Central Highlands - East · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A slow increase in population has marked Central Highlands - East since 2021, though the area remains economically challenged. With a total population of 7,647 people, it faces significant gaps in wealth and education compared to most of the country.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Central Highlands - East — lower than 99% of areas.
| Central Highlands - East | 1 |
|---|---|
| 4702, QLD | 3 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is among the most disadvantaged in the nation, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. This reflects a deep lack of access to money, resources, and job skills, which are all much lower than in about 90% of similar areas.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
891
Lower than 89% 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 grew by 4.7% since 2021, a figure that sits around the middle for its level. However, this growth is well below the Queensland rate of 8.7%.
7,647
Lower than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
4.7%
Higher than 51% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 607 businesses operating in the region, which is a smaller number than about 68% of similar areas.
607
Lower than 68% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Central Highlands - East [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/308011190/central-highlands-east/topic/economy-advantage
