Greater Geelong · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
An overall advantage score of 990 marks Greater Geelong as a well-off area compared to most similar regions. It ranks higher than about 80% of areas in terms of general advantage and job skills. This creates a strong economic foundation for the region.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Greater Geelong — higher than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is better off than about 70% of similar places when it comes to accessing money and resources. This is consistent with its high education and job skills score, which is larger than about 80% of other areas.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
7
Higher than 64% 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.
8
Higher 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.
990
Higher than 73% 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 grown by 8.9% since 2021, a rate much higher than most areas. This growth is slightly above the Victorian figure of 8.0%.
295,052
Higher than 88% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
8.9%
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Greater Geelong is one of the largest areas at this level for both the number of businesses, with 23,558, and the 2,595 dwellings approved for construction.
23,558
Higher than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
2,595
Higher than 90% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Greater Geelong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA22750/greater-geelong/topic/economy-advantage
