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Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 433 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are vastly different in scale and makeup. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and highly diverse, with 35.3% of people born overseas and 33.5% using a language other than English at home. In contrast, Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent and has a much stronger First Nations presence, with 16.5% of its population identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Education and income also differ sharply; 31.7% of adults in Major Cities of Australia hold a bachelor degree or higher compared to 10.5% in Remote Australia, and the typical monthly mortgage is $1,342 higher in the cities.

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have generally widened. This is seen in the growing divide in education, where the gap in Year 12 completion has risen to 30 percentage points, and in housing, with a widening difference in the share of homes owned outright. Despite these diverging trends, the two areas remain similar in some human terms. They have almost the same share of people providing unpaid care (about 11%) and a similar percentage of residents who have served in the Defence Force.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 28.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 29.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 30.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 31.7 pts higher in Remote Australia Population: 6,054,209 larger in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +6,054,209 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6,080,428 100th pct 26,219 49th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
37 yrs 25th pct 41 yrs 57th pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +14.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
2.2% 19th pct 16.5% 76th pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
15.8% 47th pct 18.9% 66th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
18.3% 63rd pct 20.0% 85th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
10.0% 7th pct 13.9% 58th pct

Age structure

29.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.0 pts 23.7%
23.9% Older adults (45–64) +3.3 pts ▸ 27.2%
18.3% Children (0–14) +1.7 pts ▸ 20.0%
15.8% Seniors (65+) +3.1 pts ▸ 18.9%
12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.0 pts 10.2%

Marital status

47.7% Married ◂ +3.2 pts 44.4%
36.5% Never married +0.5 pts ▸ 37.0%
8.1% Divorced +0.1 pts ▸ 8.2%
4.7% Widowed +1.6 pts ▸ 6.4%
3.0% Separated +0.9 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +28.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
35.3% 100th pct 6.5% 6th pct

Country of birth

60.1% Australia +16.2 pts ▸ 76.3%
4.0% China ◂ +3.8 pts 0.2%
3.2% India ◂ +2.6 pts 0.6%
2.9% England ◂ +2.2 pts 0.8%
1.6% Philippines ◂ +1.1 pts 0.5%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 0.8%
1.6% Vietnam ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%
1.0% Nepal ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
0.7% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%
0.7% Italy ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

24.6% Australian +14.2 pts ▸ 38.9%
26.1% English +6.3 pts ▸ 32.5%
8.1% Irish +1.7 pts ▸ 9.9%
9.3% Chinese ◂ +8.8 pts 0.5%
6.7% Scottish +2.0 pts ▸ 8.7%
4.1% Italian ◂ +3.0 pts 1.1%
4.1% Indian ◂ +3.5 pts 0.6%
2.6% German +0.6 pts ▸ 3.2%
2.3% Filipino ◂ +1.7 pts 0.6%
2.2% Greek ◂ +2.0 pts 0.2%
2.0% Vietnamese ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%
1.0% Dutch ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +29.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
33.5% 92nd pct 4.0% 13th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.7% 93rd pct 0.5% 25th pct

Language used at home

61.2% English only +18.3 pts ▸ 79.5%
4.4% Mandarin ◂ +4.1 pts 0.2%
3.7% Arabic ◂ +3.6 pts 0.1%
2.4% Cantonese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.1%
1.9% Vietnamese ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%
1.3% Hindi ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%
1.3% Greek ◂ +1.2 pts 0.1%
1.0% Italian ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
0.8% Tagalog ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%
0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +6.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
32.2% 26th pct 26.0% 10th pct

Religious affiliation

46.2% Christianity +8.9 pts ▸ 55.1%
32.2% No religion ◂ +6.3 pts 26.0%
6.5% Not stated +10.9 pts ▸ 17.4%
5.6% Islam ◂ +5.3 pts 0.3%
4.3% Hinduism ◂ +3.8 pts 0.5%
3.4% Buddhism ◂ +3.0 pts 0.4%
1.2% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%
0.6% Judaism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +30.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
64.4% 95th pct 34.4% 29th pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +21.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
31.7% 96th pct 10.5% 24th pct

Highest year of school

64.4% Year 12 ◂ +30.0 pts 34.4%
16.5% Year 10 +9.8 pts ▸ 26.3%
8.7% Year 9 or below +5.3 pts ▸ 14.0%
4.2% Year 11 +2.6 pts ▸ 6.8%

