Wagga Wagga · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Better than average access to education and money defines the daily life of many in Wagga Wagga. The area is generally advantaged, with an overall score of 7 out of 10, which is higher than about 70% of similar places.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Wagga Wagga — higher than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents typically have a high level of job skills and education, scoring 7 out of 10. This helps drive an overall advantage score of 971, which is larger than about 66% of similar areas.
7
Higher 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.
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.
6
Higher 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.
7
Higher 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.
971
Higher 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.
The population has reached 69,108 people, though growth since 2021 has been slow at 1.8%. This is lower than most areas and well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
69,108
Higher than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.8%
Lower than 69% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Wagga Wagga serves as a major hub with 6,155 businesses, a count larger than about 80% of similar areas. There is also continued development, with 313 new dwellings approved.
6,155
Higher than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
313
Higher than 75% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Wagga Wagga [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17750/wagga-wagga/topic/economy-advantage
