Lismore · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population drop of over 10% since 2021 marks a sharp decline for Lismore, which has seen far less growth than the rest of New South Wales. The area faces significant challenges, with an overall advantage score of 904 that is lower than about 87% of similar regions.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Lismore — lower than 86% of areas.
| Lismore | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2480, NSW | 4 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Lismore struggles with a lack of resources, scoring just 1 out of 10 for access to money and resources. This is smaller than about 90% of similar areas and is mirrored by low scores for education and job skills.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
904
Lower than 87% 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 fallen by 10.3% since 2021, a trend that is among the lowest for similar areas and far below the 6.1% growth seen across New South Wales.
13,679
Higher than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-10.3%
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Despite these economic challenges, Lismore remains a regional hub with 1,518 businesses, which is more than about 77% of similar areas.
1,518
Higher than 76% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Lismore [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/112021248/lismore/topic/economy-advantage
