West Coast · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 1 for overall advantage makes West Coast one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. This region struggles with very low access to money and a lack of job skills. Local population and business activity are also quite low.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is West Coast — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks among the smallest in the nation for overall advantage, with a score of 844. This is driven by very low levels of education and job skills, which are smaller than about 90% of similar areas.
1
Lower 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.
1
Lower 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.
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.
1
Lower 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.
844
Lower than 90% 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 shrunk by 1.1% since 2021. This is among the lowest growth rates for this area type and sits a little below the Tasmanian figure of 1.6%.
4,320
Lower than 70% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.1%
Lower than 91% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 188 businesses in the region, which is smaller than about 82% of similar areas. Growth is slow, with only one new dwelling approved, a figure smaller than about 87% of other areas.
188
Lower than 84% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
1
Lower than 93% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in West Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA65610/west-coast/topic/economy-advantage
