Port Pirie West (SA)

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Port Pirie West has an estimated residency of approximately 2,619 individuals in May 2026, calculated from ABS population updates and new addresses verified by Districts. Compared to the 2,556 citizens documented in the 2021 Census, this represents a gain of 63 people, or 2.5%. This calculation is based on an estimated resident population of 2,615 from Districts using June 2025 ABS ERP figures, supplemented by 10 validated new address listings since the Census. With a population density of 102 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample space and capacity for expansion. The growth rate of 2.5% since the 2021 Census outpaced the broader SA3 region at 2.4%, making the suburb a local growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of these gains, serving as the sole source of population growth in recent times.

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Port Pirie West maintains a workforce divided between office-based and manual roles, with a strong presence in essential services, a 15.0% jobless rate, and an estimated job growth of 6.0% over the prior year based on Districts statistical compilations. In March 2026, the employed population numbered 894 individuals, while the unemployment rate was 9.6% higher than the Regional SA average of 5.5%, indicating room for employment growth. Furthermore, the participation rate of 46.7% lags the regional level of 58.4%. Census figures indicate that a low 3.0% of the working population worked from home, though this may reflect historical pandemic restrictions.

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Tax data compiled by Districts for the 2023 financial year indicates that personal income levels in the suburb of Port Pirie West are below the national average. The median taxpayer income is $39,561 and the average is $46,427, compared to Regional SA averages of $48,920 and $58,933. Adjusted for a 10.17% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $43,584 for median earnings and $51,149 for average earnings. Census details place household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Port Pirie West within the lowest 0th to 2nd percentiles nationally. The local earnings profile shows that 35.9% of the population, representing 940 residents, earn within the $400 - 799 weekly range, in contrast to metropolitan areas where earn between - . With of residents receiving less than weekly, the community experiences notable budget constraints that influence local commerce. Disposable income after housing costs stands at , which ranks in the rd percentile nationwide.

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At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Port Pirie West consisted of 87.1% standalone houses and 12.9% alternative housing types, such as townhouses, units, and other dwellings, compared to Regional SA averages of 88.5% and 11.5%. Home ownership rates in Port Pirie West trailed the regional average at 28.3%, with the remaining properties split between those with a mortgage at 28.3% and rental properties at 43.5%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $693 and median weekly rent of $180 were both below the Regional SA averages of $1,153 and $220. These figures are also lower than the national median mortgage payment of $1,863 and the national median rent of $375.

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Families make up 53.2% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 14.1%, couples without children at 19.8%, and single parents at 17.3%. Non-family households account for the remaining 46.8% of dwellings, dominated by single-person households at 44.2% and group houses at 3.0%. The median household occupancy of 2.0 people is lower than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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Educational attainment levels present challenges, as the proportion of residents with a university degree is 5.9%, which is lower than the national benchmark of 30.4%. This gap offers a target for future educational programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 4.8%, with postgraduate qualifications at 0.8% and graduate diplomas at 0.3%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 34.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 6.4% and certificates at 28.3%.

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Port Pirie West experiences significant health challenges based on Districts assessments of mortality and chronic illness rates, which affect both younger and older residents. The proportion of the population with private health insurance is low at approximately 45%, representing about 1,189 people, compared to 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity measures in Port Pirie West are lower than average, with citizens representing 91.6% of the population, 91.9% born in Australia, and 96.3% speaking only English at home. The main religious affiliation is Christianity, accounting for 37.2% of residents. The most distinct relative overrepresentation is in the Other category, which accounts for 0.6% of the local population compared to 0.8% across Regional SA.

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The median age of residents is 45, which is slightly younger than the Regional SA average of 47 but older than the Australian median of 38. The 15 - 24 age group is relatively large at 13.2% of the population, while seniors aged 85 and over are relatively small at 1.8%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 increased from 7.3% to 8.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.6% to 11.5%. Projections to 2041 suggest shifts in the local age structure, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to grow by 38 people, or 18%, from to . Residents aged and older are projected to account for the entirety of local population growth, reflecting broader aging trends, while the to and to age groups are expected to contract.

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Port Pirie West currently has an estimated 115 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 79 children aged 0-2 and 52 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 6% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 2% by 2041 (to approximately 113 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 229. Birth rates in the area have averaged 11.3 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a moderate rate (within the middle tier nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.