Council (LGA) · Area profile
Coorong
8,833 km²
Older residents are a defining feature of Coorong, where the typical person is 48, far older than the national figure of 38. This spacious region is primarily made up of separate houses and a population that has shrunk slightly since 2011. It is a place of modest means and a strong rural identity, where many people own their homes outright and a large number of residents volunteer in their community. This creates a quiet, aging atmosphere with a distinct connection to the land.
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The area is noticeably older than the rest of the state, with a quarter of residents aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 6.1 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children has fallen.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state or national figures. English and German are the most common ancestries after Australian.
English is the dominant language, with only 3.7% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the national average, and almost everyone speaks English well.
A large number of residents report having no religion, a figure that rose 21 percentage points since 2011 to reach 46.1%. This is well above the national average.
Education levels are much lower than in most other areas, with only 33.8% of people completing Year 12. Just 8.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure.
Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical family earning $1,370 a week. Only 7.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 33.7% of people. About 6.6% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is very common, with 27% of people helping out, which is far above the national figure. Many people also spend a significant amount of time on unpaid housework.
First Nations people make up 5.7% of the population, which is well above the state average. This community is notably younger than the general population, with a typical age of 28, and 20.2% speak a First Nations language.
Homes here are smaller in terms of occupants, with only 2.2 people per house. A high proportion of people live alone, which is well above the national figure.
The landscape is dominated by separate houses, making up 96.3% of dwellings. Rent is much lower than the national average, and 43.1% of people own their homes outright.
Public transport is rarely used for commuting, as most people drive or work from home. The drive time to the city is much higher than in most areas, averaging 106 minutes.
The population is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving into the area in the last five years compared to the rest of the country.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 37% of the workforce. About 53.5% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure.
The region ranks low for overall advantage and access to resources, sitting in the bottom 30% of similar areas. Population growth has been very slow since 2021.
The climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average maximum temperature of 22.1 degrees and annual rainfall of 423mm.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Most homes are a long walk from groceries, health services, and public transport.