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, Rockhampton (R)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 948.8, placing it in the 30th percentile nationally. Within Rockhampton (R), scores ranged from Mount Morgan to Mount Archer (Rockhampton - Qld).
View
948.8
Rockhampton (R) IRSD score
30th percentile nationally
1142.2
Highest local score
Mount Archer (Rockhampton - Qld)
771.9
Lowest local score
Mount Morgan
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 Rockhampton (R)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Mount Archer (Rockhampton - Qld)
1142.2
Percentile 100
Limestone Creek
1098.9
Percentile 96
Dalma
1059.8
Percentile 79
Nine Mile (Qld)
1059.8
Percentile 79
The Range (Qld)
1054.7
Percentile 76
Glenroy (Qld)
1046.2
Percentile 70
Gogango
1046.2
Percentile 70
Kalapa
1046.2
Percentile 70
Morinish
1046.2
Percentile 70
Morinish South
1046.2
Percentile 70
Parkhurst
1041.5
Percentile 67
Alton Downs
1041.2
Percentile 67
Garnant
1023.6
Percentile 56
Ridgelands
1023.6
Percentile 56
South Yaamba
1023.6
Percentile 56
Kabra
1021.5
Percentile 55
Fairy Bower
1019.9
Percentile 54
Frenchville
1000.2
Percentile 42
Norman Gardens
994.5
Percentile 39
Pink Lily
993.2
Percentile 38
Bouldercombe
974.3
Percentile 29
Stanwell
971.8
Percentile 27
Wandal
965.5
Percentile 25
Wycarbah
963.6
Percentile 24
Lakes Creek
960.7
Percentile 23
Gracemere
951.3
Percentile 20
Westwood (Qld) (part)
943.1
Percentile 18
Bushley
937.3
Percentile 16
Bajool
929.3
Percentile 14
Midgee (Qld)
929.3
Percentile 14
Johnsons Hill
928.8
Percentile 14
Leydens Hill
928.8
Percentile 14
Limestone (Qld)
928.8
Percentile 14
Struck Oil
928.8
Percentile 14
Port Curtis
925.8
Percentile 13
West Rockhampton
916.2
Percentile 12
Kawana
914.7
Percentile 11
Park Avenue
912.3
Percentile 11
Marmor
907.3
Percentile 10
Allenstown
905.1
Percentile 10
Koongal
893.7
Percentile 8
Boulder Creek
881.6
Percentile 7
Hamilton Creek
881.6
Percentile 7
Horse Creek
881.6
Percentile 7
Nine Mile Creek
881.6
Percentile 7
Oakey Creek
881.6
Percentile 7
Trotter Creek
881.6
Percentile 7
Walmul
881.6
Percentile 7
Wura
881.6
Percentile 7
Berserker
866
Percentile 6
Rockhampton City
840.6
Percentile 4
The Mine
822.8
Percentile 4
Baree
801.5
Percentile 3
Moongan
801.5
Percentile 3
Walterhall
801.5
Percentile 3
Depot Hill
777.8
Percentile 3
Mount Morgan
771.9
Percentile 2
Data table
Variation within Rockhampton (R) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Archer (Rockhampton - Qld) | 1142.2 | 100 |
| Limestone Creek | 1098.9 | 96 |
| Dalma | 1059.8 | 79 |
| Nine Mile (Qld) | 1059.8 | 79 |
| The Range (Qld) | 1054.7 | 76 |
| Glenroy (Qld) | 1046.2 | 70 |
| Gogango | 1046.2 | 70 |
| Kalapa | 1046.2 | 70 |
| Morinish | 1046.2 | 70 |
| Morinish South | 1046.2 | 70 |
| Parkhurst | 1041.5 | 67 |
| Alton Downs | 1041.2 | 67 |
| Garnant | 1023.6 | 56 |
| Ridgelands | 1023.6 | 56 |
| South Yaamba | 1023.6 | 56 |
| Kabra | 1021.5 | 55 |
| Fairy Bower | 1019.9 | 54 |
| Frenchville | 1000.2 | 42 |
| Norman Gardens | 994.5 | 39 |
| Pink Lily | 993.2 | 38 |
| Bouldercombe | 974.3 | 29 |
| Stanwell | 971.8 | 27 |
| Wandal | 965.5 | 25 |
| Wycarbah | 963.6 | 24 |
| Lakes Creek | 960.7 | 23 |
| Gracemere | 951.3 | 20 |
| Westwood (Qld) (part) | 943.1 | 18 |
| Bushley | 937.3 | 16 |
| Bajool | 929.3 | 14 |
| Midgee (Qld) | 929.3 | 14 |
| Johnsons Hill | 928.8 | 14 |
| Leydens Hill | 928.8 | 14 |
| Limestone (Qld) | 928.8 | 14 |
| Struck Oil | 928.8 | 14 |
| Port Curtis | 925.8 | 13 |
| West Rockhampton | 916.2 | 12 |
| Kawana | 914.7 | 11 |
| Park Avenue | 912.3 | 11 |
| Marmor | 907.3 | 10 |
| Allenstown | 905.1 | 10 |
| Koongal | 893.7 | 8 |
| Boulder Creek | 881.6 | 7 |
| Hamilton Creek | 881.6 | 7 |
| Horse Creek | 881.6 | 7 |
| Nine Mile Creek | 881.6 | 7 |
| Oakey Creek | 881.6 | 7 |
| Trotter Creek | 881.6 | 7 |
| Walmul | 881.6 | 7 |
| Wura | 881.6 | 7 |
| Berserker | 866 | 6 |
| Rockhampton City | 840.6 | 4 |
| The Mine | 822.8 | 4 |
| Baree | 801.5 | 3 |
| Moongan | 801.5 | 3 |
| Walterhall | 801.5 | 3 |
| Depot Hill | 777.8 | 3 |
| Mount Morgan | 771.9 | 2 |