Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Coober Pedy's population is estimated at around 1,526 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease of 40 people (2.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,566 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,526, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.9 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, projections indicate a decline in overall population over this period, with the suburb's population expected to reduce by 17 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to grow by 52 people.

Residential dwelling approval activity has been practically non-existent in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy approved less than 1 new dwelling annually over the past five years, totalling 2. This low development level is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction activity due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Coober Pedy's development levels are substantially lower than the Rest of SA and national averages. With stable or declining population forecasts, Coober Pedy may experience less housing pressure, presenting favourable conditions for buyers.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Coober Pedy may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Coober Pedy has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 4thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly impact a region's performance like adjustments to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are projected to affect this area. Notable projects include Gawler Craton Rail Access, Bulk Water Supply Security, Northern Water Supply Project, and Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production, with the following list providing details on those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Coober Pedy face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Coober Pedy has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 was 19.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. There were 603 residents in work at this time, with an unemployment rate 14.0% higher than the Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%.

Workforce participation was somewhat below standard, at 55.0% compared to the Rest of SA's 58.5%. Based on Census responses, only 5.7% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Coober Pedy showed strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, with only 0.0% of Coober Pedy's workforce compared to 14.5% in Rest of SA. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force increased by 3.9%, while employment declined by 4.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 7.3 percentage points. This compared to Rest of SA where employment grew by 0.3%, labour force expanded by 2.3%, and unemployment rose by 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggested potential future demand within Coober Pedy. These projections estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Coober Pedy's employment mix, local employment was expected to increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% 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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Coober Pedy had a median taxpayer income of $45,028 and an average income of $53,629. These figures are below the national averages of $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average). In comparison, Rest of SA had median and average incomes of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes are approximately $48,990 (median) and $58,348 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Coober Pedy fall between the 0th and 3rd percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 34.9% of residents (532 people) earn between $400 - 799 weekly, unlike metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates at 27.5%. The concentration of 52.7% in sub-$800 brackets highlights economic challenges faced by a significant portion of Coober Pedy's community. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.1% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

Coober Pedy's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is comparable to Non-Metro SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coober Pedy stood at 47.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 15.6% and rented ones at 37.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $630, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent in Coober Pedy was recorded at $163, significantly below Non-Metro SA's figure of $220 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Coober Pedy's mortgage repayments were substantially lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Coober Pedy features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 42.3% of all households, including 12.7% couples with children, 20.4% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 57.7%, with lone person households at 53.3% and group households comprising 3.7% of the total. The median household size is 1.8 people, smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

Coober Pedy faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 19.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (30.3%). Educational participation is high at 32.6%, with 10.5% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Coober Pedy faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 736 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis, impacting 9.5% of residents, and diabetes, affecting 6.9%. Approximately 64.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across the Rest of SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 30.5% of residents aged 65 and over (465 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in the Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than those of the general population nationally.

Coober Pedy was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coober Pedy's population shows high cultural diversity, with 33.3% born overseas and 27.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 51.2%. Buddhism, however, is significantly higher than the regional average, comprising 6.4% of Coober Pedy's population compared to 0.6%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (20.3%), English (19.4%), and Australian Aboriginal (12.0%) are the top groups, with the latter notably higher than the regional average. Some ethnic groups show notable overrepresentation: Croatian at 3.2% compared to 0.3%, Serbian at 2.0% versus 0.1%, and Hungarian at 0.9% against 0.1%.

Coober Pedy ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Coober Pedy 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. The proportion of individuals aged 25-34 years old is notably higher at 13.1% compared to the Rest of SA average, while those aged 5-14 years are under-represented at 5.7%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 7.7% to 9.9%, and the 65-74 age group has increased from 15.7% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 7.8% to 5.7%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.0%. By 2041, Coober Pedy's age composition is projected to shift significantly. The 85+ age cohort is expected to expand substantially by 40 people (107%), growing from 38 to 79 individuals. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 70% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.