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Very Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 723 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 vasty different environments. Major Cities of Australia is a populous hub where 28.0% of people were born overseas and a high 26.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Very Remote Australia is sparsely populated with a much stronger First Nations presence, making up 31.9% of its residents. Life is also more expensive in the cities, where typical weekly rent is $320, compared to $165 in the very remote areas. These differences extend to the layout of the land; Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, while Very Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent.

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the share of people aged 65 and over, at 18.6% and 17.8% respectively. While they share similar home sizes and the same typical number of people per bedroom, other gaps are shifting. The difference in education levels and the number of people born overseas has widened since 2011. However, the gap in typical weekly rents has narrowed slightly over the same period.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,337,492 larger in Major Cities of Australia First Nations: 30.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Year 12: 27.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Rent: $155 higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 22.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1,337,492 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6,708 36th pct 1,344,200 87th pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap widening
40 yrs 43rd pct 39 yrs 38th pct
First Nations in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +30.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
31.9% 87th pct 1.7% 14th pct
Aged 65+ in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
17.8% 58th pct 18.6% 64th pct
Under 15 in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.6% 81st pct 17.1% 45th pct
De facto in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
16.5% 85th pct 10.8% 14th pct

Age structure

24.3% Young adults (25–44) +3.1 pts ▸ 27.5%
27.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.9 pts 24.6%
19.6% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.5 pts 17.1%
17.8% Seniors (65+) +0.9 pts ▸ 18.6%
10.8% Youth (15–24) +1.4 pts ▸ 12.2%

Marital status

46.1% Never married ◂ +9.5 pts 36.6%
37.3% Married +8.2 pts ▸ 45.4%
7.6% Divorced +1.8 pts ▸ 9.4%
5.4% Widowed +0.1 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.7% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 3.1%

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 +22.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.3% 0th pct 28.0% 86th pct

Country of birth

77.3% Australia ◂ +8.9 pts 68.3%
0.7% England +4.9 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.6% India +2.6 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.1% China +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.0% Vietnam +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.0% Italy +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.2% Philippines +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.8% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%
0.3% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.1% South Africa +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Ancestry

28.0% English +8.6 pts ▸ 36.5%
31.0% Australian ◂ +1.1 pts 29.9%
8.8% Irish ◂ +1.2 pts 7.6%
6.7% Scottish +1.4 pts ▸ 8.1%
0.8% Italian +6.2 pts ▸ 6.9%
2.9% German +3.7 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.7% Chinese +3.5 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.4% Indian +2.7 pts ▸ 3.1%
0.3% Greek +2.5 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.0% Vietnamese +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.5% Dutch +1.1 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.2% Filipino +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

Language

Other language in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +18.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
3.2% 2nd pct 21.9% 83rd pct
Limited English in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.3% 15th pct 3.3% 86th pct

Language used at home

80.6% English only ◂ +6.3 pts 74.3%
0.2% Mandarin +2.1 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.0% Italian +1.7 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.5 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.1% Greek +1.4 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.2% Punjabi +1.2 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.0% Arabic +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.1% Cantonese +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.1% Hindi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.1% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Religion

No religion in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
31.1% 22nd pct 44.9% 69th pct

Religious affiliation

49.5% Christianity ◂ +9.6 pts 39.9%
31.1% No religion +13.8 pts ▸ 44.9%
17.9% Not stated ◂ +12.4 pts 5.5%
0.2% Islam +2.6 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.7% Hinduism +2.1 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.4% Buddhism +1.9 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.3% Other religions +1.4 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +27.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
31.6% 18th pct 59.4% 87th 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 26.1% 86th pct

Highest year of school

31.6% Year 12 +27.8 pts ▸ 59.4%
24.4% Year 10 ◂ +11.8 pts 12.7%
17.8% Year 9 or below ◂ +9.2 pts 8.6%
7.3% Year 11 +7.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

Highest qualification level

14.6% Bachelor degree +13.9 pts ▸ 28.5%
26.9% Certificate III / IV +0.2 pts ▸ 27.1%
11.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +3.8 pts ▸ 14.8%
3.5% Postgraduate degree +6.8 pts ▸ 10.3%
1.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.3 pts ▸ 4.1%
2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.6 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

