Torres Strait 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 777 for overall advantage means Torres Strait Island is among the most disadvantaged areas in the country. Daily life here is marked by very limited access to money and resources compared to most other regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Torres Strait Island — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks in the lowest 10% of all regions for overall advantage, with very low scores for both education and access to money.
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.
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.
777
Lower than 94% 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 growth has been almost flat at 0.1%, which is well below the Queensland increase of 8.7%.
4,298
Lower than 70% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.1%
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 73 businesses in the area, and with zero new dwellings approved, it is among the smallest regions for building activity.
73
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 Torres Strait Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA36960/torres-strait-island/topic/economy-advantage
