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Very Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 904 km apart · Very Remote Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Very Remote Australia are far apart in every sense, from their populations to their way of life. Major Cities of Australia is a hub for diversity, where 27.6% of people were born overseas and 16.5% use another language at home. In contrast, Very Remote Australia is far more homogenous, with only 5.3% born overseas and 3.2% using another language. A striking difference is seen in First Nations populations; 31.9% of people in Very Remote Australia are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, compared to just 2.7% in Major Cities of Australia. Educational gaps are also wide, with 63.3% of people in Major Cities of Australia completing Year 12, while only 31.6% did so in Very Remote Australia.

Both areas are effectively alike in the proportion of children under 15 and the share of households that rent. They also share a similar percentage of people working from home, around 17%. While they are similar in these areas, other gaps are widening. The difference in educational attainment and the number of people born overseas have both grown since 2011. The two areas remain worlds apart in accessibility; Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, whereas Very Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent.

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Where they differ most

Population: 3,324,429 larger in Major Cities of Australia First Nations: 29.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Year 12: 31.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Rent: $235 higher in Major Cities of Australia Mortgage: $907 higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3,324,429 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6,708 36th pct 3,331,137 92nd pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap widening
40 yrs 43rd pct 37 yrs 25th pct
First Nations in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
31.9% 87th pct 2.7% 25th pct
Aged 65+ in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
17.8% 58th pct 15.7% 47th pct
Under 15 in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.6% 81st pct 18.8% 73rd pct
De facto in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
16.5% 85th pct 12.8% 43rd pct

Age structure

24.3% Young adults (25–44) +4.2 pts ▸ 28.6%
27.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.3 pts 24.1%
19.6% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.9 pts 18.8%
17.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.1 pts 15.7%
10.8% Youth (15–24) +2.1 pts ▸ 12.9%

Marital status

46.1% Never married ◂ +8.2 pts 37.9%
37.3% Married +7.6 pts ▸ 44.9%
7.6% Divorced +1.8 pts ▸ 9.4%
5.4% Widowed ◂ +1.0 pts 4.4%
3.7% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Very 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 Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.3% 0th pct 27.6% 85th pct

Country of birth

77.3% Australia ◂ +9.5 pts 67.8%
0.8% New Zealand +4.1 pts ▸ 5.0%
0.7% England +3.5 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.6% India +1.2 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.1% China +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.1% South Africa +1.0 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.2% Philippines +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.0% Vietnam +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%
0.0% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

28.0% English +9.7 pts ▸ 37.7%
31.0% Australian +0.4 pts ▸ 31.4%
8.8% Irish +2.3 pts ▸ 11.1%
6.7% Scottish +3.6 pts ▸ 10.3%
2.9% German +2.6 pts ▸ 5.4%
0.7% Chinese +3.5 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.8% Italian +2.1 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.4% Indian +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%
0.5% Dutch +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.2% Filipino +1.3 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.0% Vietnamese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.3% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Other language in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
3.2% 2nd pct 16.5% 73rd pct
Limited English in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.3% 15th pct 2.2% 74th pct

Language used at home

80.6% English only ◂ +2.2 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%
0.1% Hindi +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.0% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.1% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Italian +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.1% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

No religion in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
31.1% 22nd pct 42.8% 59th pct

Religious affiliation

49.5% Christianity ◂ +5.4 pts 44.1%
31.1% No religion +11.7 pts ▸ 42.8%
17.9% Not stated ◂ +11.1 pts 6.8%
0.7% Hinduism +1.1 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.4% Buddhism +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.2% Islam +1.4 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 Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +31.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
31.6% 18th pct 63.3% 93rd pct
Bachelor+ in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
10.8% 27th pct 26.2% 86th pct

Highest year of school

31.6% Year 12 +31.7 pts ▸ 63.3%
24.4% Year 10 ◂ +6.7 pts 17.8%
17.8% Year 9 or below ◂ +11.0 pts 6.8%
7.3% Year 11 ◂ +1.2 pts 6.1%

Highest qualification level

14.6% Bachelor degree +12.8 pts ▸ 27.3%
26.9% Certificate III / IV +0.1 pts ▸ 27.0%
11.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +4.9 pts ▸ 15.9%
3.5% Postgraduate degree +5.7 pts ▸ 9.2%
1.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.1 pts ▸ 3.9%
2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.8 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

