MacDonnell · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Among the lowest scoring areas for economic advantage, MacDonnell faces significant challenges with a typical advantage score of 727. This is among the smallest scores at this level, reflecting very limited access to money, resources, and job skills for residents.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is MacDonnell — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is among the most disadvantaged in the country, scoring just 1 out of 10 for education, job skills, and overall advantage. This puts it below 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
727
Lower than 98% 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 grew by 6.1% since 2021, which is higher than most areas and about the same as the Northern Territory figure of 6.6%.
6,978
Lower than 63% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
6.1%
Higher than 72% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 36 businesses operating here, which is among the smallest number for this level. However, 52 new dwellings were approved, a figure larger than about 53% of similar areas.
36
Lower than 97% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
52
Lower than 51% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in MacDonnell [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA72330/macdonnell/topic/economy-advantage
