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Inner Regional Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 421 km apart · Inner Regional Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia

Inner Regional Australia and Remote Australia are far apart and differ sharply in their makeup. Remote Australia has a far higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 16.5%, while Inner Regional Australia has 6.4%. Housing costs are much higher in Inner Regional Australia, where typical weekly rent is $320 compared to $180 in Remote Australia and typical monthly home loans are $1,700 versus $958. The two areas also differ in their workforces; full-time employment is far higher in Remote Australia (67.4% vs 56.3%), while Inner Regional Australia has a well higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (17.3% vs 10.5%).

Everyday life shares many similarities across both areas, including nearly identical typical weekly household incomes of around $1,350 to $1,400 and the same number of people per home. However, some gaps are widening. Inner Regional Australia has become noticeably older, with a typical age of 44 compared to 41 in Remote Australia. The difference in housing costs and the gap in people moving house in the last five years have also increased since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,543,518 larger in Inner Regional Australia Recent arrivals: 15.2 pts higher in Remote Australia Mortgage: $742 higher in Inner Regional Australia Full-time: 11.2 pts higher in Remote Australia Bachelor+: 6.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1,543,518 larger in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
1,569,737 88th pct 26,219 49th pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +3 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
44 yrs 72nd pct 41 yrs 57th pct
First Nations in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +10.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
6.4% 50th pct 16.5% 76th pct
Aged 65+ in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +4.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
23.4% 85th pct 18.9% 66th pct
Under 15 in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
17.8% 53rd pct 20.0% 85th pct
De facto in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
12.3% 30th pct 13.9% 58th pct

Age structure

26.2% Older adults (45–64) +1.0 pts ▸ 27.2%
21.9% Young adults (25–44) +1.9 pts ▸ 23.7%
23.4% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.4 pts 18.9%
17.8% Children (0–14) +2.2 pts ▸ 20.0%
10.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.6 pts 10.2%

Marital status

46.3% Married ◂ +1.9 pts 44.4%
33.2% Never married +3.8 pts ▸ 37.0%
10.4% Divorced ◂ +2.2 pts 8.2%
6.4% Widowed even 6.4%
3.6% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +5.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
11.6% 32nd pct 6.5% 6th pct

Country of birth

81.7% Australia ◂ +5.4 pts 76.3%
3.0% England ◂ +2.2 pts 0.8%
1.2% New Zealand ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%
0.6% India even 0.6%
0.5% Philippines even 0.5%
0.4% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%
0.3% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%
0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%
0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

41.8% English ◂ +9.3 pts 32.5%
40.8% Australian ◂ +1.9 pts 38.9%
12.4% Irish ◂ +2.5 pts 9.9%
10.8% Scottish ◂ +2.1 pts 8.7%
4.3% German ◂ +1.1 pts 3.2%
2.4% Italian ◂ +1.2 pts 1.1%
1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.8 pts 0.6%
0.9% Chinese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%
0.7% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%
0.7% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%
0.5% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%
0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Other language in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
5.5% 28th pct 4.0% 13th pct
Limited English in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
0.7% 37th pct 0.5% 25th pct

Language used at home

87.8% English only ◂ +8.3 pts 79.5%
0.3% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%
0.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%
0.3% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%
0.2% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%
0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%
0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +11.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
37.5% 39th pct 26.0% 10th pct

Religious affiliation

51.5% Christianity +3.6 pts ▸ 55.1%
37.5% No religion ◂ +11.5 pts 26.0%
8.2% Not stated +9.2 pts ▸ 17.4%
0.8% Other religions ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%
0.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%
0.7% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%
0.4% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%
0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +9.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
43.7% 64th pct 34.4% 29th pct
Bachelor+ in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +6.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
17.3% 74th pct 10.5% 24th pct

Highest year of school

43.7% Year 12 ◂ +9.3 pts 34.4%
29.3% Year 10 ◂ +3.0 pts 26.3%
11.9% Year 9 or below +2.1 pts ▸ 14.0%
6.9% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 6.8%

Highest qualification level

34.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +5.8 pts 28.7%
19.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.4 pts 14.9%
14.5% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.4 pts 11.1%
5.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.6 pts 2.1%
3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.3 pts 1.9%
2.4% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

