Launceston · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A small population dip of 0.6% since 2021 marks a recent shift in Launceston's growth. While the city remains a major hub with over 6,000 businesses, its overall advantage score of 926 is lower than about 70% of other areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Launceston — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The city's overall advantage is lower than about 70% of similar areas, with a particular gap in access to money and resources, which is smaller than about 80% of other places.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
5
Lower 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.
926
Lower than 71% 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.
Launceston's population of 71,341 is larger than about 81% of similar areas, though recent growth has fallen to -0.6%, which is a little below the Tasmanian figure of 1.6%.
71,341
Higher than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.6%
Lower than 89% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Economic activity remains strong with 6,104 businesses, a count larger than about 79% of similar areas. This is mirrored in the building sector, where the 241 approved dwellings are more than about 73% of similar areas.
6,104
Higher than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
241
Higher than 72% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Launceston [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA64010/launceston/topic/economy-advantage
