Council (LGA) · Area profile
Unincorporated SA
619,426 km²
Covering a vast and arid landscape, Unincorporated SA is a sparsely populated region where 24.4% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The community is distinct for its small population of 3,006 people, which has shrunk by 32% since 2011. It is a place of extremes, with very low typical incomes and a high proportion of people living alone. The character of the area is shaped by its remote nature and a strong connection to First Nations culture.
Unincorporated SA is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The population is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical age of 42. There has been a significant increase in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which rose by 5.9 percentage points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.2% were born overseas, which is far below the South Australian and national figures. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Scottish, and Irish.
While 70.7% speak only English, the number of people using another language at home rose by 7.9 percentage points since 2011 to reach 15.6%. Very few people speak little or no English.
A high proportion of people report having no religion, at 43.4%, which is well above the national figure. This figure has risen by 14 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 35.6% of residents completing Year 12 and 7.9% holding a bachelor degree or higher. There are 7 schools across the region, though typical class sizes are very small.
Typical incomes are well below the state and national figures, with a typical household earning $1,105 a week. Only 8.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is much lower than most other areas.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions and a lower need for daily help than most other areas. Only 5.7% of people have a mental health condition, which is well below the national figure.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 21.7% of people helping out. However, fewer people provide unpaid care or look after children compared to the state average.
First Nations people in the area are far more likely to speak a First Nations language than those in the rest of the state. Typical personal income for this group is $397, which is well below the national figure of $540.
The area has a very high number of people living alone, at 43.9%, which is far above the national figure. One-parent families are also more common here than in most other areas.
Rent is very low, with a typical weekly rent of $90, and 36.5% of homes are owned outright. Most people live in separate houses, though these are less likely to have three or more bedrooms than in other areas.
Public transport is very limited, with only one route and one stop available. This is reflected in the fact that 24.4% of people walk to work and 16.2% work from home, which is higher than in most areas.
The population is relatively stable, with 31.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 13.4% of the community.
Full-time employment is far above the national figure at 69.7%. The local economy relies heavily on agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining.
The region faces significant disadvantage, ranking in the bottom 20% of all areas for overall advantage. Population growth since 2021 has been negative, falling by 3.2%.
The environment is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 30.5 degrees. Annual rainfall is well below the state average, totaling only 102mm.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.2. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, schools or public transport.