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 Beaches (A)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1088.6, placing it in the 97th percentile nationally. Within Northern Beaches (A), scores ranged from Narraweena to Cottage Point.
View
1088.6
Northern Beaches (A) IRSD score
97th percentile nationally
1144.1
Highest local score
Cottage Point
1011.3
Lowest local score
Narraweena
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across New South Wales LGAs
Compare the selected index across New South Wales LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Woollahra (A)
1109.7
Mosman (A)
1109.5
Ku-ring-gai (A)
1108.1
Lane Cove (A)
1104.9
Hunters Hill (A)
1100.6
The Hills Shire (A)
1098.1
North Sydney (A)
1096
Waverley (A)
1092.2
Northern Beaches (A)
1088.6
Hornsby (A)
1082.2
Sutherland Shire (A)
1078.8
Willoughby (C)
1074.7
Kiama (A)
1070
Canada Bay (A)
1066.8
Yass Valley (A)
1065.3
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional (A)
1061.2
Randwick (C)
1059.1
Inner West (A)
1057
Ryde (C)
1055.2
Blue Mountains (C)
1048.2
Unincorporated NSW
1045.6
Wingecarribee (A)
1045.5
Camden (A)
1044.8
Wollondilly (A)
1041
Sydney (C)
1030.6
Parramatta (C)
1029.5
Hawkesbury (C)
1025.9
Cabonne (A)
1022.9
Upper Lachlan Shire (A)
1021.9
Byron (A)
1020.7
Snowy Monaro Regional (A)
1019.7
Ballina (A)
1015.1
Newcastle (C)
1012.1
Georges River (A)
1011.3
Strathfield (A)
1011
Dungog (A)
1008.9
Bayside (NSW)
1003.9
Lake Macquarie (C)
1003.7
Wollongong (C)
999.8
Greater Hume Shire (A)
999.3
Singleton (A)
998.1
Murray River (A)
997.9
Orange (C)
997.2
Central Coast (C) (NSW)
994.2
Bland (A)
992.6
Walcha (A)
992.5
Bathurst Regional (A)
991.5
Penrith (C)
991.3
Blayney (A)
991.2
Uralla (A)
989.9
Wagga Wagga (C)
989.4
Tweed (A)
988.7
Maitland (C)
988.5
Blacktown (C)
987.3
Bega Valley (A)
985.8
Dubbo Regional
985.5
Port Macquarie-Hastings (A)
985
Eurobodalla (A)
984.7
Coolamon (A)
983.3
Murrumbidgee (A)
983.2
Shellharbour (C)
982.9
Port Stephens (A)
982.1
Bellingen (A)
980.9
Armidale Regional
980.4
Shoalhaven (C)
979.5
Mid-Western Regional (A)
978.6
Oberon (A)
977.6
Burwood (A)
977.2
Lockhart (A)
976
Upper Hunter Shire (A)
974.8
Griffith (C)
974.2
Wentworth (A)
973.6
Carrathool (A)
973.1
Coffs Harbour (C)
972
Temora (A)
971.7
Goulburn Mulwaree (A)
971.7
Federation (A)
969.4
Forbes (A)
968.5
Albury (C)
967.9
Gunnedah (A)
966.7
Edward River (A)
966.5
Bogan (A)
965.9
Berrigan (A)
965.8
Lismore (C)
965.6
Cobar (A)
965.3
Narrabri (A)
963.9
Warren (A)
961.6
Tamworth Regional (A)
961.1
Weddin (A)
960.5
Balranald (A)
960.2
Narromine (A)
958.3
Gwydir (A)
956.6
Hay (A)
955.9
Hilltops (A)
954.3
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
952.9
Snowy Valleys (A)
952.5
Lachlan (A)
950.2
Leeton (A)
949.1
Campbelltown (C) (NSW)
947.5
Bourke (A)
946.7
Parkes (A)
945.8
Mid-Coast (A)
942.5
Moree Plains (A)
940.3
Clarence Valley (A)
940