Highest qualification level

31.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +16.9 pts 14.9%
20.0% Certificate III / IV +8.7 pts ▸ 28.7%
14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.6 pts 11.1%
13.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +11.3 pts 2.1%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.4 pts 1.9%
1.5% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

23.7% Management & commerce ◂ +13.4 pts 10.4%
12.5% Engineering & related +0.3 pts ▸ 12.8%
12.2% Society & culture ◂ +5.3 pts 6.9%
9.2% Health ◂ +1.1 pts 8.1%
1.1% Agriculture & environment +7.3 pts ▸ 8.4%
6.9% Education +1.3 pts ▸ 8.2%
5.0% Architecture & building ◂ +1.7 pts 3.3%
4.8% Information technology ◂ +4.3 pts 0.5%
4.6% Creative arts ◂ +3.6 pts 1.0%
4.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.6 pts 3.5%
3.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.2 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$126 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$862 72nd pct $736 49th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$656 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,009 81st pct $1,353 31st pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$564 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,326 86th pct $1,762 45th pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.2% 82nd pct 8.3% 44th pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +14.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
28.6% 89th pct 14.0% 35th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.1 pts 26.1%
22.5% $650–$1,499 +5.2 pts ▸ 27.8%
13.9% Under $650 +6.8 pts ▸ 20.7%
17.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +10.0 pts 7.2%
11.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.6 pts 6.8%

Personal income distribution

37.9% Under $650 ◂ +0.9 pts 37.0%
29.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.4 pts 27.3%
19.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.9 pts 13.5%
6.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.5 pts 3.1%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Remote Australia
25.0% 39th pct 27.1% 51st pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
7.3% 37th pct 6.4% 31st pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.5% 56th pct 4.9% 44th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

7.2% Asthma +2.2 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.3% Arthritis +1.6 pts ▸ 8.9%
7.6% Other condition ◂ +2.4 pts 5.2%
7.3% Mental health ◂ +0.9 pts 6.4%
4.7% Diabetes +0.8 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.5% Heart disease +1.0 pts ▸ 4.5%
2.5% Cancer +0.3 pts ▸ 2.8%
1.4% Lung condition +0.9 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.8% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.6% None ◂ +13.9 pts 53.7%
17.4% One condition even 17.4%
5.0% Two conditions +1.0 pts ▸ 6.1%
2.5% Three or more +1.1 pts ▸ 3.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
11.8% 30th pct 19.0% 73rd pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
11.0% 49th pct 10.9% 47th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
25.5% 63rd pct 22.7% 41st pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
1.9% 14th pct 1.7% 12th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
20.5% 59th pct 19.2% 44th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +131,582 larger in Major Cities of Australia
135,921 100th pct 4,339 50th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3 yrs older in Remote Australia
24 yrs 29th pct 27 yrs 57th pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +13.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
40.3% 84th pct 26.4% 39th pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.8 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.8% 11th pct 11.7% 32nd pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$131 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$652 81st pct $521 49th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$523 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,746 83rd pct $1,223 33rd pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3% 31st pct 2.2% 9th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.3 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.7 86th pct 2.4 43rd pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
13.5% 30th pct 15.6% 65th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
23.8% 14th pct 31.0% 76th pct

Family composition

61.4% Couples with children ◂ +9.1 pts 52.3%
23.9% Couples without children +6.8 pts ▸ 30.7%
13.5% One-parent families +2.1 pts ▸ 15.6%
1.2% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +3.7 pts ▸ 35.0%
23.8% 1 person +7.2 pts ▸ 31.0%
17.0% 3 people ◂ +4.3 pts 12.7%
16.9% 4 people ◂ +6.0 pts 10.9%
7.1% 5 people ◂ +0.4 pts 6.7%
3.9% 6 or more even 3.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$270 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$450 100th pct $180 25th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$1,342 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,300 100th pct $958 11th pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.90 71st pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
35.2% 71st pct 26.8% 42nd pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +12.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
28.6% 31st pct 41.0% 80th pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +31.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
58.4% 0th pct 90.1% 67th pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
65.4% 6th pct 76.0% 58th pct

