the same period. These figures compare to regional South Australia's median and average incomes of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.17% from financial year 2023 to March 2026, the estimated median income for Waikerie SA2 is approximately $49,925, with an average income of around $56,887. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Waikerie fall between the 4th and 10th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile shows that 30.5% of Waikerie's community earns between $400 and $799 annually, which is different from regional levels where the $1,500 to $2,999 category dominates at 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.1% income retention, total disposable income in Waikerie ranks at just 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, consisted of 92.1% houses and 7.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waikerie stood at 46.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.4% and rented ones at 22.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $953, lower than Regional SA's average of $1,153. The median weekly rent in Waikerie was $200, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Waikerie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $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 account for 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 make up 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 Regional 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 prominent, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (30.7%).

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

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Waikerie faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were high, with common health conditions prevalent across younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,142 people), compared to 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis (11.8%) and asthma (8.0%), while 62.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faced notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Waikerie had 30.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,100 people), higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

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

Waikerie was found to have a cultural diversity below average, with 85.2% of its population being citizens, 87.9% born in Australia, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Waikerie is Christianity, comprising 49.8% of the population. However, the most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, which constitutes 1.8% of the population compared to 0.8% across Regional SA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups represented in Waikerie are Australian at 31.6%, English at 30.8%, and German at 13.6%. The German representation is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.2%. There are notable differences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Hungarian is overrepresented at 0.3% in Waikerie compared to 0.1% regionally, Australian Aboriginal is lower at 1.9% versus 3.3%, and Welsh remains unchanged at 0.5%.

Waikerie ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Waikerie is 50 years, which is slightly higher than Regional South Australia's average of 47 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Comparing with Regional SA, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented at 17.7% in Waikerie, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.7%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.9% to 10.5% of Waikerie's population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age cohort has declined from 9.4% to 7.7%. By 2041, Waikerie is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 294 people (41%) from 715 to 1,010. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 90% of total population growth, reflecting Waikerie's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.