Forbes · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population drop of 0.9% since 2021 puts Forbes well behind the 6.1% growth seen across New South Wales. While the town maintains a mid-range level of overall advantage, it is currently experiencing a period of slow movement in both population and new building approvals.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Forbes — lower than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area sits right in the middle of the pack for overall advantage and job skills. With an overall advantage score of 941, it is smaller than about 60% of similar areas.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
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.
941
Lower than 60% 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 fallen by 0.9% since 2021, a figure that is among the lowest for areas of this size and well below the state average.
9,301
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.9%
Lower than 90% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,201 businesses in the area, which is smaller than about 53% of similar places. This slower economic momentum is also seen in building, with only 35 new dwellings approved.
1,201
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
35
Lower than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Forbes [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA12900/forbes/topic/economy-advantage
