Yankalilla

Population growth drivers in Yankalilla are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Yankalilla's population is around 6,962 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 464 people (7.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,498 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,874 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 7.1 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Over the past decade, Yankalilla has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 2.2% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 85.5% 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 employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Regarding demographic trends, an above-median population growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas is projected, with the area expected to grow by 758 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 9.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

Yankalilla has seen around 88 new homes approved annually, with 444 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 56 so far in FY-26. With an average of 1.4 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the market shows a good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $290,000. Additionally, $5.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Relative to the Rest of SA, Yankalilla has similar development levels (per person), maintaining a market balance consistent with the broader area, though building activity has slowed in recent years. This level is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. Meanwhile, new construction has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 96 people per dwelling approval, Yankalilla shows characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections show Yankalilla adding 670 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Yankalilla has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 6thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 20 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Aspen Normanville Lifestyle and Tourism Park, Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan, Main South Road Safety Upgrades (Myponga to Cape Jervis), and Fleurieu Connections - Main South Road and Victor Harbor Road Duplication, 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.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Yankalilla maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Yankalilla possesses a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.1%, and 2.5% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 3,093 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 2.6% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, and workforce participation lags significantly (53.4% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 18.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. In contrast, manufacturing employs just 6.2% of local workers, below Regional SA's 9.3%. 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, the 12-month period saw employment increase by 2.5% alongside a labour force increase of 3.7%, resulting in unemployment rising by 1.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional SA, where employment rose by 0.7%, the labour force grew by 3.1%, and unemployment rose 2.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Yankalilla. 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 Yankalilla's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% 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

The Yankalilla SA2's income level is below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Yankalilla SA2's median income among taxpayers is $40,385 and the average income stands at $52,333, which compares to figures for Regional SA's of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $43,939 (median) and $56,938 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Yankalilla all fall between the 6th and 8th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the predominant cohort spans 29.1% of locals (2,025 people) in the $800 - 1,499 category, unlike trends in the surrounding region where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. While housing costs are modest with 86.7% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 10th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure within Yankalilla, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 93.4% houses and 6.6% 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 Yankalilla was well beyond that of Regional SA, at 50.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (33.6%) or rented (15.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional SA average at $1,300, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $270, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Yankalilla's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Yankalilla has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 67.8% of all households, comprising 20.3% couples with children, 40.1% couples without children, and 7.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.2%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Yankalilla fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (17.7%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (28.7%).

A substantial 21.9% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Yankalilla 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 (~3,188 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 12.9% and 9.0% of residents, respectively, while 59.6% 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 35.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,491 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Yankalilla was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 81.3% of its population born in Australia, 90.7% being citizens, and 97.5% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Yankalilla is Christianity, which makes up 38.5% of the people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is 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 Yankalilla are English, comprising 38.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 32.5%, Australian, comprising 27.3% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 8.5% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: German is represented at 6.1% of Yankalilla (vs 8.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.5%) and Dutch at 1.7% (vs 1.3%).

Yankalilla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Yankalilla's median age of 56 years stands notably higher than Regional SA's 47 and well above the Australian median of 38. The age profile shows 65 - 74 year-olds are particularly prominent (20.6%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (5.0%) than in Regional SA. This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.5% to 12.0% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 7.2% to 8.9%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 6.6% to 5.0% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 18.6% to 17.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Yankalilla's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow exceptionally, expanding by 289 people (131%) from 221 to 511. Senior residents (65+) will drive 75% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts.