Central Darling · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Barely any population growth has occurred in Central Darling since 2011, with a recent increase of just 0.9%. This sparsely populated region faces significant economic challenges, as its overall advantage score of 869 is smaller than about 91% of similar areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Central Darling — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is among the most disadvantaged in the country, ranking 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. While residents have a moderate level of education and job skills, their overall access to money and resources is much lower than in 90% of other 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
869
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.
Population growth has been very slow, rising by only 0.9%. This is well below the New South Wales increase of 6.1% and is much lower than most other areas.
1,773
Lower than 83% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.9%
Lower than 79% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Commercial activity is low, with only 202 businesses operating in the region. This is smaller than about 81% of similar areas, and only three new dwellings were approved.
202
Lower than 83% 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 Central Darling [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA11700/central-darling/topic/economy-advantage
