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Very Remote Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 716 km apart · Very Remote Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Very Remote Australia Remote Australia

Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia are both sparsely populated areas, but they differ in their demographics and access to services. Very Remote Australia has a far higher proportion of First Nations people at 31.9% compared to 17.2% in Remote Australia. However, Remote Australia is far more likely to have residents who speak a First Nations language (17.5% versus 2.8%) and has a far higher rate of Year 12 completion (41.7% versus 31.6%). In terms of accessibility, Very Remote Australia has far higher rates of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services, groceries, and schools.

Since 2011, the income gap between the two has narrowed, with typical household weekly incomes now $1,589 in Remote Australia and $1,212 in Very Remote Australia. They share many similarities, such as having almost identical shares of children under 15 and people with bachelor degrees. Both areas also have a very similar proportion of detached houses, sitting around 85%.

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Where they differ most

Population: 64,643 larger in Remote Australia First Nations: 14.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Family income: $453 higher in Remote Australia Household income: $377 higher in Remote Australia Participation: 9.5 pts higher in Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +64,643 larger in Remote Australia gap steady
6,708 36th pct 71,351 59th pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +3 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap steady
40 yrs 43rd pct 37 yrs 25th pct
First Nations in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +14.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
31.9% 87th pct 17.2% 76th pct
Aged 65+ in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
17.8% 58th pct 14.8% 42nd pct
Under 15 in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
19.6% 81st pct 20.2% 86th pct
De facto in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia even gap steady
16.5% 85th pct 16.4% 84th pct

Age structure

27.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.1 pts 26.4%
24.3% Young adults (25–44) +2.8 pts ▸ 27.2%
19.6% Children (0–14) +0.6 pts ▸ 20.2%
17.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.9 pts 14.8%
10.8% Youth (15–24) +0.6 pts ▸ 11.4%

Marital status

46.1% Never married ◂ +4.5 pts 41.6%
37.3% Married +4.7 pts ▸ 41.9%
7.6% Divorced +1.0 pts ▸ 8.6%
5.4% Widowed ◂ +1.1 pts 4.3%
3.7% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Very Remote Australia Remote 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 Remote Australia +5.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
5.3% 0th pct 10.6% 26th pct

Country of birth

77.3% Australia ◂ +0.6 pts 76.7%
0.8% New Zealand +1.5 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.7% England +0.8 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.2% Philippines +1.0 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.6% India ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%
0.1% South Africa +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%
0.0% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.1% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.0% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

31.0% Australian +4.3 pts ▸ 35.3%
28.0% English +3.8 pts ▸ 31.8%
8.8% Irish +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%
6.7% Scottish +1.5 pts ▸ 8.2%
2.9% German +2.1 pts ▸ 4.9%
0.8% Italian +2.3 pts ▸ 3.1%
0.2% Filipino +1.4 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.5% Dutch +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.7% Chinese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.4% Indian even 0.4%
0.3% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%
0.0% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Language

Other language in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
3.2% 2nd pct 7.9% 44th pct
Limited English in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
0.3% 15th pct 0.6% 28th pct

Language used at home

80.6% English only ◂ +1.0 pts 79.6%
0.1% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.2% Mandarin even 0.2%
0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%
0.1% Hindi even 0.1%
0.1% Greek even 0.1%
0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
31.1% 22nd pct 33.4% 30th pct

Religious affiliation

49.5% Christianity +1.5 pts ▸ 51.0%
31.1% No religion +2.3 pts ▸ 33.4%
17.9% Not stated ◂ +3.7 pts 14.2%
0.7% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%
0.4% Buddhism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.3% Other religions even 0.3%
0.2% Islam even 0.2%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +10.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
31.6% 18th pct 41.7% 56th pct
Bachelor+ in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
10.8% 27th pct 11.3% 32nd pct

Highest year of school

31.6% Year 12 +10.1 pts ▸ 41.7%
24.4% Year 10 +0.5 pts ▸ 24.9%
17.8% Year 9 or below ◂ +6.8 pts 11.0%
7.3% Year 11 +0.1 pts ▸ 7.3%

Highest qualification level

26.9% Certificate III / IV +8.5 pts ▸ 35.3%
14.6% Bachelor degree +0.4 pts ▸ 15.0%
11.0% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.2 pts 10.9%
3.5% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.7 pts 2.8%
2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%
1.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.3 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

