Balranald · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A typical overall advantage score of 934 puts Balranald in a position where it is smaller than about 65% of similar areas. This reflects a place with lower levels of money and education compared to most of the country. The area is small in scale, with a population of 2,244 people.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Balranald — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents generally have less access to money, resources, and job skills than most people in similar areas. Overall, the level of advantage in the region is lower than about 60% of other areas at this level.
4
Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
4
Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
4
Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
3
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
934
Lower than 65% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
The population grew by 1.6% since 2021, which is lower than most areas. This growth is well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
2,244
Lower than 80% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.6%
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 325 businesses operating here, a number smaller than about 75% of similar areas. New building activity is also low, with only 9 dwellings approved.
325
Lower than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
9
Lower than 73% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Balranald [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA10300/balranald/topic/economy-advantage
