Lockhart River · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A 7.5% population increase since 2021 marks a period of growth for Lockhart River. However, the area faces significant economic challenges, with an overall advantage score of 744, which is among the smallest across the country.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Lockhart River — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents experience severe disadvantage, with a score of 1 out of 10 for overall advantage, education, and access to resources. This places the area among the lowest 10% of all regions in the country.
1
Lower 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
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.
744
Lower than 97% 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 grown by 7.5% since 2021, a rate that is much higher than most areas, though it remains a little below the Queensland figure of 8.7%.
702
Lower than 92% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
7.5%
Higher than 79% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Economic activity is limited, with only 29 businesses operating in the area. There were 25 new dwellings approved, a figure smaller than about 61% of similar areas.
29
Lower than 97% 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 Lockhart River [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA34570/lockhart-river/topic/economy-advantage
