Cocos Islands · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A significant gap in overall advantage separates the Cocos Islands from most of Australia, with an advantage score of 903. The area faces considerable challenges, ranking among the most disadvantaged across the country. This is reflected in a lack of formal education and job skills compared to other regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Cocos Islands — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Overall advantage and disadvantage scores are both very low, with the area ranking as smaller than about 80% to 90% of similar places. While access to money and resources is higher than about half of similar areas, education and job skills levels are much lower.
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.
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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
903
Lower than 82% 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 is small at 626 people. Since 2021, it has grown by 3.8%, which is about the same as the 3.4% growth seen across Other Territories.
626
Lower than 93% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
3.8%
Higher than 52% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Economic activity is very limited with only three businesses operating here. There have been no new dwellings approved, a figure smaller than about 90% of similar areas.
3
Lower than 99% 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 Cocos Islands [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA51860/cocos-islands/topic/economy-advantage
