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Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 375 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 environments. Major Cities of Australia is far more diverse, with 28.8% of people born overseas and 24.6% using another language at home, compared to just 6.5% and 4.0% in Remote Australia. Education and income levels are also far higher in Major Cities of Australia, where 43.0% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher and the typical weekly household income is $2,372. In contrast, only 10.5% of adults in Remote Australia have a university degree, and the typical weekly household income is much lower at $1,353.

Everyday life shares some common ground, as both areas have the same unemployment rate of 3.8% and similar shares of people needing help with daily activities. However, other gaps are widening. Since 2011, the difference in university qualifications and the share of people born overseas have both grown. While both areas have similar numbers of people doing unpaid housework, Major Cities of Australia remains far more walkable, with 97.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport compared to only 22.1% in Remote Australia.

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Where they differ most

Population: 426,979 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 42.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 32.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Rent: $270 higher in Major Cities of Australia Mortgage: $1,122 higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +426,979 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26,219 49th pct 453,198 77th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
41 yrs 57th pct 35 yrs 7th pct
First Nations in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
16.5% 76th pct 2.0% 16th pct
Aged 65+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
18.9% 66th pct 13.7% 36th pct
Under 15 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
20.0% 85th pct 18.3% 61st pct
De facto in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
13.9% 58th pct 12.5% 37th pct

Age structure

23.7% Young adults (25–44) +8.6 pts ▸ 32.4%
27.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.8 pts 22.3%
20.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.7 pts 18.3%
18.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.2 pts 13.7%
10.2% Youth (15–24) +3.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

44.4% Married +2.3 pts ▸ 46.8%
37.0% Never married +2.2 pts ▸ 39.2%
8.2% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 7.7%
6.4% Widowed ◂ +2.7 pts 3.7%
3.9% Separated ◂ +1.4 pts 2.5%

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 +22.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6.5% 6th pct 28.8% 87th pct

Country of birth

76.3% Australia ◂ +8.8 pts 67.5%
0.6% India +3.2 pts ▸ 3.8%
0.8% England +2.2 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.2% China +2.5 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.1% Nepal +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.8% New Zealand +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.5% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Vietnam +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.3% South Africa +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.1% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Ancestry

38.9% Australian ◂ +7.3 pts 31.5%
32.5% English ◂ +0.5 pts 32.0%
9.9% Irish +1.7 pts ▸ 11.6%
8.7% Scottish +1.3 pts ▸ 10.0%
0.5% Chinese +5.2 pts ▸ 5.7%
0.6% Indian +3.9 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.2% German +1.0 pts ▸ 4.2%
1.1% Italian +2.2 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.6% Dutch +1.2 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.6% Filipino +1.0 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.2% Greek +1.0 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Other language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
4.0% 13th pct 24.6% 86th pct
Limited English in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.5% 25th pct 2.5% 78th pct

Language used at home

79.5% English only ◂ +8.3 pts 71.2%
0.2% Mandarin +2.9 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.2% Punjabi +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Hindi +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Cantonese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Arabic +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.1% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

No religion in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +18.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.0% 10th pct 44.2% 66th pct

Religious affiliation

55.1% Christianity ◂ +17.0 pts 38.1%
26.0% No religion +18.2 pts ▸ 44.2%
17.4% Not stated ◂ +11.7 pts 5.6%
0.5% Hinduism +4.0 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.3% Islam +2.9 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.4% Buddhism +2.4 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.3% Other religions +1.0 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +42.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
34.4% 29th pct 77.1% 100th pct
Bachelor+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
10.5% 24th pct 43.0% 100th pct

Highest year of school

34.4% Year 12 +42.7 pts ▸ 77.1%
26.3% Year 10 ◂ +15.8 pts 10.5%
14.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +9.7 pts 4.2%
6.8% Year 11 ◂ +3.3 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

14.9% Bachelor degree +19.0 pts ▸ 33.9%
28.7% Certificate III / IV ◂ +13.7 pts 15.0%
2.1% Postgraduate degree +17.9 pts ▸ 19.9%
11.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.8 pts ▸ 13.0%
1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +4.5 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.2 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

