Economy, jobs and prices in South Australia, Australia: official figures
The economy of South Australia produced gross state product of $157,887 million in 2024-25 at current prices, 5.7% of Australian gross domestic product ($2,778,897 million), 4th smallest of 8 among states and territories.
What is the GDP per capita of South Australia?
Gross state product per person in South Australia was $83,465 in 2024-25 at current prices, against $101,438 for Australia (2nd lowest of 8 states and territories).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast is the economy of South Australia growing?
The economy of South Australia grew by 1.0% in real terms (chain volume measures) in 2024-25, compared with 1.4% for Australia (joint 2nd slowest of 8 growth).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in South Australia?
The trend unemployment rate in South Australia was 4.0% in September 2026, compared with 4.6% for Australia (the lowest of 8 states and territories). A year earlier it was 4.3%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in South Australia?
The labour force participation rate in South Australia was 64.1% in September 2026 (trend), against 66.5% nationally (2nd lowest of 8 states and territories).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people have jobs in South Australia?
There were about 993 thousand employed people in South Australia in September 2026 (trend), and 61.5% of the population aged 15 and over was in work, against 63.4% for Australia (2nd lowest of 8 states and territories).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average salary in South Australia?
The median employee income in South Australia was $58,380 in 2022-23 (the mean was $66,224), 2nd lowest of 8 states and territories. Source: Australian Taxation Office data published by the ABS.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in South Australia?
The median price of an established house sold in South Australia in 2024 was $680,000 and of an attached dwelling (unit or townhouse) $543,000; houses were 4th least of 8 expensive of the eight states and territories.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in South Australia?
South Australia had 168,699 actively trading businesses at 30 June 2025, or 89 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes are being approved in South Australia?
Building approvals in South Australia covered 14,515 dwelling units in the year to June 2025, or 7.6 per 1,000 residents (2nd highest of 8 states and territories).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in South Australia?
The median weekly household income after adjusting for household size (equivalised) in South Australia was $939 at the 2021 Census, and median rent was $300 a week and median mortgage repayment $1,500 a month.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many jobs are there in South Australia?
There were 1,388,441 employee jobs in South Australia in the year to June 2023 (ABS Linked Employer-Employee Data), 4th fewest of 8.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow South Australia compares with other states
Unemployment rate, trend, September 2026 (2026-09)
South Australia ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, trend, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Victoria | 5.0% |
| 3 | Australian Capital Territory | 4.7% |
| 4 | New South Wales | 4.7% |
| 5 | Queensland | 4.4% |
| 6 | Northern Territory | 4.3% |
| 7 | Western Australia | 4.2% |
| 8 | South Australia | 4.0% |
Gross state product per person, 2024-25 (current prices) (2024-25)
South Australia ranks 7 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross state product per person, 2024-25 (current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Northern Territory | $131,983 |
| 3 | Australian Capital Territory | $123,409 |
| 4 | New South Wales | $100,105 |
| 5 | Queensland | $94,506 |
| 6 | Victoria | $90,918 |
| 7 | South Australia | $83,465 |
| 8 | Tasmania | $76,908 |
Real growth in gross state product, 2024-25 (2024-25)
South Australia ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross state product, 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Queensland | 2.2% |
| 3 | Western Australia | 1.3% |
| 4 | Victoria | 1.1% |
| 5 | South Australia | 1.0% |
| 6 | Tasmania | 1.0% |
| 7 | Northern Territory | 1.0% |
| 8 | New South Wales | 0.9% |
Median employee income, 2022-23 (2023)
South Australia ranks 7 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median employee income, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Northern Territory | $68,042 |
| 3 | Western Australia | $65,310 |
| 4 | New South Wales | $63,301 |
| 5 | Victoria | $61,397 |
| 6 | Queensland | $59,751 |
| 7 | South Australia | $58,380 |
| 8 | Tasmania | $56,350 |
Median price of an established house, 2024 (2024)
South Australia ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median price of an established house, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Australian Capital Territory | $990,000 |
| 3 | Victoria | $753,800 |
| 4 | Queensland | $730,000 |
| 5 | South Australia | $680,000 |
| 6 | Western Australia | $645,000 |
| 7 | Tasmania | $598,000 |
| 8 | Northern Territory | $560,000 |
More on South Australia: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Census of Population and Housing 2021, state and territory results (via ABS Data by region): health conditions, education, housing costs, homelessness, disadvantage, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7f6d87de31d5…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2024-25, Table 1: Gross state product, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 193fa6f8752b…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Labour Force, Australia, September 2026: trend and seasonally adjusted state and territory series, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72befbbd1b24…)
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