Region (SA4) · Area profile
South Australia - Outback
877,773 km²
A high proportion of First Nations people defines the South Australia - Outback region, where 11.7% of the population identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This vast area has a population of 82,646 that has shrunk slightly since 2011. The community is generally older than the national average and is characterized by a strong spirit of independence, with nearly half of residents reporting no religion. It is a place of stark contrasts, combining low typical incomes with a high rate of volunteering.
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The population is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical age of 41. While children under 15 make up 18.6% of the community, the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over has risen to 19.0% since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower proportion of overseas-born people (10.8%) compared to both the state and the nation. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 83.1% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is 8.3%, which is well below the South Australian figure of 17.8%.
Nearly half of the population (48.5%) reports having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average. This represents a significant increase of 19 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 10.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure, though it has risen by 6.5 percentage points since 2011.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most of the country, with a typical weekly household income of $1,283. Only 12.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is well below the national average.
Health profiles are around the middle for similar areas, with 29.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are reported by 8.1% of residents.
Volunteering is very common here, with 19.8% of people participating, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid housework is also slightly more common than in most areas.
First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, with 32.0% speaking a First Nations language—far above the national average. However, they face higher unemployment (20.8%) and lower typical incomes than others in the region.
Living arrangements are diverse, with 33.1% of people living alone and 17.0% of families headed by a single parent. Households tend to be smaller than average, with typically 2.3 people per home.
Rentals are much more common here than in most areas, though typical weekly rents are very low at $190. Most homes are separate houses, and 78.0% have three or more bedrooms.
The region is heavily reliant on cars, with only 1.4% of people using public transport to get to work. Working from home is far less common here (6.2%) than across Australia.
The community is relatively stable, with 31.4% of people having moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up a smaller share than usual.
About 56.5% of adults are working or looking for work, which is lower than in most other areas. The most common industries are health care, agriculture, and retail.
Population growth has been very slow, rising by only 0.4% since 2021, which is well below the South Australian average of 5.6%.
The region experiences a harsh climate with average maximum and minimum temperatures that are much higher than in most other areas. Annual rainfall is very low at 139mm.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the state average. Many homes are far from basic needs, with only 44.8% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.