6.9% Society & culture +13.2 pts ▸ 20.1%
10.4% Management & commerce +9.7 pts ▸ 20.1%
12.8% Engineering & related ◂ +4.3 pts 8.4%
8.1% Health +0.6 pts ▸ 8.7%
8.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +6.8 pts 1.6%
8.2% Education ◂ +1.3 pts 6.9%
0.5% Information technology +7.1 pts ▸ 7.6%
1.1% Natural & physical sciences +4.6 pts ▸ 5.6%
1.0% Creative arts +3.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
3.3% Architecture & building +0.6 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.2 pts 3.3%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$468 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$736 49th pct $1,204 86th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,019 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,353 31st pct $2,372 89th pct
Family income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,110 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,762 45th pct $2,872 99th pct
High earners in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8.3% 44th pct 22.1% 92nd pct
High-income homes in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
14.0% 35th pct 36.4% 97th pct

Household income distribution

26.1% $1,500–$2,999 +6.5 pts ▸ 32.6%
27.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.3 pts 17.5%
7.2% $4,000 or more +14.7 pts ▸ 21.9%
20.7% Under $650 ◂ +12.2 pts 8.6%
6.8% $3,000–$3,999 +7.6 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

37.0% Under $650 ◂ +9.1 pts 27.9%
13.5% $1,500–$2,999 +16.3 pts ▸ 29.7%
27.3% $650–$1,499 +2.4 pts ▸ 29.7%
3.1% $3,000 or more +4.8 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
27.1% 51st pct 28.1% 57th pct
Mental health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.4% 31st pct 10.0% 67th pct
Needs assistance in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
4.9% 44th pct 4.6% 39th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.4% Mental health +3.6 pts ▸ 10.0%
5.2% Other condition +4.5 pts ▸ 9.7%
9.4% Asthma ◂ +0.4 pts 9.0%
8.9% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 7.7%
5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.6 pts 3.9%
4.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.4 pts 3.1%
2.8% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%
2.3% Lung condition ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%
1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.7% None +12.3 pts ▸ 66.0%
17.4% One condition +2.4 pts ▸ 19.8%
6.1% Two conditions ◂ +0.3 pts 5.8%
3.7% Three or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.0% 73rd pct 18.4% 69th pct
Unpaid carers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
10.9% 47th pct 12.0% 65th pct
Unpaid child care in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
22.7% 41st pct 28.3% 87th pct
Defence service in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
1.7% 12th pct 6.0% 94th pct
Housework 15h+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
19.2% 44th pct 19.3% 46th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4,548 larger in Major Cities of Australia
4,339 50th pct 8,887 60th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3 yrs older in Remote Australia
27 yrs 57th pct 24 yrs 29th pct
Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
26.4% 39th pct 58.9% 100th pct
Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.4 pts higher in Remote Australia
11.7% 32nd pct 7.2% 0th pct
Median income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$482 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$521 49th pct $1,003 89th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,066 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,223 33rd pct $2,289 92nd pct
Indigenous language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.2% 9th pct 7.5% 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
2.4 43rd pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
15.6% 65th pct 11.9% 14th pct
Living alone in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
31.0% 76th pct 25.8% 28th pct

Family composition

52.3% Couples with children +7.5 pts ▸ 59.8%
30.7% Couples without children ◂ +3.4 pts 27.2%
15.6% One-parent families ◂ +3.8 pts 11.9%
1.4% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

Household size

35.0% 2 people ◂ +2.3 pts 32.7%
31.0% 1 person ◂ +5.3 pts 25.8%
12.7% 3 people +3.9 pts ▸ 16.5%
10.9% 4 people +5.6 pts ▸ 16.4%
6.7% 5 people ◂ +0.6 pts 6.0%
3.9% 6 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$270 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$180 25th pct $450 100th pct
Mortgage in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,122 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$958 11th pct $2,080 92nd 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 +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.8% 42nd pct 30.7% 57th pct
Owned outright in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
41.0% 80th pct 26.6% 26th pct
Separate houses in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +27.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
90.1% 67th pct 63.2% 3rd pct
3+ bedrooms in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
76.0% 58th pct 73.0% 40th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.0% Owned outright ◂ +14.4 pts 26.6%
21.1% Owned with a mortgage +19.1 pts ▸ 40.2%
26.8% Rented +3.9 pts ▸ 30.7%
8.3% Other tenure ◂ +6.7 pts 1.6%
2.9% Not stated ◂ +2.1 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

