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

Yankalilla's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 6,962. This figure represents an increase of 464 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,498. The estimated resident population was 6,874 in June 2024, indicating growth between the Census date and that period. This results in a density ratio of 7.1 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Yankalilla has shown steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 85.5% of population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. According to demographic trends, Yankalilla is projected to grow by 758 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of 9.6% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Yankalilla has seen approximately 88 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 444 homes were approved, with an additional 40 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 1.4 people moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.

This indicates a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $290,000. In terms of commercial development, approximately $5.8 million in approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature. Comparatively, Yankalilla has similar development levels per person relative to the Rest of SA, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area.

However, building activity has slowed in recent years. Notably, this level is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. All new construction since FY-21 has been comprised of detached dwellings, preserving Yankalilla's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. With around 96 people per dwelling approval, Yankalilla exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, it is projected that Yankalilla will add approximately 670 residents by 2041. Given 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

AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could impact the area, with key ones being 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. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Yankalilla has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 2.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9%. As of September 2025, 3,069 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 2.6% lower than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%.

Workforce participation was at 52.8%, compared to Rest of SA's 58.5%. According to Census responses, 18.5% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction, with a particular specialization in construction (1.3 times the regional level). Manufacturing employs only 6.2% of local workers, below Rest of SA's 9.3%.

The area may offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while the labour force grew by 1.8%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA, where employment rose by 0.3%, the labour force grew by 2.3%, and unemployment rose by 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yankalilla's employment mix indicates a potential local employment increase of 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Yankalilla SA2 is $40,385 and the average income stands at $52,333. In comparison, Rest of SA's median and average incomes are $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 Yankalilla SA2 as of September 2025 would be approximately $43,939 and $56,938 respectively. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Yankalilla all fall between the 6th and 8th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that the predominant cohort spans 29.1% of locals (2,025 people) with incomes in the $800 - 1,499 category, unlike trends in the surrounding region where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing costs are modest, with 86.7% of income retained, but 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

The dwelling structure in Yankalilla, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 93.4% houses and 6.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yankalilla stood at 50.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.6% and rented ones at 15.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153. The median weekly rent in Yankalilla was $270, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220. Nationally, Yankalilla's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

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

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.7% and certificates at 28.7%. A total of 21.9% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 9.1% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

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. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover was extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population, which is around 3,188 people.

This compares to 48.9% across Rest of SA and the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.9% and 9.0% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 59.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Rest of SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Yankalilla has 35.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,491 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Rest of 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, as per the census conducted on 9 August 2016, had a cultural diversity index of below average. The population was predominantly born in Australia, with 81.3%, and were citizens at 90.7%. English was spoken exclusively at home by 97.5% of residents.

Christianity was the predominant religion, practised by 38.5% of people. Notably, Judaism, which had no representation regionally, comprised 0.1% of Yankalilla's population. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (38.1%), Australian (27.3%), and Scottish (8.5%). Comparing these with regional averages, English was overrepresented by 5.6%, while German (6.1%) and Welsh (0.8%) also showed notable divergences from their respective regional percentages of 8.2% and 0.5%.

Yankalilla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Yankalilla's median age is 56 years, which exceeds Rest of SA's median of 47 years and is well above Australia's median of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 20.6%, while the 25-34 age group is smaller at 5.0% compared to Rest of SA. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is higher than the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and now, the 75-84 age group has grown from 9.5% to 12.0%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 7.2% to 8.9%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 6.6% to 5.0%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 18.6% to 17.3%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Yankalilla's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 289 people (131%) from 221 to 511. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 75% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 5-14 age cohorts.