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, Woollahra (A)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1109.7, placing it in the 99th percentile nationally. Within Woollahra (A), scores ranged from Edgecliff to Point Piper (part).
View
1109.7
Woollahra (A) IRSD score
99th percentile nationally
1122.1
Highest local score
Point Piper (part)
1086.2
Lowest local score
Edgecliff
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 Woollahra (A)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Point Piper (part)
1122.1
Percentile 100
Bellevue Hill
1119.6
Percentile 100
Darling Point
1110.3
Percentile 98
Vaucluse (part)
1109.2
Percentile 98
Woollahra
1107.7
Percentile 98
Watsons Bay
1103.9
Percentile 97
Paddington (NSW) (part)
1101.3
Percentile 97
Double Bay
1100.3
Percentile 97
Rose Bay (NSW) (part)
1096.1
Percentile 96
Edgecliff
1086.2
Percentile 93
Data table
Variation within Woollahra (A) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Point Piper (part) | 1122.1 | 100 |
| Bellevue Hill | 1119.6 | 100 |
| Darling Point | 1110.3 | 98 |
| Vaucluse (part) | 1109.2 | 98 |
| Woollahra | 1107.7 | 98 |
| Watsons Bay | 1103.9 | 97 |
| Paddington (NSW) (part) | 1101.3 | 97 |
| Double Bay | 1100.3 | 97 |
| Rose Bay (NSW) (part) | 1096.1 | 96 |
| Edgecliff | 1086.2 | 93 |