Hobart · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Among the most advantaged areas in the region, Hobart stands out as a hub of high education and professional skill. It ranks among the top 10% of areas nationwide for overall advantage, with a typical score of 1,062. This high level of overall advantage is driven by an exceptionally skilled workforce.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Hobart — higher than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Hobart is among the most educated and skilled areas in the country, scoring a perfect 10 for job skills. While its access to money and resources is smaller than about 60% of similar areas, it remains very low in terms of disadvantage.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
9
Higher 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
1,062
Higher than 89% 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 of 55,859 has seen a slight dip of 0.2% since 2021. This is much lower than most areas and sits a little below the Tasmania growth figure of 1.6%.
55,859
Higher than 74% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.2%
Lower than 87% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
With 6,940 businesses, Hobart is larger than about 82% of similar areas. There were also 121 new dwellings approved, which is more than about 63% of comparable places.
6,940
Higher than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
121
Higher than 62% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Hobart [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA62810/hobart/topic/economy-advantage
