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Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 857 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are very different places. Major Cities of Australia is much more diverse, with 27.6% of people born overseas and 16.5% using another language at home. Remote Australia has a much larger First Nations population at 16.5%, compared to 2.7% in the cities. Education levels also vary widely; 63.3% of people in Major Cities of Australia finished Year 12, while only 34.4% did in Remote Australia. Living costs differ too, with typical weekly rents at $400 in the cities and $180 in remote areas.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people who need help with daily activities. Beyond that, the gaps between them are often growing. Since 2011, the difference in university qualifications and Year 12 completion has widened. The divide in housing is also increasing, as more people in Remote Australia live in separate houses and more in Major Cities of Australia live in flats. While Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent.

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Where they differ most

Population: 3,304,918 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 28.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Rent: $220 higher in Major Cities of Australia Mortgage: $949 higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 21.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3,304,918 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26,219 49th pct 3,331,137 92nd pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
41 yrs 57th pct 37 yrs 25th pct
First Nations in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
16.5% 76th pct 2.7% 25th pct
Aged 65+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
18.9% 66th pct 15.7% 47th pct
Under 15 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
20.0% 85th pct 18.8% 73rd pct
De facto in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
13.9% 58th pct 12.8% 43rd pct

Age structure

23.7% Young adults (25–44) +4.8 pts ▸ 28.6%
27.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.0 pts 24.1%
20.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.2 pts 18.8%
18.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.3 pts 15.7%
10.2% Youth (15–24) +2.6 pts ▸ 12.9%

Marital status

44.4% Married +0.5 pts ▸ 44.9%
37.0% Never married +0.8 pts ▸ 37.9%
8.2% Divorced +1.2 pts ▸ 9.4%
6.4% Widowed ◂ +1.9 pts 4.4%
3.9% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6.5% 6th pct 27.6% 85th pct

Country of birth

76.3% Australia ◂ +8.5 pts 67.8%
0.8% New Zealand +4.2 pts ▸ 5.0%
0.8% England +3.4 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.6% India +1.2 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.2% China +1.4 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.3% South Africa +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.5% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.1% Vietnam +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.1% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

38.9% Australian ◂ +7.5 pts 31.4%
32.5% English +5.3 pts ▸ 37.7%
9.9% Irish +1.3 pts ▸ 11.1%
8.7% Scottish +1.5 pts ▸ 10.3%
3.2% German +2.3 pts ▸ 5.4%
0.5% Chinese +3.7 pts ▸ 4.2%
1.1% Italian +1.7 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.6% Indian +1.8 pts ▸ 2.4%
0.6% Dutch +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.6% Filipino +0.9 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.1% Vietnamese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.2% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Other language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
4.0% 13th pct 16.5% 73rd pct
Limited English in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.5% 25th pct 2.2% 74th pct

Language used at home

79.5% English only ◂ +1.1 pts 78.5%
0.2% Mandarin +2.1 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.1% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.2% Punjabi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.1% Cantonese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.0% Hindi +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.1% Arabic +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.1% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.1% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

No religion in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.0% 10th pct 42.8% 59th pct

Religious affiliation

55.1% Christianity ◂ +11.0 pts 44.1%
26.0% No religion +16.8 pts ▸ 42.8%
17.4% Not stated ◂ +10.6 pts 6.8%
0.5% Hinduism +1.3 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.4% Buddhism +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.3% Islam +1.3 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.3% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +28.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
34.4% 29th pct 63.3% 93rd pct
Bachelor+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
10.5% 24th pct 26.2% 86th pct

Highest year of school

34.4% Year 12 +28.9 pts ▸ 63.3%
26.3% Year 10 ◂ +8.5 pts 17.8%
14.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +7.2 pts 6.8%
6.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.8 pts 6.1%

Highest qualification level

28.7% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.7 pts 27.0%
14.9% Bachelor degree +12.4 pts ▸ 27.3%
11.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +4.8 pts ▸ 15.9%
2.1% Postgraduate degree +7.2 pts ▸ 9.2%
1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.0 pts ▸ 3.9%
2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.6 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

