Berri Barmera · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Barely any population growth has occurred in Berri Barmera since 2021, with an increase of just 0.2%. This stagnation is part of a broader picture where the area faces significant challenges, as the typical resident has much less access to money, education and job skills than people in most other regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Berri Barmera — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Overall advantage in Berri Barmera is low, with a score of 887 which is smaller than about 88% of similar areas. This reflects a trend across the board, as access to money, resources and education skills are all smaller than about 80% of other areas.
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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
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.
887
Lower than 86% 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 only 0.2% since 2021, a figure that is much lower than most areas. This is well below the South Australian growth rate of 5.6%.
10,758
Lower than 55% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.2%
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 976 businesses in the area, which is smaller than about 57% of similar regions. Building activity is also quiet, with only 18 dwellings approved, a number smaller than about 67% of other areas.
976
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
18
Lower than 66% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Berri Barmera [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA40520/berri-barmera/topic/economy-advantage
