Kununurra

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

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Kununurra stands at approximately 8,441 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 964 individuals (12.9%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 7,477 residents. This change is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 8,441 combined with 51 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 0.10 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious environment for residents. With a 12.9% expansion rate since the 2021 census, Kununurra outpaced the national average (9.3%) and the Rest of WA, establishing itself as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 53.9% of the overall population increase in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for each SA2 area, which use 2022 as their baseline year. In cases where SA2 areas lack this specific data, and to project trends beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which are based on 2022 data. Looking at future demographic shifts, the population is projected to grow at a rate slightly below the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with an estimated addition of 817 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP numbers, translating to a total increase of 9.7% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Kununurra recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Kununurra records roughly 15 residential approvals each year, with 75 homes approved during the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 56 approved during the current FY-26 period. Because there are approximately 7.2 new residents added for each completed home over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand vastly outstrips new supply, a trend that typically drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition. The average value of these new builds is $426,000, showing that developers are targeting the premium, high-end market segment. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $16.5 million have been documented in the current financial year, showing a moderate rate of commercial expansion.

Compared with the Rest of WA, Kununurra exhibits roughly 67% of the building activity per capita, placing in the 33rd percentile of analyzed locations across the country, which limits options for prospective buyers and bolsters demand for existing houses. This rate is also below the national standard, indicating a mature market and highlighting prospective development barriers. In addition, recent construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, preserving the traditional low-density profile of the locality and catering to families seeking space. Developers are opting to build traditional houses at a higher rate than the existing housing stock indicates (which was 71.0% at the Census), demonstrating persistent demand for family residences despite rising density. The estimated ratio of 509 residents for every residential approval underscores the quiet, low-intensity nature of local development.

Demographic projections indicate that Kununurra will add 817 residents up to 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Construction is proceeding at a rate that is reasonably aligned with this forecast growth, though purchasers may experience rising competition as the population expands.

Kununurra has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Developments in regional infrastructure, major projects, and local planning decisions are critical drivers of local performance. A total of 18 projects have been tracked by AreaSearch that are expected to influence the local area. Principal undertakings include the East Kimberley Regional Airport Runway Extension, the Weaber Plain Light Industrial Estate, the Kununurra Foreshore Plan, and the Coolibah Estate, with the subsequent list outlining the most relevant projects.

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

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Employment drivers in Kununurra are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Kununurra is characterized by a skilled labor force with strong representation in key service industries, an unemployment rate of 8.1%, and an estimated job growth of 3.8% over the prior year. In March 2026, there were 4,036 employed locals, with the unemployment rate sitting 4.6% higher than the Regional WA average of 3.5%, indicating opportunities for labor market gains, while workforce participation is generally on par with the Regional WA average of 65.6%. Census data reveals that a minimal 4.8% of workers worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The major employment industries for local residents are healthcare & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. The locality exhibits a strong concentration of jobs in healthcare & social assistance, where the employment share is 1.4 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, mining plays a minor role, employing only 2.8% of the workforce compared to 11.7% across the region. Although there are local employment opportunities within the area, the ratio of the Census working population to the local population suggests that a significant number of residents travel outside the area to work.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, employment expanded by 3.8% over the 12-month period, while the labor force grew by 3.3%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. This stands in contrast to Regional WA, which saw employment fall by 0.1%, the labor force grow by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate rise by 0.4 percentage points. The national employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context regarding future demand in Kununurra. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local industry mix to model growth trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these figures vary considerably by sector. Projecting these industry-specific rates onto the local employment structure indicates that Kununurra's employment should grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted projection for visualization and does not integrate local population growth estimates.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, the Kununurra SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $60,888 and an average of $71,555. These figures exceed the national averages, contrasting with the Regional WA median income of $59,973 and average of $74,392. Applying the Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated current figures of approximately $67,543 (median) and $79,376 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that individual earnings are prominent at the 80th percentile nationally, with a weekly median of $1,016. The data indicates the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket is the most common, accounting for 35.8% of residents (3,021 people), which is consistent with the broader region where this group accounts for 31.1%. After subtracting housing expenses, residents retain 87.7% of their earnings, indicating robust purchasing power.