Cessnock (C)
939.4
Muswellbrook (A)
937
Lithgow (C)
934.7
Junee (A)
933.9
Cowra (A)
931.8
Liverpool (C)
930.8
Gilgandra (A)
929.6
Narrandera (A)
929.1
Inverell
928.3
Warrumbungle Shire (A)
927.2
Liverpool Plains (A)
925.7
Richmond Valley (A)
923.6
Kyogle (A)
921.1
Tenterfield (A)
920.3
Nambucca (A)
920.3
Canterbury-Bankstown (A)
916.8
Broken Hill (C)
913.2
Glen Innes Severn (A)
906.1
Cumberland (A)
903.6
Kempsey (A)
903.3
Walgett (A)
887.7
Coonamble (A)
883.2
Central Darling (A)
826.7
Brewarrina (A)
817.9
Fairfield (C)
814
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across New South Wales LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Woollahra (A) | 1109.7 | 99 |
| Mosman (A) | 1109.5 | 99 |
| Ku-ring-gai (A) | 1108.1 | 99 |
| Lane Cove (A) | 1104.9 | 99 |
| Hunters Hill (A) | 1100.6 | 99 |
| The Hills Shire (A) | 1098.1 | 98 |
| North Sydney (A) | 1096 | 98 |
| Waverley (A) | 1092.2 | 98 |
| Northern Beaches (A) | 1088.6 | 97 |
| Hornsby (A) | 1082.2 | 96 |
| Sutherland Shire (A) | 1078.8 | 96 |
| Willoughby (C) | 1074.7 | 95 |
| Kiama (A) | 1070 | 94 |
| Canada Bay (A) | 1066.8 | 93 |
| Yass Valley (A) | 1065.3 | 93 |
| Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional (A) | 1061.2 | 92 |
| Randwick (C) | 1059.1 | 92 |
| Inner West (A) | 1057 | 92 |
| Ryde (C) | 1055.2 | 91 |
| Blue Mountains (C) | 1048.2 | 90 |
| Unincorporated NSW | 1045.6 | 89 |
| Wingecarribee (A) | 1045.5 | 89 |
| Camden (A) | 1044.8 | 89 |
| Wollondilly (A) | 1041 | 87 |
| Sydney (C) | 1030.6 | 84 |
| Parramatta (C) | 1029.5 | 83 |
| Hawkesbury (C) | 1025.9 | 80 |
| Cabonne (A) | 1022.9 | 79 |
| Upper Lachlan Shire (A) | 1021.9 | 78 |
| Byron (A) | 1020.7 | 78 |
| Snowy Monaro Regional (A) | 1019.7 | 77 |
| Ballina (A) | 1015.1 | 76 |
| Newcastle (C) | 1012.1 | 75 |
| Georges River (A) | 1011.3 | 74 |
| Strathfield (A) | 1011 | 74 |
| Dungog (A) | 1008.9 | 73 |
| Bayside (NSW) | 1003.9 | 70 |
| Lake Macquarie (C) | 1003.7 | 69 |
| Wollongong (C) | 999.8 | 67 |
| Greater Hume Shire (A) | 999.3 | 66 |
| Singleton (A) | 998.1 | 66 |
| Murray River (A) | 997.9 | 66 |
| Orange (C) | 997.2 | 65 |
| Central Coast (C) (NSW) | 994.2 | 63 |
| Bland (A) | 992.6 | 61 |
| Walcha (A) | 992.5 | 61 |
| Bathurst Regional (A) | 991.5 | 61 |
| Penrith (C) | 991.3 | 60 |
| Blayney (A) | 991.2 | 60 |
| Uralla (A) | 989.9 | 59 |
| Wagga Wagga (C) | 989.4 | 59 |
| Tweed (A) | 988.7 | 58 |
| Maitland (C) | 988.5 | 58 |
| Blacktown (C) | 987.3 | 56 |
| Bega Valley (A) | 985.8 | 56 |
| Dubbo Regional | 985.5 | 55 |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings (A) | 985 | 55 |
| Eurobodalla (A) | 984.7 | 54 |
| Coolamon (A) | 983.3 | 54 |
| Murrumbidgee (A) | 983.2 | 54 |
| Shellharbour (C) | 982.9 | 53 |
| Port Stephens (A) | 982.1 | 53 |
| Bellingen (A) | 980.9 | 52 |
| Armidale Regional | 980.4 | 52 |
| Shoalhaven (C) | 979.5 | 51 |
