Mount Isa · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Few areas like Mount Isa face as many challenges with access to resources and skills. While it is a significant regional hub with over 18,000 people, the community currently ranks lower than most similar areas for overall advantage.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Mount Isa — lower than 64% of areas.
| Mount Isa | 4 |
|---|---|
| 4825 crosses QLD/NT | 4 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The typical resident has less access to money and resources than about 80% of similar areas. This is reflected in an overall advantage score of 956, which is lower than the national figure.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
956
Lower than 68% 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.
Mount Isa has seen a population drop of 3.4% since 2021, a trend that is far below the Queensland growth rate of 8.7%.
18,162
Higher than 82% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-3.4%
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
The area is home to 978 businesses, which is more than about 54% of similar areas.
978
Higher than 54% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Mount Isa [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315021405/mount-isa/topic/economy-advantage
