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Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 695 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are vastly different places. Major Cities of Australia is far more diverse and wealthy, with 28.8% of people born overseas and a typical weekly household income of $2,372. In contrast, Remote Australia has a much older population, with a typical age of 55 and 30.7% of residents aged 65 and over. Educational attainment and income are also much lower in Remote Australia, where only 34.4% of people completed Year 12 and the typical weekly household income is $1,050.

Both areas have similar shares of First Nations people, with Major Cities of Australia at 2.0% and Remote Australia at 1.6%, both sitting close to the national figure. Beyond this, the gaps between them have generally widened since 2011. This is seen in the growing difference in typical ages and the increasing divide in household wealth and education. While Remote Australia has a much higher share of homes owned outright at 61.7%, Major Cities of Australia has far more people renting at 30.7%.

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Where they differ most

Population: 449,893 larger in Major Cities of Australia Median age: 20 yrs older in Remote Australia Year 12: 42.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 33.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Personal income: $607 higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +449,893 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
3,305 29th pct 453,198 77th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
55 yrs 98th pct 35 yrs 7th pct
First Nations in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
1.6% 13th pct 2.0% 16th pct
Aged 65+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +17.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
30.7% 100th pct 13.7% 36th pct
Under 15 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
14.6% 28th pct 18.3% 61st pct
De facto in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
9.8% 5th pct 12.5% 37th pct

Age structure

18.2% Young adults (25–44) +14.2 pts ▸ 32.4%
30.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +17.0 pts 13.7%
30.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +7.9 pts 22.3%
14.6% Children (0–14) +3.6 pts ▸ 18.3%
6.4% Youth (15–24) +6.9 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

51.7% Married ◂ +4.9 pts 46.8%
26.2% Never married +13.0 pts ▸ 39.2%
10.6% Divorced ◂ +2.9 pts 7.7%
7.7% Widowed ◂ +4.0 pts 3.7%
3.8% Separated ◂ +1.3 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 +21.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
7.3% 10th pct 28.8% 87th pct

Country of birth

83.4% Australia ◂ +15.9 pts 67.5%
0.5% India +3.3 pts ▸ 3.8%
1.9% England +1.0 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.0% China +2.7 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.1% Nepal +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.9% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.3% Philippines +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Vietnam +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.2% South Africa +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.1% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Ancestry

42.2% English ◂ +10.3 pts 32.0%
42.1% Australian ◂ +10.6 pts 31.5%
10.7% Irish +0.9 pts ▸ 11.6%
11.5% German ◂ +7.3 pts 4.2%
10.9% Scottish ◂ +0.9 pts 10.0%
0.6% Chinese +5.1 pts ▸ 5.7%
0.5% Indian +4.0 pts ▸ 4.5%
1.3% Italian +2.0 pts ▸ 3.4%
1.1% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.6% Filipino +1.0 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.0% Vietnamese +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.5% Greek +0.7 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Other language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
3.0% 0th pct 24.6% 86th pct
Limited English in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.4% 19th pct 2.5% 78th pct

Language used at home

88.7% English only ◂ +17.5 pts 71.2%
0.1% Mandarin +3.1 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Punjabi +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Hindi +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Arabic +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.1% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

No religion in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
40.2% 48th pct 44.2% 66th pct

Religious affiliation

48.1% Christianity ◂ +10.0 pts 38.1%
40.2% No religion +3.9 pts ▸ 44.2%
10.4% Not stated ◂ +4.8 pts 5.6%
0.2% Hinduism +4.3 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.2% Islam +3.0 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.4% Buddhism +2.4 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.5% Other religions +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.1% Judaism +0.1 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 +33.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
9.7% 14th pct 43.0% 100th pct

Highest year of school

34.4% Year 12 +42.7 pts ▸ 77.1%
21.0% Year 10 ◂ +10.5 pts 10.5%
17.8% Year 11 ◂ +14.3 pts 3.5%
17.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +12.8 pts 4.2%

Highest qualification level

37.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +22.5 pts 15.0%
14.8% Bachelor degree +19.1 pts ▸ 33.9%
2.4% Postgraduate degree +17.5 pts ▸ 19.9%
13.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.9 pts 13.0%
2.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +4.1 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.3 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