9.1% Management & commerce +11.4 pts ▸ 20.5%
10.2% Engineering & related +3.0 pts ▸ 13.2%
7.7% Society & culture +4.8 pts ▸ 12.5%
8.0% Health +3.2 pts ▸ 11.2%
9.1% Education ◂ +1.5 pts 7.6%
6.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +4.7 pts 1.4%
3.6% Architecture & building +2.2 pts ▸ 5.8%
4.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.9 pts ▸ 5.5%
1.3% Creative arts +2.7 pts ▸ 4.0%
0.7% Information technology +2.4 pts ▸ 3.1%
1.2% Natural & physical sciences +1.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

Income

Personal income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$138 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$694 38th pct $832 68th pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$606 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,212 14th pct $1,818 71st pct
Family income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$614 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,528 18th pct $2,142 78th pct
High earners in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8.2% 43rd pct 12.2% 72nd pct
High-income homes in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.6% 32nd pct 22.9% 80th pct

Household income distribution

22.8% $1,500–$2,999 +8.4 pts ▸ 31.2%
27.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.9 pts 25.6%
23.3% Under $650 ◂ +9.6 pts 13.7%
6.7% $4,000 or more +5.5 pts ▸ 12.2%
6.9% $3,000–$3,999 +3.8 pts ▸ 10.7%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 ◂ +0.6 pts 38.1%
26.6% $650–$1,499 +6.0 pts ▸ 32.6%
12.4% $1,500–$2,999 +5.8 pts ▸ 18.2%
3.3% $3,000 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
24.2% 36th pct 28.0% 57th pct
Mental health in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
5.7% 26th pct 9.6% 63rd pct
Needs assistance in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
4.2% 32nd pct 5.6% 60th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

5.7% Mental health +3.9 pts ▸ 9.6%
4.7% Other condition +3.9 pts ▸ 8.6%
7.8% Asthma +0.7 pts ▸ 8.5%
7.5% Arthritis +0.6 pts ▸ 8.1%
5.9% Diabetes ◂ +1.8 pts 4.1%
4.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.8 pts 3.8%
2.2% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.8% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%
0.5% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.7% None +7.6 pts ▸ 64.3%
15.9% One condition +3.3 pts ▸ 19.2%
4.6% Two conditions +1.3 pts ▸ 5.9%
3.7% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
16.8% 54th pct 13.5% 37th pct
Unpaid carers in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
9.0% 29th pct 11.2% 55th pct
Unpaid child care in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
18.9% 30th pct 27.5% 86th pct
Defence service in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.0% 16th pct 3.5% 69th pct
Housework 15h+ in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
17.1% 34th pct 20.1% 56th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +88,693 larger in Major Cities of Australia
2,137 45th pct 90,830 94th pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8 yrs older in Very Remote Australia
31 yrs 71st pct 23 yrs 14th pct
Year 12 in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
18.4% 15th pct 51.1% 98th pct
Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
10.9% 27th pct 11.2% 30th pct
Median income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$174 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$471 36th pct $645 80th pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$739 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$967 0th pct $1,706 81st pct
Indigenous language in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.8% 14th pct 5.4% 41st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2.4 43rd pct 2.6 77th pct
One-parent in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
22.3% 91st pct 14.9% 54th pct
Living alone in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
35.5% 94th pct 23.7% 14th pct

Family composition

47.6% Couples with children +9.8 pts ▸ 57.4%
28.2% Couples without children ◂ +1.8 pts 26.4%
22.3% One-parent families ◂ +7.4 pts 14.9%
2.0% Other families ◂ +0.8 pts 1.2%

Household size

35.5% 1 person ◂ +11.8 pts 23.7%
31.3% 2 people +2.8 pts ▸ 34.1%
12.6% 3 people +4.1 pts ▸ 16.7%
10.1% 4 people +5.8 pts ▸ 15.9%
5.4% 5 people +0.9 pts ▸ 6.3%
4.9% 6 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 3.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$235 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$165 21st pct $400 89th pct
Mortgage in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$907 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,000 13th pct $1,907 86th pct
People / bedroom in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
34.5% 69th pct 34.9% 70th pct
Owned outright in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.5 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
36.0% 58th pct 26.5% 26th pct
Separate houses in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
85.1% 45th pct 69.1% 13th pct
3+ bedrooms in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
68.7% 16th pct 75.9% 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.0% Owned outright ◂ +9.5 pts 26.5%
15.7% Owned with a mortgage +20.0 pts ▸ 35.7%
34.5% Rented +0.4 pts ▸ 34.9%
8.3% Other tenure ◂ +6.7 pts 1.6%
5.6% Not stated ◂ +4.3 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

