Whyalla · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 868 for overall advantage puts Whyalla among the least advantaged areas in the country. This reveals a significant gap between the city and the rest of the nation, particularly in access to money and education. The area is currently struggling to grow, with a shrinking population.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Whyalla — lower than 99% of areas.
| Whyalla | 1 |
|---|---|
| 5608, SA | 1 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Resources and job skills are both rated at the lowest possible level, falling behind about 90% of similar areas. This reflects a high level of disadvantage across the board compared to other parts of Australia.
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.
868
Lower than 93% 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 of 21,641 has fallen by 1.0% since 2021. This is well below the South Australian growth rate of 5.6%, making Whyalla's decline one of the lowest in its category.
21,641
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.0%
Lower than 93% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 678 businesses operating in the area, which is a smaller number than about 63% of similar areas.
678
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Whyalla [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/406011136/whyalla/topic/economy-advantage
