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 is around 6,897 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 251 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,646. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,772 in June 2024 and an additional 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth 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 and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to expand by 63 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a decrease of 0.9% in total 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 has averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 30 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline has resulted in adequate housing supply relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $269,000.

In 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 exhibits moderately higher building activity, 13.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. Recent building activity comprises entirely 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.

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

Five major infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the region's performance. These projects are: Morgan Whyalla Pipeline Renewal, Solar River Energy Project, Robertstown Solar Project, and Project EnergyConnect.

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. This rate is 0.7% lower than the Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. Workforce participation in Waikerie is 55.8%, slightly below the Rest of SA's 58.5%.

According to Census responses, only 10.0% of residents work from home. The key industries are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly strong with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 9.9% compared to the regional average of 13.9%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. In the 12 months prior, Waikerie's labour force increased by 1.4%, but employment declined by 0.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA where employment rose by 0.3% and unemployment rose by 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections suggest Waikerie's employment should increase by 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years based on its current industry mix.

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

The Waikerie SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $45,316. The average income stood at $51,636 during this period. For comparison, the Rest of SA's median and average incomes were $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes for Waikerie as of September 2025 would be approximately $49,304 and $56,180 respectively. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Waikerie all fall within the 4th to 10th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.5% of individuals earn between $400 - $799, unlike surrounding regions where the dominant band is $1,500 - $2,999 with 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

In Waikerie, as per the latest Census evaluation, 92.1% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 7.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro 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 Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent in Waikerie was $200, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220. Nationally, Waikerie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $953 versus Australia's 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 constitute 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, 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 Australia's average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the 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 at 8.4% and certificates at 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 lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Waikerie faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch's data on mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population, which consists of around 3,179 people.

This compares to 48.9% in the rest of South Australia (SA) and 55.7% nationally. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 11.8% and 8.0% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 62.2% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% in the rest of SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Waikerie has 30.2% of its residents aged 65 and over (2,080 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in the rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than those for 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's cultural diversity was found to be 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. Notably, the 'Other' category comprises 1.8% of Waikerie's population, higher than the regional average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (31.6%), English (30.8%), and German (13.6%), with German representation being substantially higher than the regional average of 8.2%. Some ethnic groups show significant variations: Hungarian is overrepresented at 0.3% in Waikerie compared to 0.1% regionally, Australian Aboriginal is lower at 1.9% versus the regional 3.3%, and Welsh representation remains similar 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 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 cohort aged 65-74 years is notably over-represented in Waikerie at 17.5%, while those aged 25-34 years are under-represented at 7.8%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of people aged 75 to 84 years has increased from 7.9% to 10.2% of the population. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 years has decreased from 9.4% to 7.8%. 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 274 people (39%) from 703 to 978. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 years and above will account for 92% of total population growth, reflecting Waikerie's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.