9.1% Management & commerce +10.2 pts ▸ 19.3%
10.2% Engineering & related +3.8 pts ▸ 14.0%
7.7% Society & culture +6.1 pts ▸ 13.7%
8.0% Health +4.5 pts ▸ 12.6%
9.1% Education ◂ +1.1 pts 8.0%
6.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +4.5 pts 1.6%
4.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.4 pts ▸ 5.0%
3.6% Architecture & building +1.1 pts ▸ 4.8%
1.3% Creative arts +2.4 pts ▸ 3.6%
1.2% Natural & physical sciences +2.2 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.7% Information technology +2.6 pts ▸ 3.3%

Income

Personal income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$66 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$694 38th pct $760 56th pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$327 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,212 14th pct $1,539 58th pct
Family income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$455 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,528 18th pct $1,983 71st pct
High earners in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
8.2% 43rd pct 9.8% 61st pct
High-income homes in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.6% 32nd pct 18.1% 66th pct

Household income distribution

22.8% $1,500–$2,999 +7.0 pts ▸ 29.8%
27.5% $650–$1,499 +1.2 pts ▸ 28.7%
23.3% Under $650 ◂ +6.0 pts 17.3%
6.9% $3,000–$3,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 9.2%
6.7% $4,000 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 +3.3 pts ▸ 42.1%
26.6% $650–$1,499 +6.5 pts ▸ 33.1%
12.4% $1,500–$2,999 +4.0 pts ▸ 16.4%
3.3% $3,000 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
24.2% 36th pct 30.2% 66th pct
Mental health in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
5.7% 26th pct 9.8% 65th pct
Needs assistance in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.2% 32nd pct 6.6% 82nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

5.7% Mental health +4.1 pts ▸ 9.8%
7.5% Arthritis +2.0 pts ▸ 9.5%
4.7% Other condition +4.2 pts ▸ 9.0%
7.8% Asthma +1.0 pts ▸ 8.7%
5.9% Diabetes ◂ +0.4 pts 5.5%
4.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.2 pts 4.4%
2.2% Cancer +0.8 pts ▸ 3.1%
1.8% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%
0.5% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.7% None +7.0 pts ▸ 63.7%
15.9% One condition +4.1 pts ▸ 20.0%
4.6% Two conditions +2.0 pts ▸ 6.6%
3.7% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
16.8% 54th pct 15.3% 45th pct
Unpaid carers in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
9.0% 29th pct 13.1% 86th pct
Unpaid child care in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
18.9% 30th pct 27.1% 82nd pct
Defence service in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.0% 16th pct 3.1% 47th pct
Housework 15h+ in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
17.1% 34th pct 20.5% 59th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21,135 larger in Major Cities of Australia
2,137 45th pct 23,272 78th 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 +23.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
18.4% 15th pct 41.8% 87th pct
Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
10.9% 27th pct 14.3% 49th pct
Median income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$79 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$471 36th pct $550 59th pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$402 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$967 0th pct $1,369 53rd pct
Indigenous language in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.8% 14th pct 8.4% 59th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia even gap narrowing
2.4 43rd pct 2.4 43rd pct
One-parent in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
22.3% 91st pct 15.2% 58th pct
Living alone in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.5 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
35.5% 94th pct 28.0% 47th pct

Family composition

47.6% Couples with children +9.0 pts ▸ 56.6%
28.2% Couples without children ◂ +1.3 pts 26.9%
22.3% One-parent families ◂ +7.1 pts 15.2%
2.0% Other families ◂ +0.7 pts 1.3%

Household size

35.5% 1 person ◂ +7.5 pts 28.0%
31.3% 2 people +2.1 pts ▸ 33.4%
12.6% 3 people +3.3 pts ▸ 15.9%
10.1% 4 people +4.8 pts ▸ 14.9%
5.4% 5 people even 5.4%
4.9% 6 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$155 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$165 21st pct $320 73rd pct
Mortgage in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$560 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,000 13th pct $1,560 60th 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 +5.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
34.5% 69th pct 28.9% 51st pct
Owned outright in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
36.0% 58th pct 30.7% 41st pct
Separate houses in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
85.1% 45th pct 74.4% 20th pct
3+ bedrooms in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
68.7% 16th pct 76.3% 60th pct

How homes are owned or rented

15.7% Owned with a mortgage +21.1 pts ▸ 36.8%
36.0% Owned outright ◂ +5.3 pts 30.7%
34.5% Rented ◂ +5.6 pts 28.9%
8.3% Other tenure ◂ +5.9 pts 2.4%
5.6% Not stated ◂ +4.4 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

