Loddon · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A gap of 7.8 percentage points separates the stagnant population growth in Loddon from the rest of Victoria. The area faces significant economic challenges, with an overall advantage score of 925 that is lower than about 71% of other areas. Local resources and wealth are generally lower than in most other regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Loddon — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Resources and money are limited here, with an overall advantage score that is lower than about 70% of all areas. While job skills and education are slightly better than half of similar places, the general level of disadvantage remains high.
3
Lower 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.
3
Lower 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.
4
Lower 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
925
Lower than 71% 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 barely moved, rising by just 0.2% since 2021. This is much lower than most other areas and sits well below the Victorian average of 8.0%.
7,718
Lower than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.2%
Lower than 85% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,050 businesses operating in the area, which is a smaller number than about 55% of similar regions. This low activity is mirrored in the building sector, where only 28 new dwellings were approved.
1,050
Lower than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
28
Lower than 60% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Loddon [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA23940/loddon/topic/economy-advantage
