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Remote Australia vs Very Remote Australia

Name: Remote Australia vs Very Remote Australia — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 818 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Remote Australia Very Remote Australia

Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia are two vastly different outback regions. Residents in Very Remote Australia are far older, with a typical age of 51 compared to 41 in Remote Australia. There is a stark contrast in beliefs and lifestyle: 52.1% of people in Very Remote Australia report no religion, which is far higher than the 26.0% in Remote Australia. Meanwhile, Remote Australia has a much larger First Nations population at 16.5% and a far higher share of full-time workers at 67.4% compared to 55.1% in Very Remote Australia.

These areas are most similar in their finances, with typical weekly personal incomes of $736 and $774. This shared economic standing exists even as other gaps widen. Since 2011, the difference in age and the share of people who volunteer have both grown, with Very Remote Australia seeing a far higher rate of volunteering at 34.1%. Remote Australia also remains much more accessible, with far more homes within a 15-minute walk of schools and health services.

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Where they differ most

No religion: 26.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Population: 23,686 larger in Remote Australia Median age: 10 yrs older in Very Remote Australia One-parent: 5.6 pts higher in Remote Australia Volunteering: 15.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +23,686 larger in Remote Australia gap narrowing

26,219 49th pct 2,533 25th pct

Median age in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +10 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap widening

41 yrs 57th pct 51 yrs 91st pct

Age structure

18.9% Seniors (65+) +9.8 pts ▸ 28.7%

27.2% Older adults (45–64) +0.6 pts ▸ 27.7%

23.7% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.3 pts 22.5%

20.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +4.6 pts 15.4%

10.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +4.2 pts 6.0%

Marital status

44.4% Married +0.1 pts ▸ 44.6%

37.0% Never married ◂ +3.4 pts 33.7%

8.2% Divorced +3.3 pts ▸ 11.5%

6.4% Widowed +0.4 pts ▸ 6.8%

3.9% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Remote Australia Very Remote Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

76.3% Australia +1.7 pts ▸ 78.0%

0.8% England +1.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.8% New Zealand +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.5% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% India ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.3% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

32.5% English +8.9 pts ▸ 41.4%

38.9% Australian +1.0 pts ▸ 39.9%

8.7% Scottish +1.4 pts ▸ 10.1%

9.9% Irish ◂ +0.7 pts 9.2%

3.2% German +1.4 pts ▸ 4.6%

0.6% Dutch +1.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.1% Italian +0.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.6% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% Chinese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.2% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

79.5% English only +6.6 pts ▸ 86.1%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Italian even 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

55.1% Christianity ◂ +19.3 pts 35.8%

26.0% No religion +26.1 pts ▸ 52.1%

17.4% Not stated ◂ +7.5 pts 9.9%

0.4% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.5% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

34.4% Year 12 +5.1 pts ▸ 39.5%

26.3% Year 10 +3.7 pts ▸ 30.1%

14.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.8 pts 10.2%

6.8% Year 11 +2.5 pts ▸ 9.4%

Highest qualification level

28.7% Certificate III / IV +6.1 pts ▸ 34.9%

14.9% Bachelor degree +1.6 pts ▸ 16.5%

11.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.8 pts ▸ 13.9%

2.1% Postgraduate degree +2.9 pts ▸ 5.0%

1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.9 pts 1.7%

Field of qualification

12.8% Engineering & related +3.8 pts ▸ 16.6%

10.4% Management & commerce +2.4 pts ▸ 12.8%

8.2% Education +0.9 pts ▸ 9.1%

8.1% Health +0.9 pts ▸ 8.9%

6.9% Society & culture +1.9 pts ▸ 8.7%

8.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.2 pts 7.2%

3.3% Architecture & building +2.8 pts ▸ 6.1%

3.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.0 pts ▸ 5.5%

1.0% Creative arts +1.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.1% Natural & physical sciences +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.5% Information technology even 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$38 higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

$736 49th pct $774 59th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$132 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$1,353 31st pct $1,221 15th pct

Family income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$99 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$1,762 45th pct $1,663 32nd pct

Household income distribution

27.8% $650–$1,499 +5.5 pts ▸ 33.2%

26.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.5 pts 25.6%

20.7% Under $650 +0.6 pts ▸ 21.3%

7.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.3 pts 4.9%

6.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.9 pts 5.9%

Personal income distribution

37.0% Under $650 +1.3 pts ▸ 38.3%

27.3% $650–$1,499 +7.3 pts ▸ 34.6%

13.5% $1,500–$2,999 +0.1 pts ▸ 13.6%

3.1% $3,000 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.9% Arthritis +3.3 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.4% Asthma ◂ +1.9 pts 7.5%

6.4% Mental health +1.7 pts ▸ 8.1%

5.2% Other condition +2.5 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.5% Heart disease +1.2 pts ▸ 5.7%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.9 pts 4.5%

2.8% Cancer +1.7 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.3% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.0% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.7% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.7% None +3.5 pts ▸ 57.2%

17.4% One condition +2.2 pts ▸ 19.6%

6.1% Two conditions +1.6 pts ▸ 7.7%

3.7% Three or more +0.4 pts ▸ 4.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +4,161 larger in Remote Australia

