Socio-Economic Indexes
SEIFA – disadvantage
About this topic
SEIFA (Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas) ranks Australian areas by relative advantage and disadvantage using Census data. The ABS constructs each index from a weighted combination of variables including household income, educational attainment, employment status, occupation skill level, and housing conditions.
Scores are relative, not absolute - they show how an area compares to all other areas in Australia, not whether residents are "poor" or "wealthy" in dollar terms. A score of 1000 represents the national average. Areas scoring below 1000 have relatively greater disadvantage; areas above have relatively less.
IRSD measures disadvantage only - it identifies areas where residents have fewer economic and social resources, but cannot distinguish between advantaged and average areas. IRSAD captures both ends of the spectrum, incorporating indicators of advantage such as high income and tertiary qualifications alongside disadvantage indicators.
SEIFA scores are widely used in grant applications, needs assessments, and service planning to identify areas requiring targeted investment or support.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, Alexandrina (DC)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 987.8, placing it in the 57th percentile nationally. Within Alexandrina (DC), scores ranged from Milang to Highland Valley.
View
987.8
Alexandrina (DC) IRSD score
57th percentile nationally
1076.1
Highest local score
Highland Valley
892.4
Lowest local score
Milang
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across South Australia LGAs
Compare the selected index across South Australia LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Burnside (C)
1082.7
Adelaide Hills (DC)
1081.3
Walkerville (M)
1075.5
Mitcham (C)
1074.9
Unley (C)
1067.2
Prospect (C)
1054.1
Roxby Downs (M)
1047.7
Holdfast Bay (C)
1046.9
Norwood Payneham St Peters (C)
1038.5
Mount Barker (DC)
1037
Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC)
1032.7
Tea Tree Gully (C)
1030.4
Light (RegC)
1027
Grant (DC)
1025.7
Robe (DC)
1022.9
Campbelltown (C) (SA)
1021.4
Kimba (DC)
1019.6
West Torrens (C)
1015
Barossa (DC)
1014.3
Wudinna (DC)
1009.3
Marion (C)
1008
Orroroo/Carrieton (DC)
1005.9
Adelaide (C)
1002.2
Charles Sturt (C)
1000.7
Streaky Bay (DC)
1000.3
Clare and Gilbert Valleys (DC)
997.6
Southern Mallee (DC)
996.8
Tumby Bay (DC)
993.5
Kangaroo Island (DC)
991.5
Cleve (DC)
989.4
Adelaide Plains
987.9
Alexandrina (DC)
987.8
Onkaparinga (C)
987.5
Tatiara (DC)
981.6
Northern Areas (DC)
979.2
Yankalilla (DC)
977.8
Naracoorte and Lucindale (DC)
977.6
Kingston (DC) (SA)
976.9
Mount Remarkable (DC)
974.2
Victor Harbor (C)
962.3
Gawler (T)
960.1
Franklin Harbour (DC)
959
Elliston (DC)
959
Loxton Waikerie (DC)
957.8
Karoonda East Murray (DC)
956.5
Port Adelaide Enfield (C)
952.6
Yorke Peninsula (DC)
951.6
Barunga West (DC)
950.1
Port Lincoln (C)
948.2
Goyder (DC)
946.6
Ceduna (DC)
943.2
Wattle Range (DC)
941.7
The Coorong (DC)
938.6
Flinders Ranges (DC)
933
Mount Gambier (C)
924.1
Copper Coast (DC)
923.7
Renmark Paringa (DC)
