Waikerie
Statistical Area - sa2

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 Nov 2025, reflecting an increase of 203 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,646. This change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 6,772 in June 2024 and additional 73 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and uses SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category released in 2023 based on 2021 data for areas not covered or years post-2032.

Projected demographic shifts indicate lower quartile growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Waikerie expected to expand by 63 persons to 2041, recording a decrease of 0.2% over the 17 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 averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 21 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $269,000.

In the current financial year, $7.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicative of the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of SA, Waikerie exhibits moderately higher building activity, 13.0% 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.

The population-to-dwelling approval ratio is approximately 130 people per dwelling, reflecting a low-density market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Waikerie may experience reduced pressure on housing, potentially presenting opportunities for buyers.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact this region. Notable ones include 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 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 4.1% as of June 2025. There are 3,032 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 0.5% lower than the Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%.

Workforce participation is somewhat 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 a particularly strong representation with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 9.9% compared to the regional average of 13.9%.

The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and May 2025, labour force decreased by 2.3%, employment declined by 3.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA where employment contracted by 1.2%, labour force grew by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Waikerie's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localised population projections.

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

Waikerie's median income among taxpayers was $44,104 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $50,624 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Rest of SA, which were $46,889 and $56,582 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $49,763 and an average income of around $57,119 as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Waikerie fall between the 4th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.5% of individuals earn between $400 and $799, which differs from patterns across the surrounding region where earnings predominantly fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 band at 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for retention of 89.1% of income, total disposable income 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 Non-Metro SA's 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waikerie stood at 46.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (30.4%) or rented (22.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $953, below Non-Metro SA's average of $1,083 and Australia's figure of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Waikerie was $200, lower than Non-Metro SA's $220 and the national average 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 making up 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 faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 9.8%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This 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%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high at 26.1%, including 12.3% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.1% pursuing tertiary education. There are seven schools operating within Waikerie, educating approximately 718 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 964) and balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with six primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents stand at 10.5, below the regional average of 13.6, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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%, covering around 3164 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%), while 62.2% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Rest of SA's 61.8%. As of the latest data (20XX), 29.5% of Waikerie residents are aged 65 or above (around 2017 people), exceeding Rest of SA's 26.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Waikerie are above average and better than those seen in 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 had a cultural diversity profile as follows: 85.2% were citizens, 87.9% were born in Australia, and 94.2% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 49.8%. The 'Other' category comprised 1.8%, compared to 1.5% regionally.

Ancestry wise, Australian (31.6%), English (30.8%), and German (13.6%) were the top groups. Notable differences included Hungarian at 0.3% (vs regional 0.2%), Welsh at 0.5% (vs 0.4%), and Australian Aboriginal at 1.9% (vs regional 3.0%).

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 the national norm of 38 years. Compared to Rest of SA, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 17.3% in Waikerie, 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 Census conducted on 28 August 2021 and the previous one in 2016, the proportion of the population aged 75 to 84 increased from 7.9% to 9.7%, while the percentage of those aged 25 to 34 decreased from 9.4% to 8.0%. By 2041, Waikerie's age composition is projected to change significantly. The number of people aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 317 individuals (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. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.