Brewarrina · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A significant gap in resources defines Brewarrina, which ranks among the most disadvantaged areas in the country. With an overall advantage score of 866, it sits well below the national average and is smaller than about 90% of other areas in its category.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Brewarrina — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Access to money and resources is very low here, scoring 1 out of 10. Education and job skills are slightly higher at 4, though this is still smaller than about 60% of similar areas.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
866
Lower than 88% 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 has fallen by 6.1% since 2021. This decline of 1,396 people is far below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.
1,396
Lower than 85% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-6.1%
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Economic activity is limited, with only 143 businesses operating in the area. Local development is also slow, with just 3 new dwellings approved.
143
Lower than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
3
Lower than 84% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Brewarrina [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA11200/brewarrina/topic/economy-advantage
