Kiama · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Slow population growth has marked Kiama recently, but the area remains one of the most advantaged in the country. Residents here have a very high level of access to money and resources, which helps place the region in the top 10% of areas nationwide for overall advantage.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Kiama — higher than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Kiama is an exceptionally prosperous area, scoring a 10 for access to money and resources. This is consistent with the high level of education and job skills found here, which are higher than in about 90% of similar areas.
9
Higher than 86% 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.
10
Higher 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.
10
Higher 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.
9
Higher than 86% 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.
1,061
Higher than 89% 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.
Growth has been quiet, with the population increasing by only 0.7% since 2021. This is much lower than most areas and well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
23,139
Higher than 60% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.7%
Lower than 80% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 2,211 businesses operating in the area, which is more than about 61% of similar regions. Recently, 67 new dwellings were approved for building.
2,211
Higher than 59% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
67
Higher than 54% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Kiama [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA14400/kiama/topic/economy-advantage