10.2% Engineering & related +8.6 pts ▸ 18.7%
9.1% Management & commerce +1.8 pts ▸ 10.9%
9.1% Education ◂ +1.6 pts 7.5%
8.0% Health even 8.1%
7.7% Society & culture ◂ +0.7 pts 7.0%
6.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.5 pts 4.6%
4.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.8 pts ▸ 5.4%
3.6% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 4.5%
1.2% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%
1.3% Creative arts even 1.3%
0.7% Information technology +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Income

Personal income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$132 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$694 38th pct $826 67th pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$377 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$1,212 14th pct $1,589 60th pct
Family income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$453 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$1,528 18th pct $1,981 71st pct
High earners in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
8.2% 43rd pct 12.5% 73rd pct
High-income homes in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +5.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
13.6% 32nd pct 18.8% 70th pct

Household income distribution

27.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.0 pts 24.5%
22.8% $1,500–$2,999 +4.3 pts ▸ 27.1%
23.3% Under $650 ◂ +5.5 pts 17.8%
6.7% $4,000 or more +2.9 pts ▸ 9.6%
6.9% $3,000–$3,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 9.2%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 ◂ +3.8 pts 35.0%
26.6% $650–$1,499 +0.6 pts ▸ 27.2%
12.4% $1,500–$2,999 +5.6 pts ▸ 18.0%
3.3% $3,000 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 4.3%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
24.2% 36th pct 23.0% 31st pct
Mental health in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Remote Australia
5.7% 26th pct 5.8% 27th pct
Needs assistance in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
4.2% 32nd pct 3.9% 28th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

7.8% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 6.9%
7.5% Arthritis ◂ +0.9 pts 6.6%
5.9% Diabetes ◂ +1.1 pts 4.8%
5.7% Mental health +0.1 pts ▸ 5.8%
4.7% Other condition +0.6 pts ▸ 5.4%
4.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.9 pts 3.7%
2.2% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 2.3%
1.8% Lung condition even 1.8%
1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%
0.5% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.7% None +5.2 pts ▸ 61.9%
15.9% One condition ◂ +0.2 pts 15.7%
4.6% Two conditions +0.2 pts ▸ 4.8%
3.7% Three or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
16.8% 54th pct 17.7% 61st pct
Unpaid carers in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
9.0% 29th pct 8.9% 27th pct
Unpaid child care in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +5.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
18.9% 30th pct 24.4% 52nd pct
Defence service in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.8 pts higher in Remote Australia
2.0% 16th pct 2.8% 36th pct
Housework 15h+ in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
17.1% 34th pct 19.3% 46th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +10,115 larger in Remote Australia
2,137 45th pct 12,252 67th pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +6 yrs older in Very Remote Australia
31 yrs 71st pct 25 yrs 43rd pct
Year 12 in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +12.8 pts higher in Remote Australia
18.4% 15th pct 31.2% 54th pct
Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.9 pts higher in Remote Australia
10.9% 27th pct 15.8% 59th pct
Median income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$11 higher in Very Remote Australia
$471 36th pct $460 33rd pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$249 higher in Remote Australia
$967 0th pct $1,216 32nd pct
Indigenous language in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +14.7 pts higher in Remote Australia
2.8% 14th pct 17.5% 75th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Remote Australia gap steady
2.4 43rd pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +5.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
22.3% 91st pct 16.4% 73rd pct
Living alone in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +6.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
35.5% 94th pct 29.2% 58th pct

Family composition

47.6% Couples with children +6.0 pts ▸ 53.6%
28.2% Couples without children +0.4 pts ▸ 28.6%
22.3% One-parent families ◂ +5.9 pts 16.4%
2.0% Other families ◂ +0.6 pts 1.4%

Household size

35.5% 1 person ◂ +6.2 pts 29.2%
31.3% 2 people +3.1 pts ▸ 34.4%
12.6% 3 people +0.4 pts ▸ 13.0%
10.1% 4 people +2.1 pts ▸ 12.1%
5.4% 5 people +1.3 pts ▸ 6.7%
4.9% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 4.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$35 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$165 21st pct $200 30th pct
Mortgage in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$300 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$1,000 13th pct $1,300 36th pct
People / bedroom in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Remote Australia gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.90 71st pct
Renting in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
34.5% 69th pct 36.0% 72nd pct
Owned outright in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +5.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
36.0% 58th pct 30.9% 42nd pct
Separate houses in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
85.1% 45th pct 85.7% 47th pct
3+ bedrooms in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
68.7% 16th pct 70.3% 27th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.0% Owned outright ◂ +5.1 pts 30.9%
34.5% Rented +1.5 pts ▸ 36.0%
15.7% Owned with a mortgage +6.4 pts ▸ 22.1%
8.3% Other tenure ◂ +0.8 pts 7.5%
5.6% Not stated ◂ +2.0 pts 3.6%

