Wagga Wagga - West · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A significant gap in wealth and resources separates Wagga Wagga - West from the rest of the country. This area faces considerable hardship, with an overall advantage score of 926, which is lower than about 80% of similar regions across Australia.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Wagga Wagga - West — lower than 71% of areas.
| Wagga Wagga - West | 3 |
|---|---|
| 2650, NSW | 5 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents here have limited access to money and resources, scoring 1 out of 10. This lack of financial advantage is reflected in the overall score, which is much lower than most other areas.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
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.
926
Lower than 80% 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 3.6% since 2021, a trend that is among the lowest for similar areas and well below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.
11,596
Higher than 56% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-3.6%
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 the social challenges, the area is a significant hub for commerce, with 1,850 businesses, which is more than about 85% of similar areas.
1,850
Higher than 85% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Wagga Wagga - West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/113031270/wagga-wagga-west/topic/economy-advantage
