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, Wollongong (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 999.8, placing it in the 67th percentile nationally. Within Wollongong (C), scores ranged from Warrawong to Clifton (NSW).
View
999.8
Wollongong (C) IRSD score
67th percentile nationally
1118.9
Highest local score
Clifton (NSW)
764.6
Lowest local score
Warrawong
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 Wollongong (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Clifton (NSW)
1118.9
Percentile 100
Stanwell Tops
1118.8
Percentile 99
Scarborough (NSW)
1116
Percentile 99
Coalcliff
1112.8
Percentile 99
Stanwell Park
1111.2
Percentile 99
Mount Pleasant (NSW)
1110.4
Percentile 98
Otford
1105.2
Percentile 98
Wongawilli
1105.2
Percentile 98
Wombarra
1102.2
Percentile 97
Austinmer
1101.7
Percentile 97
Yallah
1095.5
Percentile 96
Coledale
1091.6
Percentile 94
Thirroul
1091.6
Percentile 94
Huntley (Wollongong - NSW)
1090.5
Percentile 94
Cordeaux Heights
1084.5
Percentile 92
Mount Keira
1084.3
Percentile 92
Mount Kembla
1080.7
Percentile 90
Helensburgh
1078
Percentile 89
Mount Ousley
1077.5
Percentile 89
Dombarton
1074.6
Percentile 88
Lilyvale (NSW)
1071.9
Percentile 86
Haywards Bay
1071.4
Percentile 86
Farmborough Heights
1070.9
Percentile 86
Kembla Heights
1067.3
Percentile 84
Kembla Grange
1064.8
Percentile 82
Cleveland (NSW)
1060.1
Percentile 79
Marshall Mount
1060.1
Percentile 79
Bulli
1060
Percentile 79
Darkes Forest (part)
1058.8
Percentile 78
Maddens Plains
1058.8
Percentile 78
Mangerton
1057.7
Percentile 78
Figtree
1054.1
Percentile 75
Horsley
1035.7
Percentile 63
Woonona
1030.8
Percentile 60
Balgownie
1030.6
Percentile 60
Keiraville
1026.7
Percentile 58
Kanahooka
1009.3
Percentile 47
North Wollongong
1008
Percentile 46
Towradgi
1004.6
Percentile 44
Russell Vale
1004.5
Percentile 44
Wollongong
1003.4
Percentile 44
Mount Saint Thomas
1003.3
Percentile 44
East Corrimal
1002.8
Percentile 43
West Wollongong
998.2
Percentile 41
Corrimal
996.8
Percentile 40
Tarrawanna
992
Percentile 38
Fairy Meadow
976.9
Percentile 30
Dapto
973.2
Percentile 28
Coniston
971.7
Percentile 27
Avondale (NSW)
959.4
Percentile 23
Primbee
953.8
Percentile 21
Gwynneville
950.3
Percentile 20
Brownsville
940.1
Percentile 17
Spring Hill (Wollongong - NSW)
936.6
Percentile 16
Lake Heights
936.1
Percentile 16
Windang
931.3
Percentile 15
Port Kembla
930.5
Percentile 15
Fernhill
918.1
Percentile 12
Unanderra
890.5
Percentile 8
Berkeley
885.1
Percentile 7
Koonawarra
868.4
Percentile 6
Bellambi
845.7
Percentile 5
Cringila
796.3
Percentile 3
Warrawong
764.6
Percentile 2
Data table
Variation within Wollongong (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton (NSW) | 1118.9 | 100 |
| Stanwell Tops | 1118.8 | 99 |
| Scarborough (NSW) | 1116 | 99 |
| Coalcliff | 1112.8 | 99 |
| Stanwell Park | 1111.2 | 99 |
| Mount Pleasant (NSW) | 1110.4 | 98 |
| Otford | 1105.2 | 98 |
| Wongawilli | 1105.2 | 98 |
| Wombarra | 1102.2 | 97 |
| Austinmer | 1101.7 | 97 |
| Yallah | 1095.5 | 96 |
| Coledale | 1091.6 | 94 |
| Thirroul | 1091.6 | 94 |
| Huntley (Wollongong - NSW) | 1090.5 | 94 |
| Cordeaux Heights | 1084.5 | 92 |
| Mount Keira | 1084.3 | 92 |
| Mount Kembla | 1080.7 | 90 |
| Helensburgh | 1078 | 89 |
| Mount Ousley | 1077.5 | 89 |
| Dombarton | 1074.6 | 88 |
| Lilyvale (NSW) | 1071.9 | 86 |
| Haywards Bay | 1071.4 | 86 |
| Farmborough Heights | 1070.9 | 86 |
| Kembla Heights | 1067.3 | 84 |
| Kembla Grange | 1064.8 | 82 |
| Cleveland (NSW) | 1060.1 | 79 |
| Marshall Mount | 1060.1 | 79 |
| Bulli | 1060 | 79 |
| Darkes Forest (part) | 1058.8 | 78 |
| Maddens Plains | 1058.8 | 78 |
| Mangerton | 1057.7 | 78 |
| Figtree | 1054.1 | 75 |
| Horsley | 1035.7 | 63 |
| Woonona | 1030.8 | 60 |
| Balgownie | 1030.6 | 60 |
| Keiraville | 1026.7 | 58 |
| Kanahooka | 1009.3 | 47 |
| North Wollongong | 1008 | 46 |
| Towradgi | 1004.6 | 44 |
| Russell Vale | 1004.5 | 44 |
| Wollongong | 1003.4 | 44 |
| Mount Saint Thomas | 1003.3 | 44 |
| East Corrimal | 1002.8 | 43 |
| West Wollongong | 998.2 | 41 |
| Corrimal | 996.8 | 40 |
| Tarrawanna | 992 | 38 |
| Fairy Meadow | 976.9 | 30 |
| Dapto | 973.2 | 28 |
| Coniston | 971.7 | 27 |
| Avondale (NSW) | 959.4 | 23 |
| Primbee | 953.8 | 21 |
| Gwynneville | 950.3 | 20 |
| Brownsville | 940.1 | 17 |
| Spring Hill (Wollongong - NSW) | 936.6 | 16 |
| Lake Heights | 936.1 | 16 |
| Windang | 931.3 | 15 |
| Port Kembla | 930.5 | 15 |
| Fernhill | 918.1 | 12 |
| Unanderra | 890.5 | 8 |
| Berkeley | 885.1 | 7 |
| Koonawarra | 868.4 | 6 |
| Bellambi | 845.7 | 5 |
| Cringila | 796.3 | 3 |
| Warrawong | 764.6 | 2 |