Barcoo · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A gap of 5.8 percentage points separates the 2.9% population growth in Barcoo from the Queensland average. While the area has a fair level of general advantage, there is a stark contrast between its access to money and its very low levels of formal education and job skills.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Barcoo — higher than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents in Barcoo have a higher level of access to money and resources than about 70% of similar areas. However, the area ranks much lower for education and job skills, falling behind about 90% of other areas at this level.
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.
6
Higher than 57% 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.
1
Lower 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.
959
Higher than 55% 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 of Barcoo is among the smallest for its level at 321 people. Growth since 2021 has been around the middle for similar areas, though this is well below the Queensland figure of 8.7%.
321
Lower than 97% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.9%
Lower than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
With only 79 businesses, Barcoo is smaller than about 90% of similar areas. This lack of commercial activity is reflected in building trends, with no new dwellings approved.
79
Lower than 93% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
0
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Barcoo [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA30450/barcoo/topic/economy-advantage