15.9% Management & commerce ◂ +5.5 pts 10.4%
14.3% Engineering & related ◂ +1.6 pts 12.8%
11.3% Society & culture ◂ +4.4 pts 6.9%
11.0% Health ◂ +2.9 pts 8.1%
9.1% Education ◂ +0.9 pts 8.2%
3.3% Agriculture & environment +5.1 pts ▸ 8.4%
6.5% Architecture & building ◂ +3.2 pts 3.3%
5.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.9 pts 3.5%
3.0% Creative arts ◂ +1.9 pts 1.0%
2.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.9 pts 1.1%
1.4% Information technology ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$26 higher in Remote Australia gap steady
$710 42nd pct $736 49th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$47 higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
$1,400 37th pct $1,353 31st pct
Family income in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$34 higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
$1,796 48th pct $1,762 45th pct
High earners in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
8.7% 51st pct 8.3% 44th pct
High-income homes in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
15.8% 50th pct 14.0% 35th pct

Household income distribution

30.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.8 pts 27.8%
27.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.3 pts 26.1%
18.9% Under $650 +1.8 pts ▸ 20.7%
8.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 6.8%
7.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 7.2%

Personal income distribution

42.6% Under $650 ◂ +5.6 pts 37.0%
31.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.4 pts 27.3%
14.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.8 pts 13.5%
3.0% $3,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.1%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +6.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
33.5% 87th pct 27.1% 51st pct
Mental health in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +4.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
10.4% 73rd pct 6.4% 31st pct
Needs assistance in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
6.8% 86th pct 4.9% 44th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

11.9% Arthritis ◂ +3.0 pts 8.9%
10.4% Mental health ◂ +4.0 pts 6.4%
9.5% Asthma ◂ +0.1 pts 9.4%
8.5% Other condition ◂ +3.3 pts 5.2%
5.2% Diabetes +0.2 pts ▸ 5.5%
5.1% Heart disease ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%
3.8% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 2.8%
2.6% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 2.3%
1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%
1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.0% None ◂ +3.3 pts 53.7%
21.5% One condition ◂ +4.1 pts 17.4%
7.6% Two conditions ◂ +1.6 pts 6.1%
4.3% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
16.2% 50th pct 19.0% 73rd pct
Unpaid carers in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
13.2% 87th pct 10.9% 47th pct
Unpaid child care in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
25.1% 58th pct 22.7% 41st pct
Defence service in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
3.9% 79th pct 1.7% 12th pct
Housework 15h+ in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +4.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
23.6% 81st pct 19.2% 44th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +96,109 larger in Inner Regional Australia
100,448 95th pct 4,339 50th pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +4 yrs older in Remote Australia
23 yrs 14th pct 27 yrs 57th pct
Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +5.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
31.7% 56th pct 26.4% 39th pct
Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
10.5% 24th pct 11.7% 32nd pct
Median income in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$49 higher in Inner Regional Australia
$570 69th pct $521 49th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$232 higher in Inner Regional Australia
$1,455 63rd pct $1,223 33rd pct
Indigenous language in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
4.0% 29th pct 2.2% 9th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia even gap narrowing
2.4 43rd pct 2.4 43rd pct
One-parent in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia even gap steady
15.6% 65th pct 15.6% 65th pct
Living alone in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +3.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
27.9% 46th pct 31.0% 76th pct

Family composition

51.5% Couples with children +0.9 pts ▸ 52.3%
32.0% Couples without children ◂ +1.3 pts 30.7%
15.6% One-parent families even 15.6%
1.0% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.4%

Household size

37.1% 2 people ◂ +2.1 pts 35.0%
27.9% 1 person +3.1 pts ▸ 31.0%
13.6% 3 people ◂ +1.0 pts 12.7%
12.4% 4 people ◂ +1.6 pts 10.9%
5.9% 5 people +0.8 pts ▸ 6.7%
3.1% 6 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$140 higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
$320 73rd pct $180 25th pct
Mortgage in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +$742 higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
$1,700 71st pct $958 11th pct
People / bedroom in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
25.6% 30th pct 26.8% 42nd pct
Owned outright in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
39.2% 71st pct 41.0% 80th pct
Separate houses in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +4.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
85.3% 45th pct 90.1% 67th pct
3+ bedrooms in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
78.0% 72nd pct 76.0% 58th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.2% Owned outright +1.8 pts ▸ 41.0%
31.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +10.1 pts 21.1%
25.6% Rented +1.1 pts ▸ 26.8%
2.2% Other tenure +6.1 pts ▸ 8.3%
1.8% Not stated +1.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

