Karratha · 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 8.6% since 2021 highlights the recent growth of Karratha. The area is now highly advantaged, with a typical resident having much better access to money and resources than people in about 90% of similar regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Karratha — higher than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Karratha is among the least disadvantaged areas in the country, scoring a 10 out of 10. This high overall advantage is driven by a strong score for money and resources, which is higher than about 90% of similar places.
9
Higher 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.
10
Higher 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.
9
Higher 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.
6
Higher than 57% 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.
1,035
Higher 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 has grown by 8.6% since 2021, a rate that is much higher than most areas, though a little below the Western Australian figure of 10.7%.
25,429
Higher than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
8.6%
Higher than 84% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,329 businesses operating in the area, which is more than about half of similar regions. Recently, 60 new dwellings were approved, also outperforming about 55% of similar areas.
1,329
Lower than 51% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
60
Higher than 52% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Karratha [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA54310/karratha/topic/economy-advantage