85.1% Separate house ◂ +16.0 pts 69.1%
1.3% Flat or apartment +15.2 pts ▸ 16.5%
3.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +9.9 pts ▸ 13.8%
4.1% Other dwelling ◂ +3.7 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

36.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.8 pts 35.7%
24.7% 4 bedrooms +6.8 pts ▸ 31.5%
16.6% 2 bedrooms +0.8 pts ▸ 17.4%
7.5% 5 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 8.7%
8.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.1 pts 5.0%
1.2% Studio / none ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

57.9% Under $200 ◂ +50.4 pts 7.5%
4.8% $350–$549 +48.4 pts ▸ 53.2%
24.7% $200–$349 ◂ +2.4 pts 22.3%
1.1% $550–$749 +9.8 pts ▸ 10.9%
0.9% $750 or more +2.3 pts ▸ 3.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +31.8 pts 12.8%
10.5% $1,800–$2,999 +25.3 pts ▸ 35.8%
25.8% $1,000–$1,799 +4.4 pts ▸ 30.2%
9.4% $3,000 or more +6.0 pts ▸ 15.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
13.9% 89th pct 6.0% 58th pct
Work from home in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
17.1% 86th pct 16.7% 86th pct
PT commute in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
0.3% 14th pct 3.9% 75th pct

How people get to work

45.5% Car (driver) +11.5 pts ▸ 57.0%
17.1% Worked at home ◂ +0.4 pts 16.7%
14.7% Walked ◂ +12.5 pts 2.2%
5.2% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%
2.2% Bicycle ◂ +1.5 pts 0.7%
0.3% Bus +1.8 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.0% Train +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

Motor vehicles per home

27.4% 2 vehicles +10.9 pts ▸ 38.3%
37.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.4 pts 36.5%
13.9% No vehicle ◂ +7.9 pts 6.0%
11.3% 3 vehicles +1.1 pts ▸ 12.4%
9.7% 4 or more ◂ +3.0 pts 6.8%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
25.4% 7th pct 47.3% 86th pct
Recent arrivals in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
19.5% 71st pct 13.8% 36th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.5% 34th pct 5.4% 57th pct
Participation in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
50.4% 29th pct 64.2% 86th pct
Full-time in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
68.4% 86th pct 58.3% 48th pct

Industries people work in

24.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +23.8 pts 0.6%
9.6% Health care & social assistance +6.0 pts ▸ 15.6%
13.1% Public administration & safety ◂ +7.1 pts 5.9%
13.0% Education & training ◂ +4.1 pts 8.8%
5.2% Retail trade +4.2 pts ▸ 9.4%
4.7% Construction +4.6 pts ▸ 9.3%
8.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.0 pts 7.2%
1.5% Professional & technical +6.6 pts ▸ 8.1%
0.9% Manufacturing +4.8 pts ▸ 5.7%
3.1% Transport & warehousing +1.7 pts ▸ 4.8%
2.4% Other services +1.4 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.9% Administrative & support +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

27.5% Managers ◂ +14.9 pts 12.6%
13.6% Professionals +10.4 pts ▸ 24.0%
14.2% Labourers ◂ +5.3 pts 8.9%
13.5% Community & personal service ◂ +1.5 pts 12.0%
9.6% Clerical & administrative +3.7 pts ▸ 13.3%
9.0% Technicians & trades +3.8 pts ▸ 12.7%
3.5% Sales workers +5.2 pts ▸ 8.8%
6.4% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.5 pts 5.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.5 60th pct 6.2 87th pct
Types ≤15 min in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.8 more in Major Cities of Australia
4.0 72nd pct 5.8 86th pct
15-min city in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
52.0% 74th pct 72.0% 86th pct
Walk to shops in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +26.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
46.1% 60th pct 73.0% 90th pct
Walk to transit in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +56.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
28.4% 37th pct 85.3% 85th pct
Walk to school in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
50.9% 60th pct 71.9% 85th pct
Walk to a park in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +35.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
60.0% 40th pct 95.3% 87th pct
Walk to health in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
45.2% 73rd pct 58.6% 88th pct
Amenities/1k in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.5 more in Very Remote Australia
46.1 79th pct 13.6 9th pct
Intersections/km² in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +73 higher in Major Cities of Australia
0 2nd pct 73 85th pct
Mean slope in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.9% 9th pct 6.1% 73rd pct

Compare Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional 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). Very Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA14/very-remote-australia/vs/RA30/major-cities-of-australia