Cape York · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population increase of 6.5% since 2021 shows Cape York is growing faster than most similar areas. However, it remains one of the most disadvantaged regions in the country. The area faces significant hurdles with very limited access to money, resources, and education.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Cape York — lower than 99% of areas.
| Cape York | 1 |
|---|---|
| 4892, QLD | 1 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Cape York scores a 1 out of 10 for overall advantage, placing it among the smallest at this level. This reflects a severe lack of resources, with both job skills and access to money ranking lower than 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.
834
Lower than 99% 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 6.5% since 2021, which is higher than most areas. This is a little below the Queensland growth rate of 8.7%.
8,515
Lower than 60% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
6.5%
Higher than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 470 businesses in the area, which is smaller than about 76% of similar regions.
470
Lower than 77% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Cape York [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315011396/cape-york/topic/economy-advantage
