Balonne · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 3 for overall advantage puts Balonne among the least advantaged areas compared to similar regions. Most residents face challenges with access to money, resources, and job skills. This economic struggle is mirrored by a shrinking population, with 4,350 people now living in the area.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Balonne — lower than 71% of areas.
| Balonne | 3 |
|---|---|
| 4486, QLD | 2 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks low for advantage, with an overall score of 929, which is smaller than about 79% of similar areas. This is reflected in low scores for both education and access to money, which are smaller than about 70% to 80% of 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.
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.
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.
929
Lower than 78% 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.
Population growth has fallen to -0.6% since 2021, a figure that is among the lowest for this level and well below the Queensland rate of 8.7%.
4,350
Lower than 84% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.6%
Lower than 91% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 944 businesses operating in the area, which is a larger number than about 52% of similar regions.
944
Higher than 52% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Balonne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/307011171/balonne/topic/economy-advantage