922.6
Wakefield (DC)
921
Mid Murray (DC)
914.5
Berri and Barmera (DC)
906.9
Unincorporated SA
904.8
Salisbury (C)
903.7
Murray Bridge (RC)
891
Port Pirie City and Dists (M)
889.4
Port Augusta (C)
888.6
Whyalla (C)
883
Coober Pedy (DC)
868.3
Playford (C)
852.4
Peterborough (DC)
773.1
Maralinga Tjarutja (AC)
643.9
Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC)
496.3
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across South Australia LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Burnside (C) | 1082.7 | 97 |
| Adelaide Hills (DC) | 1081.3 | 96 |
| Walkerville (M) | 1075.5 | 95 |
| Mitcham (C) | 1074.9 | 95 |
| Unley (C) | 1067.2 | 94 |
| Prospect (C) | 1054.1 | 91 |
| Roxby Downs (M) | 1047.7 | 90 |
| Holdfast Bay (C) | 1046.9 | 90 |
| Norwood Payneham St Peters (C) | 1038.5 | 86 |
| Mount Barker (DC) | 1037 | 85 |
| Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC) | 1032.7 | 85 |
| Tea Tree Gully (C) | 1030.4 | 84 |
| Light (RegC) | 1027 | 81 |
| Grant (DC) | 1025.7 | 80 |
| Robe (DC) | 1022.9 | 79 |
| Campbelltown (C) (SA) | 1021.4 | 78 |
| Kimba (DC) | 1019.6 | 77 |
| West Torrens (C) | 1015 | 75 |
| Barossa (DC) | 1014.3 | 75 |
| Wudinna (DC) | 1009.3 | 73 |
| Marion (C) | 1008 | 72 |
| Orroroo/Carrieton (DC) | 1005.9 | 71 |
| Adelaide (C) | 1002.2 | 68 |
| Charles Sturt (C) | 1000.7 | 67 |
| Streaky Bay (DC) | 1000.3 | 67 |
| Clare and Gilbert Valleys (DC) | 997.6 | 65 |
| Southern Mallee (DC) | 996.8 | 65 |
| Tumby Bay (DC) | 993.5 | 62 |
| Kangaroo Island (DC) | 991.5 | 61 |
| Cleve (DC) | 989.4 | 58 |
| Adelaide Plains | 987.9 | 57 |
| Alexandrina (DC) | 987.8 | 57 |
| Onkaparinga (C) | 987.5 | 57 |
| Tatiara (DC) | 981.6 | 53 |
| Northern Areas (DC) | 979.2 | 51 |
| Yankalilla (DC) | 977.8 | 50 |
| Naracoorte and Lucindale (DC) | 977.6 | 49 |
| Kingston (DC) (SA) | 976.9 | 49 |
| Mount Remarkable (DC) | 974.2 | 47 |
| Victor Harbor (C) | 962.3 | 38 |
| Gawler (T) | 960.1 | 37 |
| Franklin Harbour (DC) | 959 | 36 |
| Elliston (DC) | 959 | 36 |
| Loxton Waikerie (DC) | 957.8 | 35 |
| Karoonda East Murray (DC) | 956.5 | 34 |
| Port Adelaide Enfield (C) | 952.6 | 32 |
| Yorke Peninsula (DC) | 951.6 | 31 |
| Barunga West (DC) | 950.1 | 30 |
| Port Lincoln (C) | 948.2 | 29 |
| Goyder (DC) | 946.6 | 28 |
| Ceduna (DC) | 943.2 | 26 |
| Wattle Range (DC) | 941.7 | 26 |
| The Coorong (DC) | 938.6 | 23 |
| Flinders Ranges (DC) | 933 | 22 |
| Mount Gambier (C) | 924.1 | 19 |
| Copper Coast (DC) | 923.7 | 19 |
| Renmark Paringa (DC) | 922.6 | 18 |
| Wakefield (DC) | 921 | 18 |
| Mid Murray (DC) | 914.5 | 17 |
| Berri and Barmera (DC) | 906.9 | 14 |
| Unincorporated SA | 904.8 | 13 |
| Salisbury (C) | 903.7 | 13 |
| Murray Bridge (RC) | 891 | 11 |
| Port Pirie City and Dists (M) | 889.4 | 11 |
| Port Augusta (C) | 888.6 | 11 |
| Whyalla (C) | 883 | 10 |
| Coober Pedy (DC) | 868.3 | 9 |
| Playford (C) | 852.4 | 8 |
| Peterborough (DC) | 773.1 | 7 |
| Maralinga Tjarutja (AC) | 643.9 | 5 |
| Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC) | 496.3 | 1 |
Chart view
Variation within Alexandrina (DC)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Highland Valley
