Yankalilla
Statistical Area - sa2

Yankalilla lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Yankalilla's population is around 6911 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 413 people (6.4%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6498 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6874 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7.1 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Yankalilla's growth of 6.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area's growth rate of 6.0%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration which contributed approximately 85.5% of overall population gains 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 by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area projected to grow by 758 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, resulting in an overall increase of 10.4% over the 17-year period.

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. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 444 homes approved over the past five years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 20 so far in FY-26. On average, 1.4 new residents have arrived per new home annually over the past five financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost of new homes is $528,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY-26, there have been $5.8 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Rest of SA, Yankalilla maintains similar construction rates per person, supporting regional market stability, though recent activity has eased slightly. This level is notably higher than the national average, reflecting robust developer interest in the area. Recent building activity consists exclusively of detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With around 96 people per approval, Yankalilla reflects a developing area with an expected resident growth of 721 through to 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Yankalilla has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Twenty projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly, with key initiatives including Aspen Normanville Lifestyle and Tourism Park, Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan, Main South Road Safety Upgrades from Myponga to Cape Jervis, and Fleurieu Connections - Main South Road and Victor Harbor Road Duplication. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Yankalilla has been broadly consistent with national averages

Yankalilla's workforce is skilled with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% in June 2025.

Residents' employment stood at 2,983 with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, below Rest of SA's 4.6%. Workforce participation was lower at 49.2% compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Construction is particularly prominent with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Manufacturing has limited presence at 6.2%, lower than the regional 9.3%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. In the year to June 2025, labour force decreased by 2.2% while employment fell by 2.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA where employment declined by 1.2%, labour force expanded by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a five-year growth of 6.6% and ten-year growth of 13.7%. Applying these projections to Yankalilla's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7%% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Yankalilla's median income among taxpayers was $38,976 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $49,451 during the same period. In comparison, Rest of SA had median and average incomes of $46,889 and $56,582 respectively. By March 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Yankalilla would be approximately $43,197 and $54,807 based on a 10.83% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Yankalilla were between the 6th and 9th percentiles nationally. Income analysis showed that 29.1% of Yankalilla's community earned within the $800 - $1,499 band (2,011 individuals), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket led at 27.5%. Despite having modest housing costs allowing for 86.7% income retention, Yankalilla's total disposable income ranked at just the 10th percentile nationally.

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

Yankalilla's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.4% houses and 6.6% other dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro SA's 92.1% houses and 7.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yankalilla stood at 50.5%, similar to Non-Metro SA, with the rest being mortgaged (33.6%) or rented (15.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with the Non-Metro SA average. The median weekly rent was $270, compared to Non-Metro SA's $280. Nationally, Yankalilla's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Yankalilla features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

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

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 at 17.7%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 12.7% and certificates at 28.7%.

A significant 21.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.1% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 1.8% in tertiary education. Yankalilla's three schools have a combined enrollment of 509 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 959). The educational mix includes two primary schools and one K-12 school. School places per 100 residents are at 7.4, below the regional average of 11.2, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Yankalilla is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant challenges for Yankalilla, with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Only approximately 46% (~3,185 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.9%) and mental health issues (9.0%), while 59.6% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of SA's 58.3%. Yankalilla has 34.8% (2,402 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the Rest of SA's 37.0%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Yankalilla are above average, outperforming general population metrics.

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 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, showed cultural diversity levels below average. The population born in Australia was 81.3%, with citizenship at 90.7% and English spoken exclusively at home by 97.5%. Christianity dominated religiously, comprising 38.5% of the population.

Notably, Judaism's representation stood at 0.1%, significantly higher than the Rest of SA's 0.0%. Ancestral origins revealed top groups as English (38.1%), Australian (27.3%), and Scottish (8.5%). Other ethnicities showed variations: German was overrepresented at 6.1% compared to the regional 6.7%, Welsh at 0.8% versus 0.6%, and Dutch at 1.7% against 1.6%.

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 also higher than Australia's median of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-old group comprises 20.3%, while the 25-34 year-old group makes up 5.3%. This concentration of people aged 65-74 is notably higher than the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and now, the percentage of the population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 9.5% to 11.6%, while the 15 to 24 year-old cohort has risen from 7.2% to 8.9%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 year-old group has decreased from 6.6% to 5.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Yankalilla's age structure. The number of people aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 318 individuals (165%), from 192 to 511. Residents aged 65 and above will contribute to 80% of the population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5-14 year-old and 0-4 year-old age groups.