9.8% Society & culture +10.3 pts ▸ 20.1%
7.3% Management & commerce +12.7 pts ▸ 20.1%
12.5% Engineering & related ◂ +4.0 pts 8.4%
11.0% Health ◂ +2.3 pts 8.7%
10.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +9.1 pts 1.6%
10.3% Education ◂ +3.4 pts 6.9%
0.7% Information technology +6.8 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +3.5 pts 3.3%
1.4% Natural & physical sciences +4.2 pts ▸ 5.6%
2.3% Creative arts +1.9 pts ▸ 4.2%
3.5% Architecture & building +0.4 pts ▸ 3.9%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$607 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$597 24th pct $1,204 86th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,322 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,050 1st pct $2,372 89th pct
Family income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,443 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,429 11th pct $2,872 99th pct
High earners in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.3% 18th pct 22.1% 92nd pct
High-income homes in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +28.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
7.9% 0th pct 36.4% 97th pct

Household income distribution

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +16.0 pts 17.5%
23.5% $1,500–$2,999 +9.0 pts ▸ 32.6%
26.3% Under $650 ◂ +17.8 pts 8.6%
3.8% $4,000 or more +18.1 pts ▸ 21.9%
4.1% $3,000–$3,999 +10.3 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

47.6% Under $650 ◂ +19.8 pts 27.9%
11.1% $1,500–$2,999 +18.6 pts ▸ 29.7%
28.5% $650–$1,499 +1.2 pts ▸ 29.7%
2.0% $3,000 or more +5.9 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.0 pts higher in Remote Australia
36.0% 100th pct 28.1% 57th pct
Mental health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Remote Australia
10.4% 72nd pct 10.0% 67th pct
Needs assistance in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
7.1% 90th pct 4.6% 39th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

14.0% Arthritis ◂ +6.3 pts 7.7%
10.4% Mental health ◂ +0.4 pts 10.0%
10.2% Asthma ◂ +1.2 pts 9.0%
8.0% Other condition +1.7 pts ▸ 9.7%
6.1% Diabetes ◂ +2.3 pts 3.9%
5.7% Heart disease ◂ +2.6 pts 3.1%
4.3% Cancer ◂ +1.6 pts 2.7%
3.5% Lung condition ◂ +2.2 pts 1.3%
1.6% Stroke ◂ +0.9 pts 0.7%
0.6% Dementia even 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

52.9% None +13.0 pts ▸ 66.0%
22.7% One condition ◂ +2.9 pts 19.8%
8.3% Two conditions ◂ +2.5 pts 5.8%
5.1% Three or more ◂ +2.6 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
33.5% 100th pct 18.4% 69th pct
Unpaid carers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
15.3% 100th pct 12.0% 65th pct
Unpaid child care in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
18.4% 28th pct 28.3% 87th pct
Defence service in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.7% 74th pct 6.0% 94th pct
Housework 15h+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
28.6% 100th pct 19.3% 46th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8,833 larger in Major Cities of Australia
54 18th pct 8,887 60th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +25 yrs older in Remote Australia
49 yrs 96th pct 24 yrs 29th pct
Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
42.1% 87th pct 58.9% 100th pct
Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.5 pts higher in Remote Australia
21.7% 73rd pct 7.2% 0th pct
Median income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$537 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$466 35th pct $1,003 89th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,323 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$966 0th pct $2,289 92nd pct
Indigenous language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
5.6% 43rd pct 7.5% 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
2.1 11th pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
10.5% 4th pct 11.9% 14th pct
Living alone in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
36.4% 97th pct 25.8% 28th pct

Family composition

43.7% Couples with children +16.2 pts ▸ 59.8%
45.0% Couples without children ◂ +17.8 pts 27.2%
10.5% One-parent families +1.3 pts ▸ 11.9%
1.0% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

41.6% 2 people ◂ +8.9 pts 32.7%
36.4% 1 person ◂ +10.7 pts 25.8%
9.2% 3 people +7.3 pts ▸ 16.5%
6.4% 4 people +10.0 pts ▸ 16.4%
4.8% 5 people +1.3 pts ▸ 6.0%
1.7% 6 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$330 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$120 9th pct $450 100th pct
Mortgage in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,430 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$650 0th pct $2,080 92nd pct
People / bedroom in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +17.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.6% 0th pct 30.7% 57th pct
Owned outright in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +35.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
61.7% 100th pct 26.6% 26th pct
Separate houses in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
96.0% 94th pct 63.2% 3rd pct
3+ bedrooms in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
75.7% 56th pct 73.0% 40th pct

How homes are owned or rented

61.7% Owned outright ◂ +35.1 pts 26.6%
16.4% Owned with a mortgage +23.8 pts ▸ 40.2%
13.6% Rented +17.1 pts ▸ 30.7%
6.3% Other tenure ◂ +4.7 pts 1.6%
2.1% Not stated ◂ +1.2 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