85.1% Separate house ◂ +10.7 pts 74.4%
3.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +12.9 pts ▸ 16.8%
1.3% Flat or apartment +7.0 pts ▸ 8.4%
4.1% Other dwelling ◂ +3.9 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

36.5% 3 bedrooms +15.0 pts ▸ 51.5%
24.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.8 pts 20.8%
16.6% 2 bedrooms +2.4 pts ▸ 19.0%
8.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.7 pts 3.4%
7.5% 5 or more ◂ +3.5 pts 4.0%
1.2% Studio / none ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

57.9% Under $200 ◂ +41.3 pts 16.6%
24.7% $200–$349 +16.7 pts ▸ 41.4%
4.8% $350–$549 +29.5 pts ▸ 34.3%
1.1% $550–$749 +2.4 pts ▸ 3.5%
0.9% $750 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +25.3 pts 19.3%
25.8% $1,000–$1,799 +13.7 pts ▸ 39.5%
10.5% $1,800–$2,999 +15.9 pts ▸ 26.4%
9.4% $3,000 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 10.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
13.9% 89th pct 7.8% 74th pct
Work from home in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
17.1% 86th pct 9.7% 49th pct
PT commute in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
0.3% 14th pct 5.0% 86th pct

How people get to work

45.5% Car (driver) +17.8 pts ▸ 63.3%
17.1% Worked at home ◂ +7.4 pts 9.7%
14.7% Walked ◂ +12.8 pts 1.9%
5.2% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.9 pts 4.3%
0.3% Bus +3.6 pts ▸ 3.9%
2.2% Bicycle ◂ +1.2 pts 1.0%
0.0% Train +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 37.6%
27.4% 2 vehicles +9.4 pts ▸ 36.8%
13.9% No vehicle ◂ +6.1 pts 7.8%
11.3% 3 vehicles +0.3 pts ▸ 11.6%
9.7% 4 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 6.2%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
25.4% 7th pct 38.3% 56th pct
Recent arrivals in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
19.5% 71st pct 15.8% 51st pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.5% 34th pct 5.6% 60th pct
Participation in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
50.4% 29th pct 61.6% 77th pct
Full-time in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
68.4% 86th pct 57.5% 43rd pct

Industries people work in

24.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +23.3 pts 1.0%
9.6% Health care & social assistance +7.6 pts ▸ 17.2%
13.1% Public administration & safety ◂ +5.9 pts 7.2%
13.0% Education & training ◂ +3.9 pts 9.1%
5.2% Retail trade +4.6 pts ▸ 9.7%
4.7% Construction +3.6 pts ▸ 8.3%
8.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.6 pts 6.6%
1.5% Professional & technical +5.6 pts ▸ 7.1%
0.9% Manufacturing +5.8 pts ▸ 6.7%
3.1% Transport & warehousing +1.1 pts ▸ 4.1%
2.4% Other services +1.5 pts ▸ 4.0%
2.9% Administrative & support +0.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

27.5% Managers ◂ +15.6 pts 12.0%
13.6% Professionals +10.2 pts ▸ 23.8%
14.2% Labourers ◂ +4.9 pts 9.3%
13.5% Community & personal service ◂ +0.3 pts 13.2%
9.6% Clerical & administrative +3.6 pts ▸ 13.2%
9.0% Technicians & trades +3.8 pts ▸ 12.8%
3.5% Sales workers +5.0 pts ▸ 8.5%
6.4% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.9 pts 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.2 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.5 60th pct 6.7 95th pct
Types ≤15 min in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 more in Major Cities of Australia
4.0 72nd pct 6.4 97th pct
15-min city in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +30.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
52.0% 74th pct 82.2% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
46.1% 60th pct 78.3% 97th pct
Walk to transit in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +65.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
28.4% 37th pct 94.3% 97th pct
Walk to school in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
50.9% 60th pct 83.2% 96th pct
Walk to a park in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +37.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
60.0% 40th pct 97.7% 96th pct
Walk to health in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +19.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
45.2% 73rd pct 64.5% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +31.5 more in Very Remote Australia
46.1 79th pct 14.5 18th pct
Intersections/km² in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +110 higher in Major Cities of Australia
0 2nd pct 110 92nd pct
Mean slope in Very Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.9% 9th pct 4.6% 41st 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 Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote 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/RA40/major-cities-of-australia