90.1% Separate house ◂ +27.0 pts 63.2%
2.4% Flat or apartment +17.0 pts ▸ 19.4%
2.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +14.8 pts ▸ 17.2%
2.7% Other dwelling ◂ +2.6 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.2 pts 37.1%
28.2% 4 bedrooms +0.5 pts ▸ 28.8%
15.5% 2 bedrooms +2.1 pts ▸ 17.5%
5.1% 1 bedroom +3.3 pts ▸ 8.4%
8.4% 5 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 7.1%
0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

51.0% Under $200 ◂ +38.5 pts 12.5%
3.0% $350–$549 +42.8 pts ▸ 45.8%
34.6% $200–$349 ◂ +22.1 pts 12.4%
0.2% $550–$749 +21.0 pts ▸ 21.2%
0.4% $750 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

47.2% Under $1,000 ◂ +36.2 pts 11.0%
10.4% $1,800–$2,999 +28.1 pts ▸ 38.5%
26.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.5 pts 25.6%
8.6% $3,000 or more +12.3 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
5.9% 57th pct 5.6% 51st pct
Work from home in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
15.9% 83rd pct 10.9% 58th pct
PT commute in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
1.1% 37th pct 4.6% 83rd pct

How people get to work

57.7% Car (driver) +1.3 pts ▸ 59.0%
15.9% Worked at home ◂ +5.0 pts 10.9%
7.6% Walked ◂ +3.6 pts 4.0%
4.5% Car (passenger) +0.6 pts ▸ 5.0%
1.0% Bus +2.6 pts ▸ 3.6%
0.4% Bicycle +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

31.9% 1 vehicle +7.3 pts ▸ 39.2%
35.3% 2 vehicles +3.4 pts ▸ 38.7%
16.0% 3 vehicles ◂ +5.1 pts 10.9%
10.9% 4 or more ◂ +5.4 pts 5.5%
5.9% No vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +18.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
27.3% 12th pct 46.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
27.3% 84th pct 16.7% 58th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia even gap narrowing
3.8% 14th pct 3.8% 16th pct
Participation in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
55.5% 47th pct 69.6% 99th pct
Full-time in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
67.4% 82nd pct 65.8% 76th pct

Industries people work in

34.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +33.7 pts 0.2%
5.9% Public administration & safety +23.9 pts ▸ 29.8%
8.9% Health care & social assistance +2.6 pts ▸ 11.5%
1.6% Professional & technical +9.3 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.1% Education & training ◂ +0.7 pts 9.4%
7.3% Mining ◂ +7.2 pts 0.1%
4.4% Construction +2.2 pts ▸ 6.6%
5.2% Retail trade +1.3 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.8% Accommodation & food +1.5 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 2.1%
2.1% Other services +0.7 pts ▸ 2.9%
2.0% Administrative & support +0.6 pts ▸ 2.6%

Occupations people work in

11.4% Professionals +20.0 pts ▸ 31.5%
28.9% Managers ◂ +11.1 pts 17.9%
8.8% Clerical & administrative +5.8 pts ▸ 14.5%
14.1% Labourers ◂ +9.1 pts 5.0%
10.2% Community & personal service +0.7 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +7.9 pts 2.4%
10.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.5 pts 9.6%
4.1% Sales workers +2.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.4 53rd pct 7.0 98th pct
Types ≤15 min in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 more in Major Cities of Australia
3.8 60th pct 6.5 98th pct
15-min city in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +35.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
46.6% 67th pct 82.1% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +35.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
44.3% 52nd pct 80.1% 99th pct
Walk to transit in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +75.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
22.1% 33rd pct 97.7% 100th pct
Walk to school in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +38.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
46.9% 49th pct 85.5% 98th pct
Walk to a park in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +41.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
57.9% 32nd pct 99.5% 100th pct
Walk to health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
42.1% 68th pct 64.4% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.7 more in Remote Australia
28.8 64th pct 19.1 43rd pct
Intersections/km² in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +171 higher in Major Cities of Australia
0 15th pct 171 100th pct
Mean slope in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.1% 13th pct 5.5% 61st 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 Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Outer 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/RA80/major-cities-of-australia