| Mid-Western Regional (A) | 978.6 | 50 |
| Oberon (A) | 977.6 | 49 |
| Burwood (A) | 977.2 | 49 |
| Lockhart (A) | 976 | 49 |
| Upper Hunter Shire (A) | 974.8 | 48 |
| Griffith (C) | 974.2 | 47 |
| Wentworth (A) | 973.6 | 47 |
| Carrathool (A) | 973.1 | 46 |
| Coffs Harbour (C) | 972 | 45 |
| Temora (A) | 971.7 | 45 |
| Goulburn Mulwaree (A) | 971.7 | 45 |
| Federation (A) | 969.4 | 44 |
| Forbes (A) | 968.5 | 43 |
| Albury (C) | 967.9 | 43 |
| Gunnedah (A) | 966.7 | 43 |
| Edward River (A) | 966.5 | 42 |
| Bogan (A) | 965.9 | 42 |
| Berrigan (A) | 965.8 | 42 |
| Lismore (C) | 965.6 | 41 |
| Cobar (A) | 965.3 | 41 |
| Narrabri (A) | 963.9 | 40 |
| Warren (A) | 961.6 | 38 |
| Tamworth Regional (A) | 961.1 | 38 |
| Weddin (A) | 960.5 | 37 |
| Balranald (A) | 960.2 | 37 |
| Narromine (A) | 958.3 | 35 |
| Gwydir (A) | 956.6 | 34 |
| Hay (A) | 955.9 | 34 |
| Hilltops (A) | 954.3 | 33 |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional | 952.9 | 32 |
| Snowy Valleys (A) | 952.5 | 32 |
| Lachlan (A) | 950.2 | 30 |
| Leeton (A) | 949.1 | 30 |
| Campbelltown (C) (NSW) | 947.5 | 29 |
| Bourke (A) | 946.7 | 28 |
| Parkes (A) | 945.8 | 28 |
| Mid-Coast (A) | 942.5 | 26 |
| Moree Plains (A) | 940.3 | 25 |
| Clarence Valley (A) | 940 | 24 |
| Cessnock (C) | 939.4 | 24 |
| Muswellbrook (A) | 937 | 23 |
| Lithgow (C) | 934.7 | 22 |
| Junee (A) | 933.9 | 22 |
| Cowra (A) | 931.8 | 22 |
| Liverpool (C) | 930.8 | 21 |
| Gilgandra (A) | 929.6 | 21 |
| Narrandera (A) | 929.1 | 20 |
| Inverell | 928.3 | 20 |
| Warrumbungle Shire (A) | 927.2 | 20 |
| Liverpool Plains (A) | 925.7 | 19 |
| Richmond Valley (A) | 923.6 | 19 |
| Kyogle (A) | 921.1 | 18 |
| Tenterfield (A) | 920.3 | 17 |
| Nambucca (A) | 920.3 | 17 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown (A) | 916.8 | 17 |
| Broken Hill (C) | 913.2 | 16 |
| Glen Innes Severn (A) | 906.1 | 14 |
| Cumberland (A) | 903.6 | 13 |
| Kempsey (A) | 903.3 | 13 |
| Walgett (A) | 887.7 | 11 |
| Coonamble (A) | 883.2 | 10 |
| Central Darling (A) | 826.7 | 7 |
| Brewarrina (A) | 817.9 | 7 |
| Fairfield (C) | 814 | 7 |
Chart view
Variation within Northern Beaches (A)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Cottage Point
1144.1
Percentile 100
Balgowlah Heights
1138.9
Percentile 100
Clareville
1138.8
Percentile 100
Clontarf (NSW)
1132.8
Percentile 100
North Balgowlah
1129.6
Percentile 100
Davidson
1127.4
Percentile 100
Whale Beach
1126.8
Percentile 100
Church Point
1126
Percentile 100
Bilgola Beach
1125.2
Percentile 100
Duffys Forest
1123.1
Percentile 100
Seaforth (NSW)
1120.5
Percentile 100
Curl Curl
1120
Percentile 100
Queenscliff (NSW)
1117.2
Percentile 99
Palm Beach (NSW)
1114
Percentile 99
Fairlight
1113.8
Percentile 99
Collaroy Plateau
1112.9
Percentile 99
Bilgola Plateau
1112.4
Percentile 99
Killarney Heights
1111.9
Percentile 99
Wheeler Heights
1111.3
Percentile 99
Frenchs Forest
1108.3
Percentile 98
