Population

The estimated resident population at 30 June 2021 was 1,773,243 people¹, an increase of 1291 people since 31 March 2021.

For the year ended 30 June 2021:

• South Australia’s population increased by 2,966 at an annual growth rate of 0.17%, This is our lowest annual growth rate since 1995.
• Australia’s growth rate over the same period was 0.18%
• Natural increase (NI) was the major contributor to population growth, with a gain of 5,540 persons. This is higher than the previous year’s gain of 4,818, due to increased births and slightly fewer deaths.
• Net interstate migration (NIM)  saw a gain of 704 persons, which is a significant improvement on the loss of 2160 in the previous year.
• A net overseas migration (NOM) loss of almost 3,300 persons which is due to the ongoing closure of international borders due to COVID-19. This is a significant change from the gain of 15,000  in the previous year.
• As a result of the significant change in NOM there was an overall net migration loss of almost 2,600 persons.

South Australia's components of growth, annualised to June 2021

_{(Year ended 30 June 2021)}

¹Australian Bureau of Statistics

1,376,601 people were living in the Greater Adelaide GCCSA as at 30 June 2020, accounting for 77.8% of South Australia’s population*.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2020, the Greater Adelaide population increased by 16,127 persons at a growth rate of 1.2%. Over the same period, the Balance of SA increased by 1567 persons to a total population of 393,774.

_{* 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.}

Of the Local Government Areas within Greater Adelaide, Onkaparinga (174,575) has the largest population, followed by Salisbury (144,872), Port Adelaide Enfield (129,530) and Charles Sturt (120,733).

In the 12 months to 30 June 2020, Adelaide Plains recorded the highest growth rate (3.4%), followed by Mount Barker (3.2%), Adelaide (2.5%), Yankalilla (1.9%) and Playford (1.8%).

The middle ring metropolitan Local Government Areas of Marion, Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield combined accounted for 30% (4,803) of Greater Adelaide’s actual population growth, while the outer ring metropolitan LGA’s of Onkaparinga, Salisbury and Playford combined accounted for 28% (4,577).

Mount Gambier has the largest population of the Local Government Areas outside of Greater Adelaide (27,433) and experienced an increase of 159 persons in the 12 months to 30 June 2020. Port Augusta’s population declined by 163 persons over the same period, while Whyalla’s population declined by 157 persons.

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

Over the 5 years to 2021:

• the population increased from 1.71 million to 1.77 million, at an average increase of around 12,100 people per year, and a growth rate of 0.71%
• net overseas migration (NOM) contributed an average of 10,300 per year
• net interstate migration (NIM) resulted in an average loss of around 3,500 per year
• the overall average net migration gain (overseas + interstate) was around 6,900 people per year.

South Australia's components of growth, average annual change 2016-21

Annualised population growth by components of change, South Australia 2006-21

The following chart shows annual population growth by components from 2006 to 2021:

• Between 2007 and 2010 large increases in NOM were the major driver of increased population growth.
• Declines in NOM coupled with increasing NIM losses slowed South Australia's population growth to 2016.
• Between 2017 and 2020 increases in NOM and a reduction in NIM losses have boosted the state’s population growth. Recent impacts of COVID-19 have resulted in a loss in overseas migration in 2021, offset partly by a slight increase in NIM.
• Natural increase (NI) has remained relatively steady since 2006 although has started a slight decline in recent years due to an ageing population and decreasing fertility rates. A slight increase in fertility rates, and slightly fewer deaths in 2021 has resulted in a small turnaround to this trend.

_{Source: ABS 3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics (released 16 December 2021)}

The Greater Adelaide Capital City region accounts for 77.8% of the state’s total population at 2020. Between 2015 and 2020 this region grew by 63,182 persons from 1.31 million to almost 1.38 million at an average of 12,636 persons or 0.96% per year.

90.6% of South Australia's total population growth between 2015 and 2020 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 24,014 people to reach 448,458.
• Adelaide - South with a gain of 14,515 people to reach 374,910.

The Balance of South Australia's population increased by 6525 people between 2015 and 2020 to reach 393,774 at an average growth rate of 0.34%.

Of the six regions in the Balance of South Australia, four experienced population growth during this period. The region with the greatest growth was Fleurieu - Kangaroo Island which increased by over 3300 people during the period, followed by Barossa – Yorke – Mid North, with a growth of 2550. The Outback - North East region experienced a decline of 1600 people.

The annual population growth for Greater Adelaide Capital City and the Balance of South Australia for 2015 to 2020 is displayed in the figure below.

Annual population growth, Greater Adelaide Capital City and Balance of SA, 2015-20

Between 2015 and 2020 the Playford, Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt, Salisbury and Onkaparinga LGAs experienced the greatest population growth, with each gaining more than 6000 residents.

The middle ring metropolitan LGAs of Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt, and Marion experienced significant population increases largely due to residential infill development. The outer ring metropolitan LGAs of Playford, Salisbury, Onkaparinga and Mount Barker saw population increases as a result of greenfield housing developments.

Mount Barker recorded the largest average annual growth rate of 2.75%, followed by Adelaide (2.7%) and Gawler (1.8%).

Top 10 Local Government Areas by Population change, 2015-20 (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 2015-20. 29 LGAs experienced a growth in population, compared to 22 experiencing a decline.

Alexandrina LGA which includes the townships of Strathalbyn and Goolwa, recorded the greatest increase in population at 1673 people which is likely due to its close proximity to Adelaide. The next largest increase was in Murray Bridge, with 1573 additional people, followed by the Barossa with 1416.

At 2.3% Yankalilla LGA had the highest annual average growth rate followed by Murray Bridge (1.5%) and Adelaide Plains (1.4%).

Whyalla LGA recorded the greatest population declines during the 2015-20 period with a loss of 1164 people, followed by Port Augusta which declined by 745 people.

Over the 2015-20 period South Australia recorded a modest average annual growth rate of 0.8%, which was the lowest of all states and territories other than Northern Territory. In comparison, the eastern states of Victoria, Queensland, and the ACT experienced a growth rate greater than 1.5%.

South Australia's share of the national population has decreased from 7.1% in 2015 to 6.9% in 2020.

The three most populous states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland accounted for 86% (1,624,206 people) of Australia's population growth between 2015 and 2020, compared to 3.7% for South Australia.

Annual Average Growth, Australian States and Territories, 2015-20

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)

The report Local Area (SA2 and LGA) Population projections for South Australia, 2016 to 2036 (PDF, 6497 KB) provides a summary of the Local Area Population Projections for SA to 2036. These projections follow on from, and are concordant with, the State and regional population projections for 2016 to 2041 released in June 2019. Local area projections (SA2 and LGA) are based on the medium series population projection for each region.

In South Australia there are 172 SA2s and these projections have been constrained to the 11 population projection regions. Population projections for the 68 LGAs were derived from the SA2 results. The time horizon for the SA2 level projections is from 2016 to 2036. This is 5 years less than the State and regional projections due to the greater uncertainty associated with population projections for small geographic areas.

• 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)