Types of homes

85.3% Separate house +4.9 pts ▸ 90.1%
8.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +6.4 pts 2.4%
4.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.0 pts 2.4%
1.2% Other dwelling +1.5 pts ▸ 2.7%

Bedrooms per home

40.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.9 pts 39.3%
30.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.7 pts 28.2%
16.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.8 pts 15.5%
7.7% 5 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 8.4%
3.6% 1 bedroom +1.6 pts ▸ 5.1%
0.5% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

14.0% Under $200 +37.0 pts ▸ 51.0%
39.4% $200–$349 ◂ +4.8 pts 34.6%
35.9% $350–$549 ◂ +33.0 pts 3.0%
5.4% $550–$749 ◂ +5.2 pts 0.2%
1.5% $750 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

18.6% Under $1,000 +28.7 pts ▸ 47.2%
34.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +8.3 pts 26.1%
28.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +18.5 pts 10.4%
12.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.8 pts 8.6%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
5.0% 43rd pct 5.9% 57th pct
Work from home in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +1.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
14.1% 75th pct 15.9% 83rd pct
PT commute in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
0.4% 18th pct 1.1% 37th pct

How people get to work

62.3% Car (driver) ◂ +4.6 pts 57.7%
14.1% Worked at home +1.9 pts ▸ 15.9%
3.0% Walked +4.6 pts ▸ 7.6%
4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.1 pts 4.5%
0.3% Bus +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.4% Bicycle even 0.4%
0.1% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.7% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.4 pts 35.3%
35.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.5 pts 31.9%
13.5% 3 vehicles +2.6 pts ▸ 16.0%
8.4% 4 or more +2.5 pts ▸ 10.9%
5.0% No vehicle +0.9 pts ▸ 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +11.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
38.5% 56th pct 27.3% 12th pct
Recent arrivals in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +15.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
12.1% 26th pct 27.3% 84th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
4.4% 33rd pct 3.8% 14th pct
Participation in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
55.3% 46th pct 55.5% 47th pct
Full-time in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +11.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
56.3% 29th pct 67.4% 82nd pct

Industries people work in

4.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +29.6 pts ▸ 34.0%
16.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +7.2 pts 8.9%
10.1% Construction ◂ +5.7 pts 4.4%
9.3% Education & training +0.7 pts ▸ 10.1%
9.8% Retail trade ◂ +4.6 pts 5.2%
7.7% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.9 pts 4.8%
2.0% Mining +5.2 pts ▸ 7.3%
7.1% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.3 pts 5.9%
5.7% Manufacturing ◂ +3.6 pts 2.1%
4.7% Professional & technical ◂ +3.0 pts 1.6%
4.0% Other services ◂ +1.9 pts 2.1%
3.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.7 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

13.1% Managers +15.9 pts ▸ 28.9%
18.4% Professionals ◂ +7.0 pts 11.4%
15.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +5.0 pts 10.1%
11.1% Labourers +2.9 pts ▸ 14.1%
13.4% Community & personal service ◂ +3.2 pts 10.2%
11.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.8 pts 8.8%
6.6% Machinery operators & drivers +3.7 pts ▸ 10.3%
8.8% Sales workers ◂ +4.6 pts 4.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.8 higher in Inner Regional Australia
4.2 74th pct 3.4 53rd pct
Types ≤15 min in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.4 more in Inner Regional Australia
4.1 73rd pct 3.8 60th pct
15-min city in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
47.2% 69th pct 46.6% 67th pct
Walk to shops in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia
44.1% 51st pct 44.3% 52nd pct
Walk to transit in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +44.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
67.0% 78th pct 22.1% 33rd pct
Walk to school in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +3.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
50.1% 58th pct 46.9% 49th pct
Walk to a park in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +15.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
73.7% 72nd pct 57.9% 32nd pct
Walk to health in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +7.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
34.8% 52nd pct 42.1% 68th pct
Amenities/1k in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +11.1 more in Remote Australia
17.7 37th pct 28.8 64th pct
Intersections/km² in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +2 higher in Inner Regional Australia
2 61st pct 0 15th pct
Mean slope in Inner Regional Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
6.4% 79th pct 3.1% 13th pct

Compare Inner Regional Australia with nearby areas

Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of 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). Inner Regional Australia vs Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA11/inner-regional-australia/vs/RA13/remote-australia