Elanora Heights
1107.4
Percentile 98
Freshwater (NSW)
1105.8
Percentile 98
Oxford Falls
1105.2
Percentile 98
Terrey Hills
1102.4
Percentile 97
Manly (NSW)
1101
Percentile 97
North Curl Curl
1100.1
Percentile 97
Newport (NSW)
1099.7
Percentile 97
Belrose
1097.9
Percentile 96
Avalon Beach
1096.7
Percentile 96
Coasters Retreat
1095
Percentile 95
Elvina Bay
1095
Percentile 95
Great Mackerel Beach
1095
Percentile 95
Ku-ring-gai Chase
1095
Percentile 95
Lovett Bay
1095
Percentile 95
Morning Bay
1095
Percentile 95
Balgowlah
1093.3
Percentile 95
North Manly
1092.5
Percentile 95
Warriewood
1090.3
Percentile 94
Allambie Heights
1088.9
Percentile 93
Forestville (NSW)
1086.9
Percentile 93
Beacon Hill
1086.5
Percentile 93
Collaroy (NSW)
1085.1
Percentile 92
Ingleside
1084.8
Percentile 92
Bayview (NSW)
1083.5
Percentile 92
Cromer (NSW)
1082.8
Percentile 91
Mona Vale
1082.6
Percentile 91
North Narrabeen
1078.9
Percentile 90
Scotland Island
1078.7
Percentile 89
Manly Vale
1069.5
Percentile 85
Brookvale
1042.1
Percentile 68
Narrabeen
1036.7
Percentile 64
Dee Why
1034.1
Percentile 62
Narraweena
1011.3
Percentile 49
Data table
Variation within Northern Beaches (A) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Cottage Point | 1144.1 | 100 |
| Balgowlah Heights | 1138.9 | 100 |
| Clareville | 1138.8 | 100 |
| Clontarf (NSW) | 1132.8 | 100 |
| North Balgowlah | 1129.6 | 100 |
| Davidson | 1127.4 | 100 |
| Whale Beach | 1126.8 | 100 |
| Church Point | 1126 | 100 |
| Bilgola Beach | 1125.2 | 100 |
| Duffys Forest | 1123.1 | 100 |
| Seaforth (NSW) | 1120.5 | 100 |
| Curl Curl | 1120 | 100 |
| Queenscliff (NSW) | 1117.2 | 99 |
| Palm Beach (NSW) | 1114 | 99 |
| Fairlight | 1113.8 | 99 |
| Collaroy Plateau | 1112.9 | 99 |
| Bilgola Plateau | 1112.4 | 99 |
| Killarney Heights | 1111.9 | 99 |
| Wheeler Heights | 1111.3 | 99 |
| Frenchs Forest | 1108.3 | 98 |
| Elanora Heights | 1107.4 | 98 |
| Freshwater (NSW) | 1105.8 | 98 |
| Oxford Falls | 1105.2 | 98 |
| Terrey Hills | 1102.4 | 97 |
| Manly (NSW) | 1101 | 97 |
| North Curl Curl | 1100.1 | 97 |
| Newport (NSW) | 1099.7 | 97 |
| Belrose | 1097.9 | 96 |
| Avalon Beach | 1096.7 | 96 |
| Coasters Retreat | 1095 | 95 |
| Elvina Bay | 1095 | 95 |
| Great Mackerel Beach | 1095 | 95 |
| Ku-ring-gai Chase | 1095 | 95 |
| Lovett Bay | 1095 | 95 |
| Morning Bay | 1095 | 95 |
| Balgowlah | 1093.3 | 95 |
| North Manly | 1092.5 | 95 |
| Warriewood | 1090.3 | 94 |
| Allambie Heights | 1088.9 | 93 |
| Forestville (NSW) | 1086.9 | 93 |
| Beacon Hill | 1086.5 | 93 |
| Collaroy (NSW) | 1085.1 | 92 |
| Ingleside | 1084.8 | 92 |
| Bayview (NSW) | 1083.5 | 92 |
| Cromer (NSW) | 1082.8 | 91 |
| Mona Vale | 1082.6 | 91 |
| North Narrabeen | 1078.9 | 90 |
| Scotland Island | 1078.7 | 89 |
| Manly Vale | 1069.5 | 85 |
| Brookvale | 1042.1 | 68 |
| Narrabeen | 1036.7 | 64 |
| Dee Why | 1034.1 | 62 |
| Narraweena | 1011.3 | 49 |