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, Northern Areas (DC)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 979.2, placing it in the 51st percentile nationally. Within Northern Areas (DC), scores ranged from Gladstone (SA) to Belalie East.
View
979.2
Northern Areas (DC) IRSD score
51st percentile nationally
1082.1
Highest local score
Belalie East
888.2
Lowest local score
Gladstone (SA)
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 Northern Areas (DC)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Belalie East
1082.1
Percentile 91
Belalie North
1082.1
Percentile 91
Bundaleer North
1082.1
Percentile 91
Caltowie
1069.6
Percentile 85
Caltowie North
1069.6
Percentile 85
Caltowie West
1069.6
Percentile 85
Stone Hut (part)
1062
Percentile 80
Beetaloo Valley
1060
Percentile 79
Hornsdale
1049.4
Percentile 72
Mannanarie
1049.4
Percentile 72
Tarcowie (part)
1049.4
Percentile 72
Yatina (part)
1049.4
Percentile 72
Bundaleer Gardens
1014.6
Percentile 50
Huddleston
1014.6
Percentile 50
West Bundaleer
1014.6
Percentile 50
Andrews
1006.1
Percentile 45
Euromina
1006.1
Percentile 45
Hacklins Corner
1006.1
Percentile 45
Mayfield (SA)
1006.1
Percentile 45
Washpool (SA)
1006.1
Percentile 45
Georgetown (SA)
1003
Percentile 43
Narridy
1003
Percentile 43
Jamestown
997.1
Percentile 40
Laura (SA)
974.9
Percentile 29
Gulnare
959.2
Percentile 22
Yacka
959.2
Percentile 22
Spalding (SA)
917.9
Percentile 12
Gladstone (SA)
888.2
Percentile 8
Data table
Variation within Northern Areas (DC) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Belalie East | 1082.1 | 91 |
| Belalie North | 1082.1 | 91 |
| Bundaleer North | 1082.1 | 91 |
| Caltowie | 1069.6 | 85 |
| Caltowie North | 1069.6 | 85 |
| Caltowie West | 1069.6 | 85 |
| Stone Hut (part) | 1062 | 80 |
| Beetaloo Valley | 1060 | 79 |
| Hornsdale | 1049.4 | 72 |
| Mannanarie | 1049.4 | 72 |
| Tarcowie (part) | 1049.4 | 72 |
| Yatina (part) | 1049.4 | 72 |
| Bundaleer Gardens | 1014.6 | 50 |
| Huddleston | 1014.6 | 50 |
| West Bundaleer | 1014.6 | 50 |
| Andrews | 1006.1 | 45 |
| Euromina | 1006.1 | 45 |
| Hacklins Corner | 1006.1 | 45 |
| Mayfield (SA) | 1006.1 | 45 |
| Washpool (SA) | 1006.1 | 45 |
| Georgetown (SA) | 1003 | 43 |
| Narridy | 1003 | 43 |
| Jamestown | 997.1 | 40 |
| Laura (SA) | 974.9 | 29 |
| Gulnare | 959.2 | 22 |
| Yacka | 959.2 | 22 |
| Spalding (SA) | 917.9 | 12 |
| Gladstone (SA) | 888.2 | 8 |