Port Hedland

An assessment of population growth drivers in Port Hedland reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of Port Hedland was estimated at 4,176 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 95 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 2.3% rise from the previous figure of 4,081 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,133 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, combined with an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 62 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 63.0% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 growth estimation, AreaSearch utilises the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends indicate a median increase for non-metropolitan areas, with Port Hedland expected to expand by 382 persons to reach 4,558 by 2041. This reflects a total gain of 9.1% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Port Hedland is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Port Hedland has seen limited development activity with an average of one approval per year over five years (totaling five approvals). This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

All new construction has been detached houses, focusing on family homes suited to those seeking a rural lifestyle and space. Developers are constructing more detached housing (68.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2800 people, indicating Port Hedland's quiet development environment. By 2041, the population is forecast to grow by 379 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Port Hedland has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones include Fortescue Port Hedland Operations Decarbonisation and Modernisation, Athol Street Cooke Point Development, Hedland on the Horizon: West End and South Hedland Town Centre Precinct Structure Plans, and Rio Tinto Pilbara Rail Network Expansion. 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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The exceptional employment performance in Port Hedland places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Port Hedland has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 0.8% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025, there are 2655 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.4% lower than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%.

Workforce participation in Port Hedland stands at 74.9%, higher than Rest of WA's 59.4%. Employment among residents is concentrated in mining, transport, postal & warehousing, and health care & social assistance sectors. The area has a notable concentration in mining with employment levels at 2.4 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with only 0.2% employment compared to the regional average of 9.3%.

As per the Census data, there are 1.5 workers for every resident, indicating that Port Hedland functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months leading up to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.6% in Port Hedland with employment decreasing by 2.4%, resulting in a fall of 0.2 percentage points in the unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of WA where employment grew by 1.1%, labour force expanded by 0.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.6 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insights into potential future demand within Port Hedland. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Port Hedland's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 12.0% over ten years. It is important to note that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Port Hedland had a median income of $100,747 and an average income of $121,565. This is higher than the Rest of WA's median income of $57,323 and average income of $71,163. By September 2025, adjusted for a 14.2% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, estimated incomes would be approximately $115,053 (median) and $138,827 (average). Census 2021 data ranks Port Hedland's household, family, and personal incomes highly nationally, between the 99th and 99th percentiles. The predominant income cohort in Port Hedland is 40.3% of locals earning over $4,000 per week, differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 31.1%. A substantial proportion, 62.4%, earns above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in the suburb. After housing costs, residents retain 93.5% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Port Hedland displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Port Hedland, as per the latest Census, 68.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 31.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. In contrast, Non-Metro WA had no houses or other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Hedland was at 8.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 14.7% and rented ones at 76.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,812, aligning with Non-Metro WA's average. The median weekly rent figure was $210, while Non-Metro WA had no recorded figures for rents or mortgages. Nationally, Port Hedland's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Port Hedland has a typical household mix, with a median household size of 2.5 people

Family households compose 69.5% of all households, including 36.7% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 5.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 27.8% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people.

Educational attainment in Port Hedland aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The region's educational profile is notable with university qualification rates at 25.8% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of WA average of 17.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent with 50.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (37.6%).

Educational participation is high at 35.1%, comprising primary education (16.4%), secondary education (6.5%), and tertiary education (3.2%). Port Hedland's three schools have a combined enrollment of 657 students, serving typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 970). These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. The area offers strong educational infrastructure with 15.7 school places per 100 residents, catering to both local and neighboring communities.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Port Hedland has 68 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by one route in total, offering 73 weekly passenger trips combined. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 138 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 10 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Port Hedland's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Port Hedland shows excellent health outcomes with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 75% of its total population of 4,200 has private health cover, significantly higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.2% and 5.8% of residents respectively. A majority, 82.1%, report being completely free of medical ailments compared to 0% in the rest of WA. As of June 2021, 3.3% (137 people) are aged 65 and over. While health outcomes among seniors are strong, they require more attention than those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Port Hedland was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Hedland has a cultural diversity level above average, with 12.5% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 23.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Port Hedland, accounting for 40.2%. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to none across the rest of WA.

The top three ancestry groups are English (25.9%), Australian (25.1%), and Irish (8.5%). Notably, New Zealanders comprise 1.5% of Port Hedland's population, Maori make up 1.8%, and Dutch represent 1.8%, all higher than the regional averages which are none for each group.

Port Hedland hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Port Hedland's median age at 33 years is significantly lower than the Rest of WA average of 40 years, and substantially under the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of WA, Port Hedland has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (23.8%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (2.5%). This concentration of residents aged 35-44 is well above the national average of 14.2%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, younger residents shifted the median age down by one year to 33 years. Key changes include the growth of the 25 to 34 age group from 19.6% to 22.3%, and the increase of the 35 to 44 cohort from 21.6% to 23.8%. Conversely, the 0 to 4 cohort declined from 9.3% to 8.1%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 9.6% to 8.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes for Port Hedland. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to increase by 237 people (26%) from 931 to 1,169. Conversely, both the 85+ and 65 to 74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.