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, Burdekin (S)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 965.8, placing it in the 42nd percentile nationally. Within Burdekin (S), scores ranged from Giru to Colevale.
View
965.8
Burdekin (S) IRSD score
42nd percentile nationally
1081.1
Highest local score
Colevale
899.1
Lowest local score
Giru
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Queensland LGAs
Compare the selected index across Queensland LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Weipa (T)
1058.1
Brisbane (C)
1045.2
Noosa (S)
1029.5
Redland (C)
1023.9
Sunshine Coast (R)
1021.7
Gold Coast (C)
1018.6
McKinlay (S)
1014
Isaac (R)
1012
Richmond (S)
1009.2
Livingstone (S)
1004.8
Longreach (R)
1002.7
Barcaldine (R)
1002.1
Mackay (R)
999.3
Quilpie (S)
997.9
Central Highlands (R) (Qld)
995.7
Maranoa (R)
995.2
Winton (S)
993.3
Moreton Bay (R)
991.8
Banana (S)
991.6
Townsville (C)
989.6
Bulloo (S)
989.6
Barcoo (S)
987.9
Scenic Rim (R)
985.8
Etheridge (S)
982.4
Cairns (R)
981.1
Toowoomba (R)
979.4
Douglas (S)
978.9
Mount Isa (C)
971.9
Flinders (S) (Qld)
970.1
Whitsunday (R)
969.4
Burdekin (S)
965.8
Cloncurry (S)
965.1
Goondiwindi (R)
965
Blackall-Tambo (R)
961.1
Ipswich (C)
957.9
Tablelands (R)
955.3
Gladstone (R)
954.1
Hinchinbrook (S)
953.7
Diamantina (S)
951.8
Rockhampton (R)
948.8
Murweh (S)
948.4
Lockyer Valley (R)
948
Western Downs (R)
946
Logan (C)
944
Somerset (R)
943.9
Balonne (S)
943.5
Burke (S)
941.3
Southern Downs (R)
938.9
Mareeba (S)
937.4
Charters Towers (R)
933.3
Gympie (R)
930.5
Cassowary Coast (R)
929.4
Bundaberg (R)
924.5
Fraser Coast (R)
914.8
Cook (S)
913
South Burnett (R)
907
Torres (S)
904.3
North Burnett (R)
902.5
Boulia (S)
877.5
Croydon (S)
875.5
Paroo (S)
865.7
Carpentaria (S)
850.8
Northern Peninsula Area (R)
702.1
Torres Strait Island (R)
649.5
Hope Vale (S)
630.8
Napranum (S)
623.2
Lockhart River (S)
621.6
Mornington (S)
609
Palm Island (S)
566.9
Mapoon (S)
566.8
Pormpuraaw (S)
547.2
Doomadgee (S)
533.8
Kowanyama (S)
528.1
Yarrabah (S)
512.5
Wujal Wujal (S)
510.3
Aurukun (S)
501.5
Cherbourg (S)
498.1
Woorabinda (S)
492.5
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Queensland LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Weipa (T) | 1058.1 | 92 |
| Brisbane (C) | 1045.2 | 89 |
| Noosa (S) | 1029.5 | 83 |
| Redland (C) | 1023.9 | 80 |
| Sunshine Coast (R) | 1021.7 | 78 |
| Gold Coast (C) | 1018.6 | 77 |
| McKinlay (S) | 1014 | 75 |
| Isaac (R) | 1012 | 74 |
| Richmond (S) | 1009.2 | 73 |
| Livingstone (S) | 1004.8 | 70 |
| Longreach (R) | 1002.7 | 69 |
| Barcaldine (R) | 1002.1 | 68 |
| Mackay (R) | 999.3 | 67 |
| Quilpie (S) | 997.9 | 66 |
| Central Highlands (R) (Qld) | 995.7 | 64 |
| Maranoa (R) | 995.2 | 64 |
| Winton (S) | 993.3 | 62 |
| Moreton Bay (R) | 991.8 | 61 |
| Banana (S) | 991.6 | 61 |
| Townsville (C) | 989.6 | 59 |
| Bulloo (S) | 989.6 | 59 |
| Barcoo (S) | 987.9 | 57 |
| Scenic Rim (R) | 985.8 | 55 |
| Etheridge (S) | 982.4 | 53 |
| Cairns (R) | 981.1 | 52 |
| Toowoomba (R) | 979.4 | 51 |
| Douglas (S) | 978.9 | 51 |
| Mount Isa (C) | 971.9 | 45 |
| Flinders (S) (Qld) | 970.1 | 44 |
| Whitsunday (R) | 969.4 | 44 |
| Burdekin (S) | 965.8 | 42 |
| Cloncurry (S) | 965.1 | 41 |
| Goondiwindi (R) | 965 | 40 |
| Blackall-Tambo (R) | 961.1 | 38 |
| Ipswich (C) | 957.9 | 35 |
| Tablelands (R) | 955.3 | 34 |
| Gladstone (R) | 954.1 | 33 |
| Hinchinbrook (S) | 953.7 | 33 |
