Punchbowl · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A modest 3.5% population growth since 2021 shows a steady pace for Punchbowl, though it remains an area with significant challenges. It is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country, with a typical advantage score of 909 that is much lower than the national average.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Punchbowl — lower than 86% of areas.
| Punchbowl | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2196, NSW | 3 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Very few residents have high levels of access to money and resources, with an overall advantage score that is smaller than about 86% of other areas. This is mirrored by low scores for education and job skills, which are smaller than about 60% of similar areas.
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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
909
Lower than 86% 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 3.5% since 2021, a figure that is around the middle for its level but a little below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%. This brings the total population to 22,463 people.
22,463
Higher than 88% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
3.5%
Lower than 59% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Punchbowl is home to 3,076 businesses, making it one of the largest areas at this level for the number of business operations.
3,076
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Punchbowl [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/119021366/punchbowl/topic/economy-advantage
