1,781,516 ▲ +11.6%
- 2011: 1,596,572
- 2016: 1,676,653
- 2021: 1,781,516
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
South Australia · State / Territory
Demographics & Identity in South Australia
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
A growing population that has aged by two years since 2011 defines South Australia. The state now has 1,781,516 people, and the typical resident is 41, making it noticeably older than the national figure.
1,781,516
▲ +11.6%
- 4,788–6,243: 1 area
- 6,243–8,140: 0 areas
- 8,140–10,614: 0 areas
- 10,614–13,840: 0 areas
- 13,840–18,046: 0 areas
- 18,046–23,530: 0 areas
- 23,530–30,681: 0 areas
- 30,681–40,004: 0 areas
- 40,004–52,162: 0 areas
- 52,162–68,014: 0 areas
- 68,014–88,683: 0 areas
- 88,683–115,634: 0 areas
- 115,634–150,775: 0 areas
- 150,775–196,595: 0 areas
- 196,595–256,340: 1 area
- 256,340–334,241: 0 areas
- 334,241–435,817: 0 areas
- 435,817–568,262: 2 areas
- 568,262–740,956: 0 areas
- 740,956–966,133: 0 areas
- 966,133–1,259,740: 0 areas
- 1,259,740–1,642,575: 0 areas
- 1,642,575–2,141,752: 1 area
- 2,141,752–2,792,630: 1 area
- 2,792,630–3,641,309: 0 areas
- 3,641,309–4,747,901: 0 areas
- 4,747,901–6,190,786: 1 area
- 6,190,786–8,072,163: 2 areas
All state / territory areas, 2021. The marker is South Australia.
| South Australia | 1,781,516 |
|---|---|
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population grew by 12% since 2011, adding about 184,944 people. At 41 years old, the typical resident is much older than those in most other similar areas.
41 yrs ▲ +5.1%
- 2011: 39 yrs
- 2016: 40 yrs
- 2021: 41 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Seniors make up 20.0% of the population, which is a little above the national figure and a rise of 3.9 points since 2011. This shift toward older residents is matched by a drop in children under 15, who now make up 17.0% of the community.
20.0% ▲ +24.0%
- 2011: 16.1%
- 2016: 18.3%
- 2021: 20.0%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
17.0% ▼ -5.3%
- 2011: 18.0%
- 2016: 17.5%
- 2021: 17.0%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →South Australia splits fairly evenly between Young adults (25–44) (26%) and Older adults (45–64) (25%), with Seniors (65+) at 20%.
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 2.4% of the population, which is lower than most other areas. People in de facto relationships account for 11.2% of the population, a slight increase from 2011.
2.4% ▲ +25.3%
- 2011: 1.9%
- 2016: 2.0%
- 2021: 2.4%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
11.2% ▲ +16.9%
- 2011: 9.6%
- 2016: 10.3%
- 2021: 11.2%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In South Australia, the largest group is Married at 46%, followed by Never married (35%) and Divorced (10%).
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for South Australia
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in South Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/4/south-australia/topic/demographics-identity