Northern Beaches · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
High levels of wealth and education define daily life in the Northern Beaches, where residents enjoy some of the greatest advantages in the country. The area is exceptionally well-off, with a typical advantage score of 1,125, placing it among the most prosperous regions in Australia.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Northern Beaches — higher than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents have a top score of 10 for access to money, resources, and job skills. This puts the area among the most advantaged and least disadvantaged places in the nation.
10
Higher 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.
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.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
1,125
Higher than 97% 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 has reached 272,656 people. Growth since 2021 was 3.1%, which is around the middle for similar areas but well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
272,656
Higher than 88% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
3.1%
Lower than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 33,595 businesses operating in the area. Building activity remains strong, with 523 approved dwellings, a figure larger than about 83% of similar regions.
33,595
Higher than 88% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
523
Higher than 82% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Northern Beaches [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA15990/northern-beaches/topic/economy-advantage
