Sunshine Beach · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
An overall advantage score of 1,055 puts Sunshine Beach in a stronger position than about 73% of similar areas. Residents here generally have more money, resources, and higher education levels than most people across the country.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Sunshine Beach — higher than 71% of areas.
| Sunshine Beach | 8 |
|---|---|
| 4567, QLD | 9 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks highly for socio-economic advantage, scoring 8 out of 10. This means it is more advantaged than about 80% of similar areas in terms of job skills and access to resources.
8
Higher 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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
8
Higher 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.
1,055
Higher than 73% 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 8.6% since 2021, a rate much higher than most areas and about the same as the Queensland figure of 8.7%. There are now 7,524 people living here.
7,524
Lower than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
8.6%
Higher than 75% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 989 businesses operating in the area, which is more than about 55% of similar places.
989
Higher than 55% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Sunshine Beach [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051437/sunshine-beach/topic/economy-advantage
