Charters Towers · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Slow population growth defines the recent economic shift in Charters Towers, where the community grew by just 1.4% since 2021. This is well below the Queensland rate of 8.7%. The area faces significant challenges with access to resources and job skills compared to most other regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Charters Towers — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents here have lower access to money and job skills than about 80% of similar areas. This is reflected in an overall advantage score of 908, which is lower than the national average.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
908
Lower than 80% 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 reached 12,088 people. However, growth since 2021 has been 1.4%, which is lower than most areas and far below the state average.
12,088
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.4%
Lower than 73% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,250 businesses operating in the region. Local building activity remains quiet, with only 25 new dwellings approved, a figure smaller than about 61% of similar areas.
1,250
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
25
Lower than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Charters Towers [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA32310/charters-towers/topic/economy-advantage
