Population

Current population of South Australia

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the resident population of South Australia at 31 December 2019 at 1.76 million people.

This is an increase of 15,739 people since 31 December 2018 at an annual growth rate of 0.90%. Australia’s growth rate over the same period was 1.39%.

Population growth is driven by:

• natural increase (births and deaths)
• net migration (overseas and interstate).

Net migration contributed 65% of South Australia’s population growth in the 12 months to December 2019. Strong positive overseas migration helped to counter South Australia’s interstate population losses.

South Australia's components of growth, annualised to December 2019

_{(Year ended 31 December 2019).}

_{More information is available from Australian Demographic Statistics - ABS catalogue 3101.0.}

Current population of Greater Adelaide Capital City and Balance of South Australia

1,345,777 people were living in the Greater Adelaide GCCSA as at 30 June 2018, accounting for 77.5% of South Australia’s population*.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2018, the Greater Adelaide population increased by 11,339 persons at a growth rate of 0.8%. Over the same period, the Balance of SA increased by 1160 persons to a total population of 390,645.

_{* As per the latest available Australian Bureau of Statistics’ population estimates for local areas which are updated annually and ABS population estimates for the State level which are updated quarterly.}

Current population of Local Government Areas (LGAs)

Of the Local Government Areas within Greater Adelaide, Onkaparinga (171,489) has the largest population, followed by Salisbury (142,555).

In the 12 months to 30 June 2018, Mount Barker recorded the highest growth rate (2.4%), while the combined Local Government Areas of Salisbury, Playford and Port Adelaide Enfield accounted for 32% (3,684) of Greater Adelaide’s actual population growth.

Mount Gambier has the largest population of the Local Government Areas outside of Greater Adelaide (27,176) and experienced an increase of 141 persons in the 12 months to 30 June 2018. Whyalla’s population declined by 238 persons over the same period. Robe, Copper Coast and Streaky Bay shared the highest annual population growth rate in Regional SA, each at 1.5%.

Local Government Area

• 2016 population by Local Government Area
• 2011-16 average annual population change (%) by Local Government Area
• 2016 population density per km² by Local Government Area

Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2)

• 2016 population by SA2
• 2011-16 average annual population change (%) by SA2
• 2016 population density per km² by SA2

Population change in South Australia

South Australia’s population was 1.68 million in 2014 and by 2019 had grown to 1.76 million, an average increase of around 12,500 people per year and a growth rate of 0.71%.

Population change is driven by:

• natural increase (births and deaths)
• net migration (overseas and interstate).

Over the past 5 years, net migration has contributed an average of around 6700 people per year.

South Australia's components of growth, average annual change 2014-19

_{Source: ABS 3101.0 -Australian Demographic Statistics (released 19 December 2019)}

Natural increase has remained relatively steady since 2006, however there is slight decline in recent years due to an ageing population and decreasing fertility rates.

Annualised population growth by components of change, South Australia 2006-19

Between 2007 and 2010 large increases in net overseas migration were the major driver of increased population growth.

Declines in net overseas migration coupled with increasing net interstate migration losses slowed South Australia's population growth to 2016.

Since 2017 increases in net overseas migration and a reduction in the level of interstate migration have boosted the state’s population growth.

_{Source: ABS 3101.0 -Australian Demographic Statistics (released 19 December 2019)}

Population change in Greater Adelaide Capital City and Balance of South Australia

The Greater Adelaide Capital City region accounts for 77.5% of the State’s total population at 2018. Between 2013 and 2018 this region grew by just over 56,000 persons from 1.29 million to 1.35 million at an average of 11,216 persons or 0.9% per year – see Figure 4.

86.4% of South Australia's total population growth between 2013 and 2018 occurred in the Greater Adelaide Capital City region.

All five Greater Adelaide Capital City sub regions experienced population growth during this period. The regions with the greatest growth were:

• Adelaide - North which increased by 25,034 people to reach 438,493 persons
• Adelaide - South with a gain of 12,109 people to reach 367,837 people.

Between 2013 and 2018, the City of Adelaide recorded an average annual growth rate of 2.4% due to a significant number of apartment and student accommodation developments.

Figure 4: Annual population growth, Greater Adelaide Capital City and Balance of South Australia, 2013-18

Population change in Greater Adelaide Capital City Local Government Areas (LGAs)

Between 2013 and 2018 the Playford, Salisbury, Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt LGAs experienced the greatest increase in population, with each gaining more than 6000 residents - see Figure 5.

The middle ring metropolitan LGAs of Charles Sturt and Marion experienced population increases of 6050 and 4550 persons respectively, largely due to residential infill development. Significant population increases were also recorded in the City of Adelaide, West Torrens, Marion and Onkaparinga LGAs.

The LGAs of Gawler and Mount Barker also experienced significant population increases mainly through greenfield housing developments.

The City of Adelaide recorded an average annual growth rate of 2.4% as a result of numerous apartment developments. Mount Barker and Gawler both had an average annual growth rate of above 2.0% with Playford at 1.9%.

Figure 5: Population change by Local Government Area, 2013-18 (Greater Adelaide Capital City)

Population change in Balance of South Australia Local Government Areas (LGAs)

There were significant disparities in population change in the Balance of South Australia LGAs between 2013-18 (see Figure 6). 32 LGAs experienced population growth, compared to 19 with no population growth or declines.

Alexandrina LGA which includes the townships of Strathalbyn and Goolwa, recorded the greatest increase in population at 1834 persons which is likely due to its close proximity to Adelaide. The next largest increase was in Murray Bridge, which experienced an increase of 1,439 persons, then Copper Coast 1125 persons and Mount Gambier 751 persons.

At 3.0% Yankalilla LGA had the highest annual average growth rate followed by the Lower Eyre Peninsula, which contains the population centres of Cummins and Coffin Bay, with 1.7%.

Whyalla LGA and Unincorporated SA, which covers land outside council areas including much of outback South Australia, recorded the greatest population declines during the 2013-18 period.

Figure 6: Population change by Local Government Area, 2013-18 (Balance of South Australia)

Population change of South Australia vs other states

Over the 2013-18 period South Australia recorded a more modest average annual growth rate of 0.8%, compared to other jurisdictions in Australia with the exception of Tasmania and the Northern Territory - see Figure 7.

As a result of this, South Australia's share of the national population has decreased from 7.2% in 2013 to 6.9% in 2018.

Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory have enjoyed the nation's highest growth rates over the last five years.

Figure 7: Annual Average Growth, Australian States and Territories, 2013-18

The three most populous states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland accounted for 87% (1,630,607 persons) of Australia's population growth between 2013 and 2018, compared to 3.5% for South Australia.

Download South Australia and regional projections 2016-2041

• South Australia and regional projections 2016-2041 - high series (XLS,  3168 KB)
• South Australia and regional projections 2016-2041 - medium series (XLS, 3168 KB)
• South Australia and regional projections 2016-2041 - low series (XLS, 3168 KB)

Population projections for South Australian SA2s and LGAs 2016-2036

• South Australian Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) population projections 2016-2036 (XLSX, 1827 KB)
• South Australian Local Government Area (LGA) population projections 2016-2036 (XLSX, 968 KB)