Playford · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population increase of 15.1% since 2021 defines the rapid expansion of Playford. While the area is growing quickly and building many new homes, it faces significant challenges with low access to money, education and job skills.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Playford — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Playford is among the most disadvantaged areas in the country, with an overall advantage score of 850, which is well below the national average of 1,000. This is reflected in very low scores for education and job skills, as well as limited access to money and resources.
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.
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.
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.
850
Lower than 89% 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 15.1%, a rate well above the South Australian figure of 5.6%. This makes Playford one of the fastest-growing areas at its level, with a total population of 115,790.
115,790
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
15.1%
Higher than 96% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 4,780 businesses operating in the area. This commercial activity is matched by a building boom, with 2,302 approved dwellings, among the largest number of approvals for areas of this type.
4,780
Higher than 73% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
2,302
Higher than 89% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Playford [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA45680/playford/topic/economy-advantage
