Narrabri · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A typical score of 936 for overall advantage means Narrabri is slightly less advantaged than the national average. While the town supports a fair number of businesses, lower levels of education and job skills weigh on the area's overall standing.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Narrabri — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks lower than about 60% of other places for overall advantage. This is reflected in education and job skills, which are lower than about 70% of similar 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
936
Lower than 64% 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 stalled at -0.1% since 2021, which is well below the New South Wales rate of 6.1%.
12,797
Lower than 52% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.1%
Lower than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Narrabri has 1,905 businesses, which is more than about 58% of similar areas, although only 10 new dwellings were approved.
1,905
Higher than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
10
Lower than 71% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Narrabri [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15750/narrabri/topic/economy-advantage