10.4% Management & commerce +10.2 pts ▸ 20.5%
12.8% Engineering & related +0.5 pts ▸ 13.2%
6.9% Society & culture +5.7 pts ▸ 12.5%
8.1% Health +3.1 pts ▸ 11.2%
8.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +7.0 pts 1.4%
8.2% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 7.6%
3.3% Architecture & building +2.5 pts ▸ 5.8%
3.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.0 pts ▸ 5.5%
1.0% Creative arts +3.0 pts ▸ 4.0%
0.5% Information technology +2.6 pts ▸ 3.1%
1.1% Natural & physical sciences +1.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$96 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$736 49th pct $832 68th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$465 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,353 31st pct $1,818 71st pct
Family income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$380 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,762 45th pct $2,142 78th pct
High earners in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8.3% 44th pct 12.2% 72nd pct
High-income homes in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
14.0% 35th pct 22.9% 80th pct

Household income distribution

26.1% $1,500–$2,999 +5.1 pts ▸ 31.2%
27.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.1 pts 25.6%
20.7% Under $650 ◂ +7.1 pts 13.7%
7.2% $4,000 or more +5.1 pts ▸ 12.2%
6.8% $3,000–$3,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 10.7%

Personal income distribution

37.0% Under $650 +1.2 pts ▸ 38.1%
27.3% $650–$1,499 +5.3 pts ▸ 32.6%
13.5% $1,500–$2,999 +4.7 pts ▸ 18.2%
3.1% $3,000 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
27.1% 51st pct 28.0% 57th pct
Mental health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.4% 31st pct 9.6% 63rd pct
Needs assistance in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.9% 44th pct 5.6% 60th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.4% Mental health +3.3 pts ▸ 9.6%
9.4% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 8.5%
8.9% Arthritis ◂ +0.9 pts 8.1%
5.2% Other condition +3.4 pts ▸ 8.6%
5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.3 pts 4.1%
4.5% Heart disease ◂ +0.7 pts 3.8%
2.8% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 3.0%
2.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 1.8%
1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%
0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.7% None +10.6 pts ▸ 64.3%
17.4% One condition +1.8 pts ▸ 19.2%
6.1% Two conditions ◂ +0.2 pts 5.9%
3.7% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.0% 73rd pct 13.5% 37th pct
Unpaid carers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
10.9% 47th pct 11.2% 55th pct
Unpaid child care in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
22.7% 41st pct 27.5% 86th pct
Defence service in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
1.7% 12th pct 3.5% 69th pct
Housework 15h+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
19.2% 44th pct 20.1% 56th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +86,491 larger in Major Cities of Australia
4,339 50th pct 90,830 94th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4 yrs older in Remote Australia
27 yrs 57th pct 23 yrs 14th pct
Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +24.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
26.4% 39th pct 51.1% 98th pct
Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Remote Australia
11.7% 32nd pct 11.2% 30th pct
Median income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$124 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$521 49th pct $645 80th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$483 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,223 33rd pct $1,706 81st pct
Indigenous language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.2% 9th pct 5.4% 41st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.4 43rd pct 2.6 77th pct
One-parent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
15.6% 65th pct 14.9% 54th pct
Living alone in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
31.0% 76th pct 23.7% 14th pct

Family composition

52.3% Couples with children +5.1 pts ▸ 57.4%
30.7% Couples without children ◂ +4.2 pts 26.4%
15.6% One-parent families ◂ +0.7 pts 14.9%
1.4% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

Household size

35.0% 2 people ◂ +0.9 pts 34.1%
31.0% 1 person ◂ +7.3 pts 23.7%
12.7% 3 people +4.0 pts ▸ 16.7%
10.9% 4 people +5.0 pts ▸ 15.9%
6.7% 5 people ◂ +0.3 pts 6.3%
3.9% 6 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$220 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$180 25th pct $400 89th pct
Mortgage in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$949 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$958 11th pct $1,907 86th pct
People / bedroom in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.8% 42nd pct 34.9% 70th pct
Owned outright in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
41.0% 80th pct 26.5% 26th pct
Separate houses in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
90.1% 67th pct 69.1% 13th pct
3+ bedrooms in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia even gap narrowing
76.0% 58th pct 75.9% 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.0% Owned outright ◂ +14.5 pts 26.5%
21.1% Owned with a mortgage +14.5 pts ▸ 35.7%
26.8% Rented +8.1 pts ▸ 34.9%
8.3% Other tenure ◂ +6.7 pts 1.6%
2.9% Not stated ◂ +1.6 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

