Christmas Island · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A 10% jump in population since 2021 defines the recent growth of Christmas Island. While the area faces challenges with access to money and resources, it holds a strong overall advantage score of 972, which is larger than about 66% of similar areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Christmas Island — higher than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents generally have high levels of education and job skills, with a score of 7 that is larger than about 70% of similar areas. This helps support an overall advantage score that is larger than about 70% of other areas, despite very low access to money and resources.
7
Higher than 64% 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.
7
Higher 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.
972
Higher than 64% 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 10% since 2021, a rate that is much higher than most areas. This increase is well above the 3.4% seen across Other Territories.
1,889
Lower than 82% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
10.0%
Higher than 88% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
New building activity is very low, with only one dwelling approved, a figure that is smaller than about 87% of similar areas.
1
Lower than 93% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Christmas Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA51710/christmas-island/topic/economy-advantage
