Mackay · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A low overall advantage score of 906 marks Mackay as an area where many residents struggle compared to the rest of the country. The region faces significant hurdles with limited access to money and resources, placing it behind the vast majority of other areas.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Mackay — lower than 86% of areas.
| Mackay | 2 |
|---|---|
| 4740, QLD | 5 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Most people here have limited access to money and resources, with a score of 1 out of 10. This is reflected in a low overall advantage score that is smaller than about 87% 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.
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.
906
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.
Population growth since 2021 has been 1.8%, which is lower than most areas and well below the Queensland figure of 8.7%.
4,154
Lower than 85% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.8%
Lower than 74% 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 hub for trade with 1,198 businesses, which is larger than about 66% of similar areas.
1,198
Higher than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/312021346/mackay/topic/economy-advantage
