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, Coomalie (S)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 909, placing it in the 15th percentile nationally. Within Coomalie (S), scores ranged from Batchelor to Coomalie Creek.
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909
Coomalie (S) IRSD score
15th percentile nationally
978.8
Highest local score
Coomalie Creek
801.6
Lowest local score
Batchelor
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Northern Territory LGAs
Compare the selected index across Northern Territory LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Darwin Waterfront Precinct
1116.7
Unincorporated NT
1043.7
Litchfield (M)
1030.2
Darwin (C)
1026.9
Palmerston (C)
1009.3
Alice Springs (T)
994
Wagait (S)
984.7
Katherine (T)
961.1
Coomalie (S)
909
Barkly (R)
669.6
Victoria Daly (R)
589.9
MacDonnell (R)
565.7
Tiwi Islands (R)
563.9
Roper Gulf (R)
534
West Arnhem (R)
530.4
Central Desert (R)
523.5
East Arnhem (R)
485.6
Belyuen (S)
471.2
West Daly (R)
439.5
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Northern Territory LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Darwin Waterfront Precinct | 1116.7 | 100 |
| Unincorporated NT | 1043.7 | 88 |
| Litchfield (M) | 1030.2 | 84 |
| Darwin (C) | 1026.9 | 81 |
| Palmerston (C) | 1009.3 | 73 |
| Alice Springs (T) | 994 | 63 |
| Wagait (S) | 984.7 | 54 |
| Katherine (T) | 961.1 | 37 |
| Coomalie (S) | 909 | 15 |
| Barkly (R) | 669.6 | 6 |
| Victoria Daly (R) | 589.9 | 5 |
| MacDonnell (R) | 565.7 | 4 |
| Tiwi Islands (R) | 563.9 | 4 |
| Roper Gulf (R) | 534 | 3 |
| West Arnhem (R) | 530.4 | 3 |
| Central Desert (R) | 523.5 | 3 |
| East Arnhem (R) | 485.6 | 1 |
| Belyuen (S) | 471.2 | 1 |
| West Daly (R) | 439.5 | 1 |
Chart view
Variation within Coomalie (S)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Coomalie Creek
978.8
Percentile 31
Eva Valley
978.8
Percentile 31
Finniss Valley
978.8
Percentile 31
Lake Bennett
978.8
Percentile 31
Rum Jungle
978.8
Percentile 31
Stapleton
978.8
Percentile 31
Tortilla Flats
978.8
Percentile 31
Robin Falls
940.8
Percentile 17
Adelaide River
925.8
Percentile 13
Batchelor
801.6
Percentile 3
Data table
Variation within Coomalie (S) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Coomalie Creek | 978.8 | 31 |
| Eva Valley | 978.8 | 31 |
| Finniss Valley | 978.8 | 31 |
| Lake Bennett | 978.8 | 31 |
| Rum Jungle | 978.8 | 31 |
| Stapleton | 978.8 | 31 |
| Tortilla Flats | 978.8 | 31 |
| Robin Falls | 940.8 | 17 |
| Adelaide River | 925.8 | 13 |
| Batchelor | 801.6 | 3 |