Southern Grampians · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Steady access to resources and a solid skill base shape daily life in Southern Grampians. The area holds a decent level of overall advantage, with a typical score of 962, though population growth has stalled recently.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Southern Grampians — higher than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents generally have good access to money and skills, scoring a 7 for education and job skills. This puts the area's advantage higher than about 60% of similar places.
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.
7
Higher than 64% 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.
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.
The population has remained almost flat with a tiny drop of 0.1% since 2021. This growth is well below the Victorian rate of 8.0% and much lower than most other areas.
16,483
Higher than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.1%
Lower than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 2,138 businesses operating in the region, which is more than about 60% of similar areas. However, only 33 new dwellings were approved, a figure smaller than about 56% of other places.
2,138
Higher than 59% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
33
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Southern Grampians [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA26260/southern-grampians/topic/economy-advantage
