Cobar · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A shrinking population of 4,019 people defines the current economic landscape in Cobar. The area faces a mix of modest financial resources and lower educational levels, with a population decline that stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the state.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Cobar — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Typical residents have a lower level of education and job skills than most people in similar areas. While access to money and resources is about average, the overall advantage score of 937 is smaller than about 63% of other areas.
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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
937
Lower than 63% 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 fell by 1.9% since 2021, a trend that is among the lowest for similar areas. This is well below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.
4,019
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.9%
Lower than 95% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 463 businesses in the area, which is smaller than about 69% of similar places. Activity remains low in the building sector, with only 4 new dwellings approved.
463
Lower than 70% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
4
Lower than 82% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Cobar [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA11750/cobar/topic/economy-advantage