90.1% Separate house ◂ +21.1 pts 69.1%
2.4% Flat or apartment +14.1 pts ▸ 16.5%
2.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +11.4 pts ▸ 13.8%
2.7% Other dwelling ◂ +2.3 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +3.6 pts 35.7%
28.2% 4 bedrooms +3.2 pts ▸ 31.5%
15.5% 2 bedrooms +2.0 pts ▸ 17.4%
8.4% 5 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 8.7%
5.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.2 pts 5.0%
0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

3.0% $350–$549 +50.2 pts ▸ 53.2%
51.0% Under $200 ◂ +43.4 pts 7.5%
34.6% $200–$349 ◂ +12.2 pts 22.3%
0.2% $550–$749 +10.7 pts ▸ 10.9%
0.4% $750 or more +2.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

47.2% Under $1,000 ◂ +34.4 pts 12.8%
10.4% $1,800–$2,999 +25.4 pts ▸ 35.8%
26.1% $1,000–$1,799 +4.0 pts ▸ 30.2%
8.6% $3,000 or more +6.9 pts ▸ 15.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.9% 57th pct 6.0% 58th pct
Work from home in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
15.9% 83rd pct 16.7% 86th pct
PT commute in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
1.1% 37th pct 3.9% 75th pct

How people get to work

57.7% Car (driver) ◂ +0.7 pts 57.0%
15.9% Worked at home +0.7 pts ▸ 16.7%
7.6% Walked ◂ +5.4 pts 2.2%
4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.4 pts 4.0%
1.0% Bus +1.1 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.0% Train +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.4% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

35.3% 2 vehicles +3.0 pts ▸ 38.3%
31.9% 1 vehicle +4.6 pts ▸ 36.5%
16.0% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.6 pts 12.4%
10.9% 4 or more ◂ +4.1 pts 6.8%
5.9% No vehicle +0.1 pts ▸ 6.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
27.3% 12th pct 47.3% 86th pct
Recent arrivals in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
27.3% 84th pct 13.8% 36th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
3.8% 14th pct 5.4% 57th pct
Participation in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
55.5% 47th pct 64.2% 86th pct
Full-time in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
67.4% 82nd pct 58.3% 48th pct

Industries people work in

34.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +33.4 pts 0.6%
8.9% Health care & social assistance +6.7 pts ▸ 15.6%
10.1% Education & training ◂ +1.2 pts 8.8%
5.2% Retail trade +4.2 pts ▸ 9.4%
4.4% Construction +4.9 pts ▸ 9.3%
1.6% Professional & technical +6.5 pts ▸ 8.1%
7.3% Mining ◂ +6.2 pts 1.1%
4.8% Accommodation & food +2.3 pts ▸ 7.2%
5.9% Public administration & safety +0.1 pts ▸ 5.9%
2.1% Manufacturing +3.6 pts ▸ 5.7%
2.9% Transport & warehousing +1.9 pts ▸ 4.8%
2.1% Other services +1.7 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

28.9% Managers ◂ +16.3 pts 12.6%
11.4% Professionals +12.5 pts ▸ 24.0%
14.1% Labourers ◂ +5.2 pts 8.9%
8.8% Clerical & administrative +4.5 pts ▸ 13.3%
10.1% Technicians & trades +2.6 pts ▸ 12.7%
10.2% Community & personal service +1.8 pts ▸ 12.0%
10.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.5 pts 5.8%
4.1% Sales workers +4.7 pts ▸ 8.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.8 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.4 53rd pct 6.2 87th pct
Types ≤15 min in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.0 more in Major Cities of Australia
3.8 60th pct 5.8 86th pct
15-min city in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +25.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
46.6% 67th pct 72.0% 86th pct
Walk to shops in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +28.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
44.3% 52nd pct 73.0% 90th pct
Walk to transit in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +63.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
22.1% 33rd pct 85.3% 85th pct
Walk to school in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +25.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
46.9% 49th pct 71.9% 85th pct
Walk to a park in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +37.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
57.9% 32nd pct 95.3% 87th pct
Walk to health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
42.1% 68th pct 58.6% 88th pct
Amenities/1k in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.2 more in Remote Australia
28.8 64th pct 13.6 9th pct
Intersections/km² in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +73 higher in Major Cities of Australia
0 15th pct 73 85th pct
Mean slope in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.1% 13th pct 6.1% 73rd pct

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

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA13/remote-australia/vs/RA30/major-cities-of-australia