| Diamantina (S) | 951.8 | 31 |
| Rockhampton (R) | 948.8 | 30 |
| Murweh (S) | 948.4 | 29 |
| Lockyer Valley (R) | 948 | 29 |
| Western Downs (R) | 946 | 28 |
| Logan (C) | 944 | 27 |
| Somerset (R) | 943.9 | 27 |
| Balonne (S) | 943.5 | 26 |
| Burke (S) | 941.3 | 25 |
| Southern Downs (R) | 938.9 | 23 |
| Mareeba (S) | 937.4 | 23 |
| Charters Towers (R) | 933.3 | 22 |
| Gympie (R) | 930.5 | 21 |
| Cassowary Coast (R) | 929.4 | 21 |
| Bundaberg (R) | 924.5 | 19 |
| Fraser Coast (R) | 914.8 | 17 |
| Cook (S) | 913 | 16 |
| South Burnett (R) | 907 | 14 |
| Torres (S) | 904.3 | 13 |
| North Burnett (R) | 902.5 | 13 |
| Boulia (S) | 877.5 | 10 |
| Croydon (S) | 875.5 | 10 |
| Paroo (S) | 865.7 | 9 |
| Carpentaria (S) | 850.8 | 8 |
| Northern Peninsula Area (R) | 702.1 | 6 |
| Torres Strait Island (R) | 649.5 | 6 |
| Hope Vale (S) | 630.8 | 5 |
| Napranum (S) | 623.2 | 5 |
| Lockhart River (S) | 621.6 | 5 |
| Mornington (S) | 609 | 5 |
| Palm Island (S) | 566.9 | 4 |
| Mapoon (S) | 566.8 | 4 |
| Pormpuraaw (S) | 547.2 | 4 |
| Doomadgee (S) | 533.8 | 3 |
| Kowanyama (S) | 528.1 | 3 |
| Yarrabah (S) | 512.5 | 2 |
| Wujal Wujal (S) | 510.3 | 2 |
| Aurukun (S) | 501.5 | 2 |
| Cherbourg (S) | 498.1 | 2 |
| Woorabinda (S) | 492.5 | 1 |
Chart view
Variation within Burdekin (S)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Colevale
1081.1
Percentile 91
Mona Park
1076.9
Percentile 88
Mount Kelly
1076.9
Percentile 88
Airdmillan
1063.4
Percentile 81
McDesme
1039.6
Percentile 66
Kirknie
1038.7
Percentile 65
Osborne (Qld)
1038.7
Percentile 65
Airville
1037.2
Percentile 64
Jarvisfield
1036.3
Percentile 64
Rita Island
1036.3
Percentile 64
Dalbeg
1036.1
Percentile 64
Millaroo
1036.1
Percentile 64
Mulgrave (Qld)
1036.1
Percentile 64
Swans Lagoon
1036.1
Percentile 64
Carstairs
1035.4
Percentile 63
Groper Creek
1035.4
Percentile 63
Inkerman (Qld)
1035.4
Percentile 63
Clare (Qld)
1018.7
Percentile 53
Upper Haughton
1018.7
Percentile 53
Brandon
999.6
Percentile 42
Fredericksfield
978.7
Percentile 31
Wangaratta (Qld)
978.7
Percentile 31
Wunjunga
978.7
Percentile 31
Cromarty
969.3
Percentile 26
Mount Surround
969.3
Percentile 26
Shirbourne
969.3
Percentile 26
Barratta (Qld)
964
Percentile 24
Horseshoe Lagoon
964
Percentile 24
Jerona
964
Percentile 24
Alva
963.9
Percentile 24
Ayr
947.6
Percentile 19
Home Hill
943.4
Percentile 18
Giru
899.1
Percentile 9
Data table
Variation within Burdekin (S) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Colevale | 1081.1 | 91 |
| Mona Park | 1076.9 | 88 |
| Mount Kelly | 1076.9 | 88 |
| Airdmillan | 1063.4 | 81 |
| McDesme | 1039.6 | 66 |
| Kirknie | 1038.7 | 65 |
| Osborne (Qld) | 1038.7 | 65 |
| Airville | 1037.2 | 64 |
| Jarvisfield | 1036.3 | 64 |
| Rita Island | 1036.3 | 64 |
| Dalbeg | 1036.1 | 64 |
| Millaroo | 1036.1 | 64 |
| Mulgrave (Qld) | 1036.1 | 64 |
| Swans Lagoon | 1036.1 | 64 |
| Carstairs | 1035.4 | 63 |
| Groper Creek | 1035.4 | 63 |
| Inkerman (Qld) | 1035.4 | 63 |
| Clare (Qld) | 1018.7 | 53 |
| Upper Haughton | 1018.7 | 53 |
| Brandon | 999.6 | 42 |
| Fredericksfield | 978.7 | 31 |
| Wangaratta (Qld) | 978.7 | 31 |
| Wunjunga | 978.7 | 31 |
| Cromarty | 969.3 | 26 |
| Mount Surround | 969.3 | 26 |
| Shirbourne | 969.3 | 26 |
| Barratta (Qld) | 964 | 24 |
| Horseshoe Lagoon | 964 | 24 |
| Jerona | 964 | 24 |
| Alva | 963.9 | 24 |
| Ayr | 947.6 | 19 |
| Home Hill | 943.4 | 18 |
| Giru | 899.1 | 9 |