96.0% Separate house ◂ +32.8 pts 63.2%
0.5% Flat or apartment +18.9 pts ▸ 19.4%
1.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +15.6 pts ▸ 17.2%
1.4% Other dwelling ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

50.9% 3 bedrooms ◂ +13.8 pts 37.1%
22.2% 4 bedrooms +6.6 pts ▸ 28.8%
17.0% 2 bedrooms +0.5 pts ▸ 17.5%
4.6% 1 bedroom +3.8 pts ▸ 8.4%
2.6% 5 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 7.1%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

65.3% Under $200 ◂ +52.8 pts 12.5%
0.0% $350–$549 +45.8 pts ▸ 45.8%
0.0% $550–$749 +21.2 pts ▸ 21.2%
14.2% $200–$349 ◂ +1.8 pts 12.4%
0.0% $750 or more +5.0 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

67.0% Under $1,000 ◂ +55.9 pts 11.0%
3.5% $1,800–$2,999 +35.0 pts ▸ 38.5%
16.1% $1,000–$1,799 +9.5 pts ▸ 25.6%
1.3% $3,000 or more +19.6 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.1% 13th pct 5.6% 51st pct
Work from home in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.1% 89th pct 10.9% 58th pct
PT commute in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.2% 12th pct 4.6% 83rd pct

How people get to work

54.5% Car (driver) +4.5 pts ▸ 59.0%
19.1% Worked at home ◂ +8.2 pts 10.9%
10.0% Walked ◂ +6.0 pts 4.0%
2.7% Car (passenger) +2.3 pts ▸ 5.0%
0.2% Bus +3.4 pts ▸ 3.6%
0.3% Bicycle +1.8 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

29.3% 1 vehicle +9.9 pts ▸ 39.2%
35.6% 2 vehicles +3.1 pts ▸ 38.7%
18.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +7.5 pts 10.9%
12.6% 4 or more ◂ +7.0 pts 5.5%
4.1% No vehicle +1.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
24.0% 2nd pct 46.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.0% 1st pct 16.7% 58th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
5.2% 51st pct 3.8% 16th pct
Participation in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +19.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
50.5% 29th pct 69.6% 99th pct
Full-time in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
56.7% 35th pct 65.8% 76th pct

Industries people work in

41.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +41.1 pts 0.2%
4.8% Public administration & safety +25.0 pts ▸ 29.8%
12.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.4 pts 11.5%
1.6% Professional & technical +9.4 pts ▸ 10.9%
8.4% Education & training +1.0 pts ▸ 9.4%
3.4% Construction +3.2 pts ▸ 6.6%
4.5% Retail trade +1.9 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.2% Accommodation & food +2.1 pts ▸ 6.3%
4.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.5 pts 2.1%
1.9% Other services +1.0 pts ▸ 2.9%
1.4% Administrative & support +1.2 pts ▸ 2.6%
2.0% Manufacturing ◂ +0.3 pts 1.7%

Occupations people work in

35.6% Managers ◂ +17.7 pts 17.9%
11.8% Professionals +19.7 pts ▸ 31.5%
8.2% Clerical & administrative +6.3 pts ▸ 14.5%
13.3% Labourers ◂ +8.4 pts 5.0%
9.8% Community & personal service +1.1 pts ▸ 10.9%
6.3% Technicians & trades +3.3 pts ▸ 9.6%
8.7% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +6.3 pts 2.4%
4.1% Sales workers +2.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.5 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.4 58th pct 7.0 98th pct
Types ≤15 min in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.8 more in Major Cities of Australia
3.7 58th pct 6.5 98th pct
15-min city in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +33.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.2% 71st pct 82.1% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +37.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
43.0% 43rd pct 80.1% 99th pct
Walk to transit in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +54.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
43.5% 57th pct 97.7% 100th pct
Walk to school in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +40.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
44.7% 43rd pct 85.5% 98th pct
Walk to a park in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +45.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
53.6% 21st pct 99.5% 100th pct
Walk to health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +24.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
40.1% 64th pct 64.4% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +94.7 more in Remote Australia
113.8 100th pct 19.1 43rd pct
Intersections/km² in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +171 higher in Major Cities of Australia
0 32nd pct 171 100th pct
Mean slope in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia
5.9% 68th pct 5.5% 61st pct

Compare Remote Australia with nearby areas

Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Very 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/RA23/remote-australia/vs/RA80/major-cities-of-australia