Kalgoorlie

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

Kalgoorlie's population is approximately 13,963 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 750 people, a 5.7% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 13,213. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,729 in June 2024 and an additional 69 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 594 persons per square kilometer. Kalgoorlie's growth rate of 5.7% since the census is within 1.9 percentage points of the SA4 region's 7.6%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 58.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth in the area.

AreaSearch adopts 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 to estimate post-2032 growth, AreaSearch uses age cohort growth rates provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population trends suggest a median increase for non-metropolitan areas, with Kalgoorlie expected to grow by 1,351 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 7.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Kalgoorlie, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Kalgoorlie has averaged approximately 32 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 164 homes. As of FY-2025/26, 8 approvals have been recorded. Despite a population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. The average construction value for new properties is $230,000, below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options.

Commercial approvals this financial year amount to $60.8 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of WA, Kalgoorlie has slightly higher development levels (46.0% above the regional average per person over the 5-year period). However, development activity has moderated in recent periods and remains below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. New building activity consists of 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 556 people, reflecting a quiet, low-activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Kalgoorlie is expected to grow by 985 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Kalgoorlie has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 22ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 20 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Goldfields Pipeline Renewal (Stage 1), KCGM's 800-bed workers accommodation camp, Fabric Street temporary workforce accommodation, and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Water Bank Project. 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 Kalgoorlie demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Kalgoorlie has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.3%.

Employment stability over the past year has been relatively high. There are 7,998 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Rest of WA's rate of 3.3%. Workforce participation in Kalgoorlie is higher at 71.6%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Leading employment industries include mining, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Mining has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 2.3 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence in Kalgoorlie, with only 0.2% of employment compared to the region's 9.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.8, indicating higher-than-average local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, while labour force grew by 0.4%, resulting in a rise of 0.1 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment rise by 1.4% and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Kalgoorlie's employment should increase by 5.2% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Kalgoorlie SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $73,624 and an average of $85,305. These figures are high nationally compared to the Rest of WA's median of $57,323 and average of $71,163. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates for Kalgoorlie would be approximately $84,079 (median) and $97,418 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Kalgoorlie between the 86th and 91st percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 34.8% of residents fall within the $1,500-$2,999 range, reflecting broader area patterns where 31.1% occupy this range. Economic strength is evident with 37.9% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 88.0% of income, indicating strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Kalgoorlie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Kalgoorlie's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.0% houses and 23.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro WA's 82.9% houses and 17.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kalgoorlie was at 17.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.7% and rented ones at 39.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,700, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro WA's $280. Nationally, Kalgoorlie's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kalgoorlie has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.8% of all households, including 33.7% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 31.2%, with lone person households at 27.8% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 18.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (33.3%). Educational participation is high at 31.7%, with 12.1% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.1% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The public transport analysis indicates that Kalgoorlie has 64 active transport stops currently operating. These are a mix of bus stops serviced by eight individual routes. Together, these routes provide a total of 343 weekly passenger trips.

The report rates the city's transport accessibility as good, with residents typically situated an average of 289 meters from their nearest transport stop. Across all routes, service frequency averages 49 trips per day, which equates to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

Kalgoorlie's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Kalgoorlie. Younger cohorts in particular have very low prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 63% of the total population (8,838 people) has private health cover, which is higher than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 6.3% and 6.1% of residents respectively. 76.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.9% across Rest of WA. Kalgoorlie has 8.8% of its population aged 65 and over (1,231 people).

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

Kalgoorlie, as per the census conducted on 9 August 2016, had a higher proportion of cultural diversity than most local markets. 17.6% of its population spoke a language other than English at home, and 29.6% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Kalgoorlie, with 47.0% of people identifying as such.

Notably, Hinduism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Western Australia, comprising 2.3% of Kalgoorlie's population versus 1.3% regionally. The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents were Australian (25.8%), English (25.4%), and Other (9.0%). There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Maori at 3.6% compared to 3.3% regionally, New Zealand at 1.7% versus 1.5%, and Filipino at 3.1% compared to 2.2%.

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

Kalgoorlie's median age is 33 years, which is considerably 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, Kalgoorlie has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (19.2%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (5.6%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has grown from 16.4% to 19.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has declined from 13.6% to 12.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Kalgoorlie's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 32%, adding 847 residents to reach a total of 3,530. In contrast, both the 85+ and 55 to 64 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.