Balonne · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A gap of over 9 percentage points separates the population trend in Balonne from the rest of Queensland. While the state grew by 8.7%, this region saw a slight decline of 0.6%. Residents generally face more challenges with money and resources compared to most other Australian areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Balonne — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The typical resident has less access to money and resources than about 80% of other areas. While job skills and education are around the middle mark for similar places, the overall advantage score of 929 is lower than the national average.
4
Lower 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.
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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
929
Lower than 69% 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.
Balonne's population fell by 0.6% since the last census, which is much lower than most areas and well below the Queensland growth rate of 8.7%.
4,350
Lower than 70% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.6%
Lower than 89% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 941 businesses operating in the area. With only 5 new dwellings approved, building activity is smaller than in about 77% of similar regions.
941
Lower than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
5
Lower than 80% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Balonne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA30300/balonne/topic/economy-advantage
