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, West Tamar (M)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1003.7, placing it in the 70th percentile nationally. Within West Tamar (M), scores ranged from Beaconsfield (Tas.) (part) to Grindelwald.
View
1003.7
West Tamar (M) IRSD score
70th percentile nationally
1064.2
Highest local score
Grindelwald
848
Lowest local score
Beaconsfield (Tas.) (part)
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Tasmania LGAs
Compare the selected index across Tasmania LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Hobart (C)
1045.7
Kingborough (M)
1038.5
Clarence (C)
1009.2
West Tamar (M)
1003.7
King Island (M)
992.8
Sorell (M)
990.7
Meander Valley (M)
975.7
Latrobe (M) (Tas.)
973.8
Huon Valley (M)
973.8
Northern Midlands (M)
966.2
Flinders (M) (Tas.)
962.7
Central Coast (M) (Tas.)
958.1
Kentish (M)
953.2
Southern Midlands (M)
951.3
Glamorgan/Spring Bay (M)
950.3
Circular Head (M)
942.7
Launceston (C)
939.5
Dorset (M)
931.5
Waratah/Wynyard (M)
929.1
Glenorchy (C)
927.4
Tasman (M)
923.1
Burnie (C)
920.3
Derwent Valley (M)
912.9
Break O'Day (M)
911.1
Central Highlands (M) (Tas.)
910.9
Devonport (C)
905.9
Brighton (M)
884.6
West Coast (M)
860.5
George Town (M)
860.5
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Tasmania LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart (C) | 1045.7 | 90 |
| Kingborough (M) | 1038.5 | 86 |
| Clarence (C) | 1009.2 | 73 |
| West Tamar (M) | 1003.7 | 70 |
| King Island (M) | 992.8 | 62 |
| Sorell (M) | 990.7 | 60 |
| Meander Valley (M) | 975.7 | 48 |
| Latrobe (M) (Tas.) | 973.8 | 47 |
| Huon Valley (M) | 973.8 | 47 |
| Northern Midlands (M) | 966.2 | 42 |
| Flinders (M) (Tas.) | 962.7 | 39 |
| Central Coast (M) (Tas.) | 958.1 | 35 |
| Kentish (M) | 953.2 | 32 |
| Southern Midlands (M) | 951.3 | 31 |
| Glamorgan/Spring Bay (M) | 950.3 | 31 |
| Circular Head (M) | 942.7 | 26 |
| Launceston (C) | 939.5 | 24 |
| Dorset (M) | 931.5 | 21 |
| Waratah/Wynyard (M) | 929.1 | 20 |
| Glenorchy (C) | 927.4 | 20 |
| Tasman (M) | 923.1 | 18 |
| Burnie (C) | 920.3 | 17 |
| Derwent Valley (M) | 912.9 | 16 |
| Break O'Day (M) | 911.1 | 16 |
| Central Highlands (M) (Tas.) | 910.9 | 15 |
| Devonport (C) | 905.9 | 14 |
| Brighton (M) | 884.6 | 10 |
| West Coast (M) | 860.5 | 9 |
| George Town (M) | 860.5 | 9 |
Chart view
Variation within West Tamar (M)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Grindelwald
1064.2
Percentile 82
Bridgenorth
1063.9
Percentile 82
Notley Hills
1063.9
Percentile 82
Deviot
1044.1
Percentile 69
Robigana
1044.1
Percentile 69
Trevallyn (part)
1033.7
Percentile 62
Legana
1033.7
Percentile 62
Rosevears
1030.1
Percentile 60
Lanena
1022.4
Percentile 55
Glengarry (Tas.)
1021.8
Percentile 55
Riverside (Tas.)
1018.6
Percentile 53
Winkleigh
1013.5
Percentile 50
Swan Point
1008.4
Percentile 47
Loira
1008.2
Percentile 46
Kayena
1002.9
Percentile 43
Rowella
1002.9
Percentile 43
Gravelly Beach
995.2
Percentile 39
Sidmouth
990.9
Percentile 37
Greens Beach
990
Percentile 36
Kelso (Tas.)
990
Percentile 36
Blackwall (Tas.)
965.4
Percentile 25
Exeter (Tas.)
963.9
Percentile 24
Clarence Point
944.7
Percentile 18
Badger Head
936.8
Percentile 16
York Town (part)
936.8
Percentile 16
Flowery Gully
927.1
Percentile 14
Holwell (part)
927.1
Percentile 14
Beauty Point
892.9
Percentile 8
Frankford (part)
892.9
Percentile 8
Beaconsfield (Tas.) (part)
848
Percentile 5
Data table
Variation within West Tamar (M) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Grindelwald | 1064.2 | 82 |
| Bridgenorth | 1063.9 | 82 |
| Notley Hills | 1063.9 | 82 |
| Deviot | 1044.1 | 69 |
| Robigana | 1044.1 | 69 |
| Trevallyn (part) | 1033.7 | 62 |
| Legana | 1033.7 | 62 |
| Rosevears | 1030.1 | 60 |
| Lanena | 1022.4 | 55 |
| Glengarry (Tas.) | 1021.8 | 55 |
| Riverside (Tas.) | 1018.6 | 53 |
| Winkleigh | 1013.5 | 50 |
| Swan Point | 1008.4 | 47 |
| Loira | 1008.2 | 46 |
| Kayena | 1002.9 | 43 |
| Rowella | 1002.9 | 43 |
| Gravelly Beach | 995.2 | 39 |
| Sidmouth | 990.9 | 37 |
| Greens Beach | 990 | 36 |
| Kelso (Tas.) | 990 | 36 |
| Blackwall (Tas.) | 965.4 | 25 |
| Exeter (Tas.) | 963.9 | 24 |
| Clarence Point | 944.7 | 18 |
| Badger Head | 936.8 | 16 |
| York Town (part) | 936.8 | 16 |
| Flowery Gully | 927.1 | 14 |
| Holwell (part) | 927.1 | 14 |
| Beauty Point | 892.9 | 8 |
| Frankford (part) | 892.9 | 8 |
| Beaconsfield (Tas.) (part) | 848 | 5 |