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

Residential structures in Kununurra at the time of the latest Census consisted of 71.0% houses and 28.9% alternative housing options, such as townhouses, apartments, and other dwellings, compared to Regional WA's breakdown of 88.5% houses and 11.6% alternative housing. Home ownership in Kununurra was lower than in Regional WA, standing at 16.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (15.9%) or renters (67.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was $2,000, which is higher than the Regional WA average, while the median weekly rent was $230, compared to Regional WA averages of $1,560 and $265. Locally, Kununurra's mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs remain significantly below the national average of $375.

Kununurra features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family units constitute the majority of households at 70.1%, consisting of couples with children at 27.7%, couples without children at 24.8%, and single-parent households at 15.5%. The remaining 29.9% of households are non-family units, which are made up of single-person households at 25.8% and group households at 4.1%. The median household size of 2.7 residents exceeds the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

The educational profile of the locality is prominent within the region, as university graduation rates (24.2% of residents aged 15 and over) exceed the Rest of WA average of 17.6%, highlighting the community's focus on tertiary education. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 17.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational and technical training are also highly represented, with 38.8% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade certifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (29.1%).

A high level of educational enrollment is observed, with 35.9% of residents participating in formal learning programs. This figure includes 18.0% of the population enrolled in primary school, 8.2% in secondary school, and 3.0% enrolled in tertiary education programs.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health outcomes in Kununurra are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health measures indicate poorer outcomes in Kununurra, based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, with common ailments showing a slightly higher prevalence across both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of the population with private health insurance is relatively high at approximately 55% (~4,634 individuals).

The most prevalent medical diagnoses in the locality were asthma and diabetes, affecting 6.0% and 4.9% of residents respectively, whereas 79.0% of the population reported no medical issues, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. The working-age population exhibits good health with low rates of chronic illness. The area has 7.8% of its population aged 65 and over (658 people), which is below the Regional WA proportion of 19.2%. Elderly health outcomes are particularly strong, with national percentiles exceeding those of the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Kununurra records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kununurra shares a similar level of cultural diversity with the surrounding region, with citizens making up 76.8% of the population, 84.7% of residents born in Australia, and 85.1% speaking only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation is Christianity, which is practiced by 44.6% of the population. The most notable difference is in the Other religious category, which accounts for 2.1% of the population in Kununurra compared to 0.7% in Regional WA.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common ancestries in Kununurra are Australian Aboriginal, making up 28.1% of the population (which is significantly higher than the regional average of 6.1%), Australian at 21.8% (which is notably lower than the regional average of 28.4%), and English at 21.6% (which is notably lower than the regional average of 31.3%). Other differences include the representation of certain ethnic groups, such as French ancestry at 0.6% of the population (versus 0.4% regionally), Maori ancestry at 0.5% (versus 1.0%), and Sri Lankan ancestry at 0.2% (versus 0.1%).

Kununurra's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

The median age in Kununurra is 32 years, which is younger than the Regional WA average of 40 years and the national average of 38 years. The 25 to 34 age bracket is highly represented at 19.1% of the population compared to Regional WA, while the 65 to 74 bracket is less common at 5.8%. Since 2021, the community has become younger, with the median age falling 1.1 years from 33 to 32. Significant shifts include the 35 to 44 age cohort increasing from 14.7% to 17.2% of the population, and the 25 to 34 cohort rising from 17.4% to 19.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group decreased from 13.8% to 11.4% and the 55 to 64 group declined from 11.9% to 10.5%. Population projections for 2041 point to major demographic shifts in Kununurra, with the 25 to 34 group expected to grow the most at 25%, adding 402 residents to reach 2,011, while the 85+ and 5 to 14 cohorts are projected to contract.