About South Australia
Adelaide has been rated as one of the world's top dozen cities in which to live for lifestyle. (Economist Intelligence Unit's Liveability Survey 2009)
This is a place where you can have both a career and a family life. Adelaide is a perfectly sized city of one million people with everything in easy reach of the city centre, the many kilometres of metropolitan beaches, the scenic Adelaide Hills and 400 year-round events.
Adelaide has a world-class education system that includes four internationally recognised universities, an extensive vocational training system, a wide range of specialised tertiary institutions and a highly regarded primary and secondary school sector.
South Australia is also home to the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, the first foreign university to set up in Australia offering US degrees.
Adelaide is also an easy gateway to the Outback, the dramatic Flinders Ranges, the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, the River Murray and the many South Australian vineyards that produce some of the world’s great wines.
The combination of low living costs, some of mainland Australia's most affordable housing, great amenities and entertainment events enables Adelaide to offer an enticing mix of great lifestyle and employment options.
For more information on moving to South Australia, please visit Make the move to South Australia or Immigration SA.
SA at a Glance
South Australia balances the demands of commerce and industry with a great lifestyle and a high standard of living. In short, it’s a great place to live, to work and do business.
Here is a snapshot of South Australia’s economy:
Profile
Key facts
| Area |
984,377 square kilometres |
| Coastline |
3,700 kilometres |
| Capital city |
Adelaide |
| State population |
1.6 million (2007-08) |
| Adelaide population |
1.1 million |
| Population origin |
Australia: 74.0%
Europe: 14.0%
Asia: 2.0%
New Zealand: 0.7%
Other: 4.4% |
| Language |
English (with most Asian and European languages represented) |
| Climate |
Temperate |
| Average daily maximum temperature |
Summer (Dec-Feb):28'C
Winter (June-Aug): 16'C |
| Rainfall |
529 mm/year (in city centre) |
Statistics
Key statistics
| Gross State Product (2007-08) |
$73.3 billion |
| Merchandise Exports (2007-08) |
$10.34 billion |
| Private Business Investment (2007-08) |
$ 9.30 billion |
| Merchandise Imports (2007-08) |
$ 7.34 billion |
| Employment (2007-08) |
781,100 average |
| Industrial Disputes (days lost per 1,000 employees Mar 08) |
0.2 days |
|
South Australia as a Proportion of Australia (2007-08)
| Population |
7.5% average |
| Gross State Product |
6.5% |
| Labour Force |
7.3% average |
Proportion of Total Gross State Product by Industry (2007-08)
| Services |
57.7% |
| Manufacturing |
13.6% |
| Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing |
4.5% |
| Mining |
4.4% |
| Other |
19.8% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Major Exports: Selected Commodities (2007-08)
| Metals and metal manufactures |
$2,560 million |
| Wine |
$1,853 million |
| Road vechicles, parts and accessories |
$1,490 million |
| Wheat |
$ 582 million |
| Meat and meat preparations |
$ 473 million |
| Machinery |
$ 381 million |
| Petroleum, coal and gas |
$ 348 million |
| Fish and crustaceans |
$ 339 million |
| Wool and sheepkins |
$ 167 million |
| Other/Confidential (incl bulk barley) |
$2,804 million |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Cat. No. 5368.0
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