Burnie · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Low scores for money, education and job skills define the economic landscape in Burnie. The area's overall advantage score is 895, which is smaller than about 86% of similar areas. This puts the city in a position of disadvantage compared to most other parts of the country.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Burnie — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents face challenges with access to resources and education, with both areas scoring 2 out of 10. This is smaller than about 80% of areas at this level, reflecting a broad gap in socio-economic advantage.
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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
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.
895
Lower 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 reached 20,420 people, though growth since 2021 has been a tiny 0.1%. This is much lower than most areas and a little below the Tasmanian figure of 1.6%.
20,420
Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.1%
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,252 businesses operating in the area, which is smaller than about 51% of similar places. Similarly, the 39 approved dwellings are fewer than in about 53% of comparable areas.
1,252
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
39
Lower than 55% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Burnie [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA60610/burnie/topic/economy-advantage
