Shellharbour · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population growth rate of 8.8% has seen Shellharbour expand much faster than most similar areas. This growth is matched by a strong business sector and a typical level of overall advantage that sits slightly below the national figure.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Shellharbour — higher than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents have a strong level of access to money and resources, though their overall advantage score of 962 is slightly lower than the national average. This is partly because education and job skills are lower than in about 60% of similar areas.
6
Higher 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.
6
Higher 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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
962
Higher than 58% 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.
Shellharbour is growing quickly, with a population of 83,228 that has increased by 8.8% since 2021. This rise is a little above the New South Wales rate of 6.1%.
83,228
Higher than 80% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
8.8%
Higher than 85% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
The local economy is active with 4,474 businesses. This growth is reflected in the building sector, where 653 new dwellings were approved, a figure larger than in about 86% of similar areas.
4,474
Higher than 72% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
653
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Shellharbour [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA16900/shellharbour/topic/economy-advantage
