Mount Isa · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
More than half of similar areas are less advantaged than Mount Isa, which holds an overall advantage score of 954. While the region fares better than many other areas, it faces a shrinking population and very low new building activity.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Mount Isa — higher than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The typical resident has limited access to money and resources, scoring 2 out of 10, which is lower than about 80% of similar areas. This is reflected in education and job skills, which are also lower than about 60% of other areas.
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.
5
Lower 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.
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.
4
Lower 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.
954
Higher than 51% 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.
Population has fallen by 3.3% since 2021, a result that is among the lowest for similar areas and far below the Queensland growth rate of 8.7%.
18,585
Higher than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-3.3%
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,054 businesses in the area, though it is smaller than about 55% of similar regions. Growth is sluggish, with only 6 new dwellings approved, a figure lower than about 75% of comparable areas.
1,054
Lower than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
6
Lower than 79% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Mount Isa [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA35300/mount-isa/topic/economy-advantage
