Palm Island · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of just 707 for overall advantage makes Palm Island one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. Residents face significant gaps in access to money and job skills compared to the rest of Australia. Despite these challenges, the population has grown by 7.1% since 2021.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Palm Island — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Palm Island ranks in the lowest category for access to money, education, and overall advantage, with scores smaller than about 90% of similar areas. This reflects a high level of disadvantage across the community.
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.
707
Lower than 99% 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 grew by 7.1% since 2021, which is much higher than most areas, though it sits a little below the Queensland figure of 8.7%.
2,335
Lower than 80% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
7.1%
Higher than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are only 12 businesses in the area, among the smallest at this level. However, 52 new dwellings were approved, a figure larger than about 53% of similar areas.
12
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
52
Lower than 51% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Palm Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA35790/palm-island/topic/economy-advantage