4,339 50th pct 178 29th pct

Median age in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +15 yrs older in Very Remote Australia

27 yrs 57th pct 42 yrs 88th pct

Median income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$47 higher in Very Remote Australia

$521 49th pct $568 68th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$116 higher in Remote Australia

$1,223 33rd pct $1,107 20th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.4 larger in Remote Australia gap widening

2.4 43rd pct 2.0 9th pct

Family composition

52.3% Couples with children ◂ +7.6 pts 44.8%

30.7% Couples without children +13.5 pts ▸ 44.2%

15.6% One-parent families ◂ +5.6 pts 10.0%

1.4% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

Household size

35.0% 2 people +5.8 pts ▸ 40.8%

31.0% 1 person +5.8 pts ▸ 36.8%

12.7% 3 people ◂ +2.7 pts 10.0%

10.9% 4 people ◂ +2.7 pts 8.2%

6.7% 5 people ◂ +3.4 pts 3.3%

3.9% 6 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 1.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$30 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$180 25th pct $150 17th pct

Mortgage in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$71 higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening

$958 11th pct $1,029 14th pct

People / bedroom in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

0.80 43rd pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.0% Owned outright +4.3 pts ▸ 45.3%

26.8% Rented ◂ +1.7 pts 25.0%

21.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.5 pts 19.6%

8.3% Other tenure ◂ +1.9 pts 6.3%

2.9% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

Types of homes

90.1% Separate house +5.0 pts ▸ 95.1%

2.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.5 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.7% Other dwelling ◂ +2.2 pts 0.5%

2.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.4 pts 1.0%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms +12.9 pts ▸ 52.3%

28.2% 4 bedrooms ◂ +11.8 pts 16.4%

15.5% 2 bedrooms +2.9 pts ▸ 18.4%

8.4% 5 or more ◂ +5.7 pts 2.7%

5.1% 1 bedroom +1.0 pts ▸ 6.2%

0.7% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

51.0% Under $200 +6.5 pts ▸ 57.5%

34.6% $200–$349 ◂ +4.3 pts 30.2%

3.0% $350–$549 ◂ +1.1 pts 1.9%

0.4% $750 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% $550–$749 ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

47.2% Under $1,000 ◂ +3.9 pts 43.3%

26.1% $1,000–$1,799 +5.8 pts ▸ 31.9%

10.4% $1,800–$2,999 +2.9 pts ▸ 13.3%

8.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.8 pts 3.8%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

57.7% Car (driver) +3.2 pts ▸ 60.9%

15.9% Worked at home ◂ +2.1 pts 13.8%

7.6% Walked +0.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%

1.0% Bus ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

35.3% 2 vehicles +0.5 pts ▸ 35.8%

31.9% 1 vehicle +3.8 pts ▸ 35.7%

16.0% 3 vehicles +0.4 pts ▸ 16.5%

10.9% 4 or more ◂ +3.7 pts 7.2%

5.9% No vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 4.8%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

34.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +9.3 pts 24.6%

10.1% Education & training ◂ +3.2 pts 6.8%

8.9% Health care & social assistance +0.8 pts ▸ 9.6%

2.1% Manufacturing +5.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

4.4% Construction +3.2 pts ▸ 7.6%

7.3% Mining ◂ +6.9 pts 0.4%

5.2% Retail trade +1.7 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.9% Public administration & safety +0.4 pts ▸ 6.3%

4.8% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 5.7%

2.9% Transport & warehousing +2.3 pts ▸ 5.2%

2.1% Other services +0.8 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.6% Professional & technical +0.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

Occupations people work in

28.9% Managers ◂ +3.0 pts 25.9%

14.1% Labourers +5.6 pts ▸ 19.6%

10.1% Technicians & trades +2.9 pts ▸ 13.0%

11.4% Professionals ◂ +0.8 pts 10.6%

10.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.7 pts 5.6%

10.2% Community & personal service ◂ +2.1 pts 8.1%

8.8% Clerical & administrative +0.3 pts ▸ 9.1%

4.1% Sales workers +1.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.0 higher in Remote Australia

3.4 53rd pct 2.4 14th pct

Types ≤15 min in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.1 more in Remote Australia

3.8 60th pct 2.6 14th pct

15-min city in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +18.3 pts higher in Remote Australia

46.6% 67th pct 28.2% 14th pct

Walk to shops in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +5.3 pts higher in Remote Australia

44.3% 52nd pct 39.0% 28th pct

Walk to transit in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +22.1 pts higher in Remote Australia

22.1% 33rd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +27.9 pts higher in Remote Australia

46.9% 49th pct 19.0% 11th pct

Walk to a park in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.6 pts higher in Remote Australia

57.9% 32nd pct 56.4% 27th pct

Walk to health in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +21.6 pts higher in Remote Australia

42.1% 68th pct 20.4% 13th pct

Amenities/1k in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +79.0 more in Very Remote Australia

28.8 64th pct 107.8 99th pct

Intersections/km² in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1 higher in Very Remote Australia

0 15th pct 1 45th pct

Mean slope in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +2.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

3.1% 13th pct 6.0% 71st 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 Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Remote Australia vs Very Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA13/remote-australia/vs/RA64/very-remote-australia