SOUTH AUSTRALIA

STATE SUMMARY

At June 2015, the estimated resident population of South Australia was 1.7 million people, which represented 7.1% of the total Australian population. In the year to 2015, the population increased by 13,100 people (0.8%). This was the third lowest growth rate of all states and territories, behind Tasmania and the Northern Territory (both 0.4%).

POPULATION CHANGE IN GREATER ADELAIDE

At June 2015, the population of Greater Adelaide was 1.32 million people, which accounted for 78% of the state's total population. In the year to 2015, the population of Greater Adelaide increased by 12,100 people (0.9%), while the remainder of the state grew by 970 people (0.3%).

All but two of the 20 SA2s with the largest population increases in the state were in Greater Adelaide. Seaford, a coastal suburb in Adelaide's south, had the largest growth (up by 760 people), followed by Northgate - Oakden - Gilles Plains (640) in the northern suburbs, and Munno Para West - Angle Vale (560) on the northern outskirts.

The three fastest-growing SA2s in the state were Munno Para West - Angle Vale (up by 5.7%), Walkerville (3.7%) an inner north-eastern suburb, and Seaford (3.5%).

Small population declines were seen in 12% of SA2s within Greater Adelaide. Para Hills in the north-east, had both the largest and fastest decrease, down by 260 people or 1.7%.

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH(a), South Australia
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2015p	2014r-2015p
SA2	no.	no.	%
LARGEST GROWTH
Seaford	22 300	760	3.5
Northgate - Oakden - Gilles Plains	23 900	640	2.7
Munno Para West - Angle Vale	10 500	560	5.7
Mount Barker	17 100	510	3.1
Enfield - Blair Athol	24 400	490	2.1
FASTEST GROWTH
Munno Para West - Angle Vale	10 500	560	5.7
Walkerville	7 700	270	3.7
Seaford	22 300	760	3.5
Mount Barker	17 100	510	3.1
Adelaide	16 000	470	3.0
(a) All population figures presented in this table are rounded. Estimates of population change are based on unrounded numbers.

POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Population growth

In the 12 months to 2015, the rest of the state generally grew more slowly than Greater Adelaide.

Fleurieu - Kangaroo Island recorded the largest and fastest population increase of all SA3s outside of Greater Adelaide, up by 650 people or 1.3%. Barossa had the next largest growth, up by 260 people, followed by Yorke Peninsula which grew by 150 people.

The SA2s in the rest of South Australia with the largest growth were Murray Bridge and Victor Harbor (both up by 230 people), Strathalbyn (140) and Goolwa - Port Elliot (120). The Yorke Peninsula towns of Moonta (up by 2.3%) and Wallaroo (2.1%) had the fastest growth, followed by Strathalbyn (2.0%).


Population decline

The SA3 with the largest decline in the rest of South Australia was Mid North, falling by 220 people (0.8%), followed by Murray and Mallee (down by 30 people). Other SA3s remained relatively stable or increased in population.

Almost half (46%) of the SA2s in the rest of the state decreased in population. The largest decline was in Port Pirie on the Spencer Gulf, down by 100 people (0.7%), whilst the fastest decline was in the Flinders Ranges (1.9% or 40 people).

POPULATION DENSITY

The population density of South Australia at June 2015 was 1.7 people per square kilometre (sq km), the same as at June 2014. Most of the state had a low population density, with 20 SA2s (comprising 94% of the state's total area) having less than 1 person per sq km. Greater Adelaide had a population density of 400 people per sq km.

The most densely-populated SA2s were Unley - Parkside (3,000 people per sq km), which adjoins Adelaide city to the south, and Glenelg on the coast (2,900). This was followed by Prospect (2,800) just north of the city centre, Norwood to the east and Nailsworth - Broadview in the north (both 2,700). The SA2 of Adelaide, which comprises the city and surrounding parklands, had 1,500 people per sq km.

The SA2s in Greater Adelaide with the largest increases in density between 2014 and 2015 were Walkerville (up by 77 people per sq km), Flinders Park in the west and Northgate - Oakden - Gilles Plains (both up by 57 people per sq km). The largest decreases were in the north-eastern suburb of Para Hills (down by 25 people per sq km) and Happy Valley in the south (down by 8.4 people per sq km).

CENTRE OF POPULATION

The centre of population for SA at June 2015 was in the suburb of Clearview. In the ten years to 2015, the centre moved 1.0 kilometres south-west, towards Adelaide's central business district.

For Greater Adelaide, the centre of population at June 2015 was on the northern banks of the River Torrens near Botanic Park, in the suburb of North Adelaide.