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, Whitsunday (R)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 969.4, placing it in the 44th percentile nationally. Within Whitsunday (R), scores ranged from Scottville to Strathdickie.
View
969.4
Whitsunday (R) IRSD score
44th percentile nationally
1075.6
Highest local score
Strathdickie
880.6
Lowest local score
Scottville
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 Whitsunday (R)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Strathdickie
1075.6
Percentile 88
Cannon Valley
1062.4
Percentile 81
Woodwark
1062.4
Percentile 81
Shute Harbour
1061.4
Percentile 80
Mount Julian
1046.5
Percentile 70
Riordanvale
1041.4
Percentile 67
Sugarloaf (Whitsunday - Qld)
1041.4
Percentile 67
Breadalbane (Qld)
1030
Percentile 60
Glen Isla
1030
Percentile 60
Goorganga Plains
1030
Percentile 60
Lethebrook
1030
Percentile 60
Whitsundays
1023.2
Percentile 55
Crystal Brook (Qld)
1012.4
Percentile 49
Kelsey Creek
1012.4
Percentile 49
Foxdale
1009.4
Percentile 47
Hamilton Plains
1009.4
Percentile 47
Myrtlevale
1009.4
Percentile 47
Brandy Creek (Qld)
1009.4
Percentile 47
Mount Marlow
1009.4
Percentile 47
Preston (Whitsunday - Qld)
1009.4
Percentile 47
Flametree
1004
Percentile 44
Airlie Beach
1003.6
Percentile 44
Bogie
1002
Percentile 43
Mount Coolon
1002
Percentile 43
Mount Wyatt
1002
Percentile 43
Newlands (Qld)
1002
Percentile 43
Springlands
1002
Percentile 43
Cannonvale
1001.8
Percentile 43
Cape Gloucester
995.8
Percentile 40
Gregory River (Whitsunday - Qld)
995.8
Percentile 40
Mount Pluto
995.8
Percentile 40
Mandalay
990.7
Percentile 37
Conway
989
Percentile 36
Conway Beach
989
Percentile 36
Wilson Beach
989
Percentile 36
Gumlu
985
Percentile 33
Guthalungra
985
Percentile 33
Palm Grove (Qld)
983.6
Percentile 33
Jubilee Pocket
975.1
Percentile 29
Dingo Beach
974.7
Percentile 29
Hideaway Bay
974.7
Percentile 29
Andromache
971.2
Percentile 27
Dittmer
971.2
Percentile 27
Gunyarra
971.2
Percentile 27
Lake Proserpine
971.2
Percentile 27
Pauls Pocket
971.2
Percentile 27
Silver Creek
971.2
Percentile 27
Thoopara
971.2
Percentile 27
Proserpine
930.2
Percentile 15
Bowen
925.7
Percentile 13
Collinsville (Qld)
901.2
Percentile 9
Scottville
880.6
Percentile 7
Data table
Variation within Whitsunday (R) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Strathdickie | 1075.6 | 88 |
| Cannon Valley | 1062.4 | 81 |
| Woodwark | 1062.4 | 81 |
| Shute Harbour | 1061.4 | 80 |
| Mount Julian | 1046.5 | 70 |
| Riordanvale | 1041.4 | 67 |
| Sugarloaf (Whitsunday - Qld) | 1041.4 | 67 |
| Breadalbane (Qld) | 1030 | 60 |
| Glen Isla | 1030 | 60 |
| Goorganga Plains | 1030 | 60 |
| Lethebrook | 1030 | 60 |
| Whitsundays | 1023.2 | 55 |
| Crystal Brook (Qld) | 1012.4 | 49 |
| Kelsey Creek | 1012.4 | 49 |
| Foxdale | 1009.4 | 47 |
| Hamilton Plains | 1009.4 | 47 |
| Myrtlevale | 1009.4 | 47 |
| Brandy Creek (Qld) | 1009.4 | 47 |
| Mount Marlow | 1009.4 | 47 |
| Preston (Whitsunday - Qld) | 1009.4 | 47 |
| Flametree | 1004 | 44 |
| Airlie Beach | 1003.6 | 44 |
| Bogie | 1002 | 43 |
| Mount Coolon | 1002 | 43 |
| Mount Wyatt | 1002 | 43 |
| Newlands (Qld) | 1002 | 43 |
| Springlands | 1002 | 43 |
| Cannonvale | 1001.8 | 43 |
| Cape Gloucester | 995.8 | 40 |
| Gregory River (Whitsunday - Qld) | 995.8 | 40 |
| Mount Pluto | 995.8 | 40 |
| Mandalay | 990.7 | 37 |
| Conway | 989 | 36 |
| Conway Beach | 989 | 36 |
| Wilson Beach | 989 | 36 |
| Gumlu | 985 | 33 |
| Guthalungra | 985 | 33 |
| Palm Grove (Qld) | 983.6 | 33 |
| Jubilee Pocket | 975.1 | 29 |
| Dingo Beach | 974.7 | 29 |
| Hideaway Bay | 974.7 | 29 |
| Andromache | 971.2 | 27 |
| Dittmer | 971.2 | 27 |
| Gunyarra | 971.2 | 27 |
| Lake Proserpine | 971.2 | 27 |
| Pauls Pocket | 971.2 | 27 |
| Silver Creek | 971.2 | 27 |
| Thoopara | 971.2 | 27 |
| Proserpine | 930.2 | 15 |
| Bowen | 925.7 | 13 |
| Collinsville (Qld) | 901.2 | 9 |
| Scottville | 880.6 | 7 |