Types of homes

85.1% Separate house +0.6 pts ▸ 85.7%
3.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.7 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 3.3%
1.3% Flat or apartment +1.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

Bedrooms per home

36.5% 3 bedrooms +5.8 pts ▸ 42.3%
24.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.1 pts 21.5%
16.6% 2 bedrooms +0.8 pts ▸ 17.4%
8.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.8 pts 7.3%
7.5% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 6.4%
1.2% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

Weekly rent distribution

57.9% Under $200 ◂ +12.6 pts 45.3%
24.7% $200–$349 +3.9 pts ▸ 28.6%
4.8% $350–$549 +10.1 pts ▸ 14.9%
1.1% $550–$749 +1.0 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.9% $750 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +15.6 pts 29.0%
25.8% $1,000–$1,799 +8.5 pts ▸ 34.3%
10.5% $1,800–$2,999 +9.7 pts ▸ 20.2%
9.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 8.2%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +6.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
13.9% 89th pct 7.0% 69th pct
Work from home in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +5.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
17.1% 86th pct 11.9% 64th pct
PT commute in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
0.3% 14th pct 1.9% 52nd pct

How people get to work

45.5% Car (driver) +9.6 pts ▸ 55.1%
17.1% Worked at home ◂ +5.1 pts 11.9%
14.7% Walked ◂ +5.3 pts 9.4%
5.2% Car (passenger) +0.3 pts ▸ 5.5%
2.2% Bicycle ◂ +1.7 pts 0.5%
0.3% Bus +1.5 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.8 pts 33.1%
27.4% 2 vehicles +8.4 pts ▸ 35.8%
11.3% 3 vehicles +3.2 pts ▸ 14.5%
13.9% No vehicle ◂ +6.9 pts 7.0%
9.7% 4 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 9.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +9.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
25.4% 7th pct 35.3% 43rd pct
Recent arrivals in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.5% 71st pct 19.6% 72nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
4.5% 34th pct 4.1% 27th pct
Participation in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +9.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
50.4% 29th pct 59.9% 72nd pct
Full-time in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia even gap narrowing
68.4% 86th pct 68.3% 85th pct

Industries people work in

24.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +6.1 pts 18.3%
2.6% Mining +13.6 pts ▸ 16.2%
13.1% Public administration & safety ◂ +7.4 pts 5.7%
13.0% Education & training ◂ +5.4 pts 7.5%
9.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.5 pts 9.1%
8.2% Accommodation & food +0.4 pts ▸ 8.6%
5.2% Retail trade +0.8 pts ▸ 5.9%
4.7% Construction +0.9 pts ▸ 5.6%
3.1% Transport & warehousing +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%
2.4% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%
0.9% Manufacturing +2.1 pts ▸ 3.0%
2.9% Administrative & support ◂ +0.3 pts 2.7%

Occupations people work in

27.5% Managers ◂ +8.5 pts 19.0%
9.0% Technicians & trades +6.0 pts ▸ 15.0%
14.2% Labourers ◂ +0.3 pts 13.9%
13.6% Professionals ◂ +1.3 pts 12.3%
13.5% Community & personal service ◂ +3.9 pts 9.6%
6.4% Machinery operators & drivers +6.4 pts ▸ 12.8%
9.6% Clerical & administrative even 9.6%
3.5% Sales workers +1.9 pts ▸ 5.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.5 higher in Very Remote Australia
3.5 60th pct 2.0 11th pct
Types ≤15 min in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 more in Very Remote Australia
4.0 72nd pct 2.3 12th pct
15-min city in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +27.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
52.0% 74th pct 24.2% 12th pct
Walk to shops in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +20.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
46.1% 60th pct 25.5% 11th pct
Walk to transit in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +28.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
28.4% 37th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +12.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
50.9% 60th pct 38.2% 28th pct
Walk to a park in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +9.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
60.0% 40th pct 50.1% 14th pct
Walk to health in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +22.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
45.2% 73rd pct 22.3% 15th pct
Amenities/1k in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +23.7 more in Very Remote Australia
46.1 79th pct 22.4 57th pct
Intersections/km² in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia even
0 2nd pct 0 17th pct
Mean slope in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Remote Australia
2.9% 9th pct 5.0% 48th 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 Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Very Remote Australia vs Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA14/very-remote-australia/vs/RA33/remote-australia