How homes are owned or rented

28.6% Owned outright +12.4 pts ▸ 41.0%
35.2% Rented ◂ +8.4 pts 26.8%
33.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +12.1 pts 21.1%
1.7% Other tenure +6.6 pts ▸ 8.3%
1.3% Not stated +1.6 pts ▸ 2.9%

Types of homes

58.4% Separate house +31.7 pts ▸ 90.1%
27.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +25.4 pts 2.4%
13.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +10.7 pts 2.4%
0.5% Other dwelling +2.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

Bedrooms per home

32.6% 3 bedrooms +6.8 pts ▸ 39.3%
24.4% 4 bedrooms +3.9 pts ▸ 28.2%
24.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +9.5 pts 15.5%
8.5% 5 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 8.4%
7.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.4 pts 5.1%
0.8% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

8.9% Under $200 +42.1 pts ▸ 51.0%
43.5% $350–$549 ◂ +40.5 pts 3.0%
14.1% $200–$349 +20.4 pts ▸ 34.6%
20.6% $550–$749 ◂ +20.4 pts 0.2%
9.7% $750 or more ◂ +9.3 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

11.3% Under $1,000 +35.9 pts ▸ 47.2%
33.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +22.9 pts 10.4%
30.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +22.2 pts 8.6%
18.3% $1,000–$1,799 +7.8 pts ▸ 26.1%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
10.6% 84th pct 5.9% 57th pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +20.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
36.2% 100th pct 15.9% 83rd pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
3.4% 70th pct 1.1% 37th pct

How people get to work

37.3% Car (driver) +20.4 pts ▸ 57.7%
36.2% Worked at home ◂ +20.2 pts 15.9%
2.2% Walked +5.4 pts ▸ 7.6%
2.7% Car (passenger) +1.7 pts ▸ 4.5%
2.2% Train ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%
1.1% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%
0.4% Bicycle even 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

39.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +7.7 pts 31.9%
33.6% 2 vehicles +1.7 pts ▸ 35.3%
10.4% 3 vehicles +5.7 pts ▸ 16.0%
5.8% 4 or more +5.1 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.6% No vehicle ◂ +4.7 pts 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +13.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
40.8% 71st pct 27.3% 12th pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +12.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
15.1% 45th pct 27.3% 84th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.0% 44th pct 3.8% 14th pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
59.9% 72nd pct 55.5% 47th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +9.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
58.2% 47th pct 67.4% 82nd pct

Industries people work in

0.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +33.6 pts ▸ 34.0%
14.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +5.3 pts 8.9%
10.2% Professional & technical ◂ +8.6 pts 1.6%
8.6% Education & training +1.4 pts ▸ 10.1%
8.9% Retail trade ◂ +3.7 pts 5.2%
8.3% Construction ◂ +3.9 pts 4.4%
0.5% Mining +6.7 pts ▸ 7.3%
6.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.7 pts 0.7%
5.8% Public administration & safety +0.1 pts ▸ 5.9%
5.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.0 pts 4.8%
5.4% Manufacturing ◂ +3.4 pts 2.1%
4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.0 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

14.5% Managers +14.4 pts ▸ 28.9%
28.4% Professionals ◂ +17.0 pts 11.4%
7.1% Labourers +7.0 pts ▸ 14.1%
13.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +4.8 pts 8.8%
11.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.9 pts 10.1%
5.7% Machinery operators & drivers +4.6 pts ▸ 10.3%
9.9% Community & personal service +0.3 pts ▸ 10.2%
7.9% Sales workers ◂ +3.8 pts 4.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.7 higher in Major Cities of Australia
7.1 100th pct 3.4 53rd pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.8 more in Major Cities of Australia
6.6 100th pct 3.8 60th pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +35.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
82.4% 100th pct 46.6% 67th pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +33.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
78.0% 96th pct 44.3% 52nd pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +74.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
96.1% 99th pct 22.1% 33rd pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +40.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
87.0% 100th pct 46.9% 49th pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +38.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
96.8% 93rd pct 57.9% 32nd pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +24.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
66.3% 97th pct 42.1% 68th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +15.4 more in Remote Australia
13.4 8th pct 28.8 64th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +87 higher in Major Cities of Australia
87 88th pct 0 15th pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
7.0% 86th pct 3.1% 13th pct

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia

Compare Remote Australia with nearby areas

Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA10/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA13/remote-australia