Shark Bay · 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 11.7% defines recent life in Shark Bay, where the community is growing at a rate similar to the rest of Western Australia. While the area has a modest overall advantage score of 942, it faces challenges with limited access to money and professional skills.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Shark Bay — lower than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents have lower access to money and job skills than about 70% to 80% of similar areas. Despite this, the overall advantage score of 942 is larger than about half of all areas across the country.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
942
Lower than 59% 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 reached 1,194 people, which is smaller than about 85% of similar areas. This growth has been strong, rising by 11.7% since 2021, slightly above the state figure of 10.7%.
1,194
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
11.7%
Higher than 90% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Local commerce is small with only 97 businesses, a count smaller than about 90% of similar areas. Only 9 new dwellings were approved, which is lower than about 72% of comparable places.
97
Lower than 91% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
9
Lower than 73% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Shark Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA57770/shark-bay/topic/economy-advantage
