Melbourne · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A massive 27% population jump since 2021 marks Melbourne as one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. It is a place of high overall advantage and exceptional job skills, though these strengths sit alongside some significant gaps in access to money and resources.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Melbourne — higher than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
While the area is among the most advantaged overall with a score of 1,086, there is a sharp contrast in wealth. Residents have some of the highest education and job skills levels, yet access to money and resources is smaller than about 90% of similar areas.
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.
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.
1
Lower 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.
1,086
Higher than 92% 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 in Melbourne has been far above the Victorian figure, rising by 27% compared to the state's 8% increase. This has pushed the population estimate to 194,481, making it among the largest areas at this level.
194,481
Higher than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
27.0%
Higher than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
The city is a major economic hub with 46,783 businesses, which is among the largest counts for this level. This activity is matched by a high volume of new development, with 3,903 dwellings approved.
46,783
Higher than 90% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
3,903
Higher than 93% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Melbourne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA24600/melbourne/topic/economy-advantage
