Port Pirie West

Port Pirie West has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Port Pirie West is around 2,639, reflecting an increase of 83 people since the 2021 Census. The population was recorded as 2,556 in the Census. This growth can be inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,612 based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and six validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 103 persons per square kilometer. Port Pirie West's growth rate of 3.2% since the Census is within 1.3 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.5%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this population increase.

AreaSearch uses 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 years post-2032, AreaSearch adopts the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Looking ahead, population projections indicate a decline of 43 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group, projected to increase by 43 people.

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

Port Pirie West had an average of two dwelling approvals per year between 2016 and 2020, totalling eleven approvals over this five-year period. This low development activity is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and limited construction activity influenced by local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Compared to the Rest of South Australia and national averages, Port Pirie West has much lower development activity. All approved developments were detached houses, catering to families seeking a rural lifestyle. With an estimated 1310 people per dwelling approval, the area's development environment is quiet and low-key. Given the expected stable or declining population, housing pressure in Port Pirie West may remain low, potentially offering opportunities for buyers.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Port Pirie West should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Port Pirie West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are: Port Pirie Riverbank Precinct, Port Pirie Masterplan / Yorke Peninsula and Mid North Regional Plan, Green Iron SA Port Pirie Hub, Greening Port Pirie Program. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

Employment conditions in Port Pirie West face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Port Pirie West has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Key sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing.

The area specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, at 1.2% compared to the regional 14.5%. As of June 2025856 residents are employed, but the unemployment rate is high at 16.9%, 12.3% above Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lags significantly, at 43.7% compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.4%, employment declined by 4.4%, and unemployment rose by 3.5 percentage points in Port Pirie West. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

Port Pirie West's median income among taxpayers was $39,561 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $46,427 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of SA which were $46,889 and $56,582 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates project median income to be approximately $44,637 and average income to reach around $52,384, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022. Census data from 2021 shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Port Pirie West all fall within the 0th to 2nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 35.9% of residents (947 individuals) earn between $400 and $799 weekly, unlike metropolitan trends where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. This suggests a prevalence of lower-income residents, with 49.0% earning less than $800 per week, indicating constrained household budgets. After housing costs, 85.0% of income remains for Port Pirie West residents, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Port Pirie West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Port Pirie West, as per the latest Census evaluation, 87.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 89.8% houses and 10.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Pirie West stood at 28.3%, with mortgaged dwellings also at 28.3% and rented ones at 43.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $693, significantly lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $888. Weekly rent in Port Pirie West was recorded at $180, slightly below Non-Metro SA's figure of $182. Nationally, mortgage repayments were substantially higher at $1,863 and rents were $375 on average.

Port Pirie West features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 53.2% of all households, including 14.1% couples with children, 19.8% couples without children, and 17.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 46.8%, with lone person households at 44.2% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.2.

Port Pirie West faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 5.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 4.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (0.8%) and graduate diplomas (0.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 34.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 6.4% and certificates at 28.3%.

A substantial 23.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.3% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 1.4% in tertiary education. Port Pirie West Primary School provides local educational services within Port Pirie West, with an enrollment of 209 students as of a recent report. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents stand at 7.9, below the regional average of 14.4, indicating some students may attend schools outside the area.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Port Pirie West is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Port Pirie West faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The private health cover rate is notably low at approximately 45% (~1,198 people), compared to 47.8% across the Rest of SA and a national average of 55.3%. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 12.8 and 12.1% of residents respectively.

However, 54.3% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 59.4% across the Rest of SA. The area has 23.5% of residents aged 65 and over (620 people), which is lower than the 26.5% in the Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with the overall population's health profile.

The latest Census data sees Port Pirie West placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Pirie West, as per the data from June 2016, had a population with low cultural diversity: 91.6% were citizens, 91.9% were born in Australia, and 96.3% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, with 37.2% of the population adhering to it. The 'Other' religious category comprised 0.6%, slightly higher than the Rest of SA's 0.5%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (34.5%), Australian (34.4%), and Irish (6.1%). Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 6.8%, as were Australian Aboriginal at 4.2% (vs 3.0%) and Welsh at 0.6% (vs 0.5%).

Port Pirie West hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Port Pirie West has a median age of 45, which is slightly lower than the Rest of South Australia's figure of 47 but higher than Australia's median age of 38. The proportion of individuals aged 15-24 in Port Pirie West is notably higher at 13.2%, compared to the Rest of SA average. Conversely, those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 10.1%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 7.3% to 8.3%, while the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.6% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Port Pirie West's age structure. The number of individuals aged 75 to 84 is projected to increase by 36 people (17%), from 219 to 256. This growth will be driven primarily by the senior residents aged 65 and above, who are projected to account for 99% of population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 35-44 and 0-4 years old.