1076.1
Percentile 88
Red Creek
1076.1
Percentile 88
Gemmells
1075.4
Percentile 88
Paris Creek (part)
1069
Percentile 85
Bletchley
1068.6
Percentile 85
Hartley (SA)
1068.6
Percentile 85
Woodchester
1068.6
Percentile 85
Angas Plains
1068.1
Percentile 84
Lake Plains
1068.1
Percentile 84
Tolderol
1068.1
Percentile 84
Hope Forest
1060.7
Percentile 80
Pages Flat
1060.7
Percentile 80
Willunga Hill
1060.7
Percentile 80
Kuitpo (part)
1051.2
Percentile 73
Langhorne Creek
1040.6
Percentile 67
Finniss
1039.3
Percentile 66
Nurragi
1039.3
Percentile 66
Sandergrove
1039.3
Percentile 66
Mount Jagged (part)
1038.1
Percentile 65
Belvidere
1037.9
Percentile 65
Mosquito Hill
1037.8
Percentile 65
Tooperang
1037.8
Percentile 65
Nangkita
1035.1
Percentile 63
Yundi
1035.1
Percentile 63
Middleton (SA)
1032.4
Percentile 61
Ashbourne (SA)
1031.5
Percentile 61
Mount Magnificent
1031.5
Percentile 61
Mount Observation (SA)
1031.5
Percentile 61
Blackfellows Creek
1030.6
Percentile 60
Dingabledinga
1030.6
Percentile 60
Kuitpo Colony
1030.6
Percentile 60
Kyeema
1030.6
Percentile 60
McHarg Creek
1030.6
Percentile 60
Montarra
1030.6
Percentile 60
Willyaroo
1027.2
Percentile 58
Currency Creek
1023
Percentile 55
Chiton
1018.1
Percentile 52
Mount Compass (part)
1016.6
Percentile 51
Strathalbyn (SA)
990.4
Percentile 36
Port Elliot
988
Percentile 35
Hindmarsh Island
987.3
Percentile 35
Point Sturt
978.8
Percentile 31
Goolwa North
969.7
Percentile 27
Goolwa Beach
952.7
Percentile 20
Clayton Bay
942.2
Percentile 17
Goolwa South
936.5
Percentile 16
Goolwa
916
Percentile 12
Milang
892.4
Percentile 8
Data table
Variation within Alexandrina (DC) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Highland Valley | 1076.1 | 88 |
| Red Creek | 1076.1 | 88 |
| Gemmells | 1075.4 | 88 |
| Paris Creek (part) | 1069 | 85 |
| Bletchley | 1068.6 | 85 |
| Hartley (SA) | 1068.6 | 85 |
| Woodchester | 1068.6 | 85 |
| Angas Plains | 1068.1 | 84 |
| Lake Plains | 1068.1 | 84 |
| Tolderol | 1068.1 | 84 |
| Hope Forest | 1060.7 | 80 |
| Pages Flat | 1060.7 | 80 |
| Willunga Hill | 1060.7 | 80 |
| Kuitpo (part) | 1051.2 | 73 |
| Langhorne Creek | 1040.6 | 67 |
| Finniss | 1039.3 | 66 |
| Nurragi | 1039.3 | 66 |
| Sandergrove | 1039.3 | 66 |
| Mount Jagged (part) | 1038.1 | 65 |
| Belvidere | 1037.9 | 65 |
| Mosquito Hill | 1037.8 | 65 |
| Tooperang | 1037.8 | 65 |
| Nangkita | 1035.1 | 63 |
| Yundi | 1035.1 | 63 |
| Middleton (SA) | 1032.4 | 61 |
| Ashbourne (SA) | 1031.5 | 61 |
| Mount Magnificent | 1031.5 | 61 |
| Mount Observation (SA) | 1031.5 | 61 |
| Blackfellows Creek | 1030.6 | 60 |
| Dingabledinga | 1030.6 | 60 |
| Kuitpo Colony | 1030.6 | 60 |
| Kyeema | 1030.6 | 60 |
| McHarg Creek | 1030.6 | 60 |
| Montarra | 1030.6 | 60 |
| Willyaroo | 1027.2 | 58 |
| Currency Creek | 1023 | 55 |
| Chiton | 1018.1 | 52 |
| Mount Compass (part) | 1016.6 | 51 |
| Strathalbyn (SA) | 990.4 | 36 |
| Port Elliot | 988 | 35 |
| Hindmarsh Island | 987.3 | 35 |
| Point Sturt | 978.8 | 31 |
| Goolwa North | 969.7 | 27 |
| Goolwa Beach | 952.7 | 20 |
| Clayton Bay | 942.2 | 17 |
| Goolwa South | 936.5 | 16 |
| Goolwa | 916 | 12 |
| Milang | 892.4 | 8 |