Ballina · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A strong business presence defines Ballina, where 1,760 companies operate. However, the area faces some challenges with access to money and resources, and it has seen much slower growth recently compared to the rest of the state.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Ballina — lower than 64% of areas.
| Ballina | 4 |
|---|---|
| 2478, NSW | 6 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Overall advantage in Ballina is lower than in about 60% of similar areas, with a score of 953. This reflects lower levels of education and job skills compared to most other regions.
4
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
4
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
3
Lower than 71% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
4
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
953
Lower than 69% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 grown by 1.2% since 2021, which is well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%. Despite this slow recent climb, the total population of 18,813 remains larger than about 85% of similar areas.
18,813
Higher than 84% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.2%
Lower than 80% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Ballina is a major local hub for commerce, with 1,760 businesses. This is a larger number of enterprises than about 83% of similar areas.
1,760
Higher than 83% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Ballina [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/112011236/ballina/topic/economy-advantage
