Region (SA4) · Area profile
Far West and Orana
339,356 km²
Spanning a vast and arid landscape in the west of the state, Far West and Orana is a sparsely populated region defined by its remote character. It has a significant First Nations presence, with 17% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, far exceeding the national average. The community is predominantly Australian-born and English-speaking, living in a region with a hot, dry climate and a strong reliance on separate houses. It is a place where traditional rural living remains the norm for most residents.
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The population is older than the national figure, with 19.9% of people aged 65 and over. This is alongside a high proportion of children under 15 at 19.8% and a significant First Nations population, which rose to 17% since 2011.
Born in Australia, 81.1% of residents have an Australian, English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. The proportion of people born overseas is 7.3%, which is far below the New South Wales and national figures.
English is the dominant language, and only 5.2% of people use another language at home, much lower than most areas. Very few people, just 0.5%, speak little or no English.
Christianity is the most common faith at 54%, while 30.1% of people report no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is well below the national figure, though it has risen 16 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 37.1% of people completing Year 12 and 13.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher. The region has a high number of schools per 1,000 children, but these schools tend to be small.
Household incomes are typically much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,377. Only 14.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.3% of people. Arthritis and asthma are the most reported conditions, and 6.3% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is a bit more common here than in the rest of the state at 15.6%. About 11.8% of people provide unpaid care, and 19.9% spend 15 hours or more each week on unpaid housework.
The region is home to 19,593 First Nations people. This community is younger than the general population, with a typical age of 25, but it faces challenges with a Year 12 completion rate of 27.8%, which is well below the national figure.
Living arrangements are diverse, with a high number of people living alone (30.9%) and a high rate of one-parent families (18.9%) compared to most areas. The typical home has 2.4 people.
Separate houses make up 88.8% of all homes, far above the national average. Housing is generally more affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $250 and typical monthly mortgage payments of $1,300, both well below the national figures.
Cars are essential for travel, as only 0.5% of people commute by public transport. This reliance on vehicles is reflected in the fact that 84.1% of homes have at least one motor vehicle.
The population is relatively stable, with only 32.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. However, recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 20.8% since 2011.
Full-time employment is much higher here than in most areas at 64.4%. People primarily work in health care and social assistance, agriculture, and education, with 55.9% of adults currently working or looking for work.
The region is one of the smallest at its level with a population of 118,372. Growth since 2021 has been slow at 1.0%, which is well below the New South Wales average of 6.1%.
The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees and annual rainfall of 354mm, both of which are well below the state averages.
Walkability is low, with a score of 4.6. Many homes are far from essential services, as only 54.5% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 46.4% are near health services.