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Major Cities of Australia vs Very Remote Australia

Name: Major Cities of Australia vs Very Remote Australia — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 793 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Very Remote Australia are two very different environments. Major Cities of Australia is much more walkable (very walkable) and has a far higher proportion of people born overseas (28.0%) and adults with a bachelor degree or higher (26.1%). In contrast, Very Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent and has a far higher share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (29.0%), with 62.8% of residents speaking a First Nations language.

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to the number of people per home, which is 2.4. However, the gaps between them have often widened over time; the difference in typical weekly rent has grown to $200, and the gap in Year 12 completion has increased to 25.6 percentage points. While Major Cities of Australia is far more likely to have homes within walking distance of public transport (94.3% vs 8.8%), Very Remote Australia has a far higher number of walkable amenities per 1,000 residents.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 27.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Year 12: 25.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Population: 1,330,432 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 19.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 16.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +1,330,432 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

1,344,200 87th pct 13,768 44th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +1 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

39 yrs 38th pct 40 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

27.5% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.8 pts 25.7%

24.6% Older adults (45–64) +2.7 pts ▸ 27.2%

18.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.1 pts 17.5%

17.1% Children (0–14) +1.5 pts ▸ 18.6%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.3 pts 11.0%

Marital status

45.4% Married ◂ +2.4 pts 43.0%

36.6% Never married +2.8 pts ▸ 39.4%

9.4% Divorced ◂ +1.0 pts 8.4%

5.5% Widowed ◂ +0.1 pts 5.4%

3.1% Separated +0.7 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.3% Australia +12.5 pts ▸ 80.8%

5.6% England ◂ +3.8 pts 1.8%

3.2% India ◂ +2.6 pts 0.6%

1.8% China ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%

1.2% Vietnam ◂ +1.2 pts 0.1%

1.2% Italy ◂ +1.1 pts 0.1%

0.9% Philippines ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.7% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.5% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

36.5% English ◂ +8.9 pts 27.7%

29.9% Australian even 29.9%

8.1% Scottish ◂ +2.0 pts 6.1%

7.6% Irish ◂ +1.1 pts 6.6%

6.9% Italian ◂ +5.7 pts 1.2%

6.6% German +0.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.9 pts 0.3%

3.1% Indian ◂ +2.5 pts 0.6%

2.8% Greek ◂ +1.3 pts 1.4%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.6 pts 0.1%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 1.0%

1.3% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

Language

Language used at home

74.3% English only ◂ +7.8 pts 66.6%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +2.1 pts 0.2%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.0%

1.5% Greek ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

1.4% Punjabi ◂ +1.1 pts 0.3%

0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion ◂ +5.0 pts 39.9%

39.9% Christianity +1.4 pts ▸ 41.3%

5.5% Not stated +9.6 pts ▸ 15.1%

2.9% Islam ◂ +2.6 pts 0.2%

2.7% Hinduism ◂ +2.5 pts 0.2%

2.3% Buddhism ◂ +1.5 pts 0.8%

1.7% Other religions +0.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 ◂ +25.6 pts 33.8%

12.7% Year 10 +6.8 pts ▸ 19.5%

14.7% Year 11 +2.7 pts ▸ 17.4%

8.6% Year 9 or below +6.5 pts ▸ 15.1%

Highest qualification level

27.1% Certificate III / IV +4.6 pts ▸ 31.7%

28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +14.1 pts 14.4%

14.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.4 pts 11.4%

10.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.7 pts 2.7%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.0 pts 2.0%

2.1% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

Field of qualification

19.3% Management & commerce ◂ +10.4 pts 9.0%

14.0% Engineering & related even 13.9%

13.7% Society & culture ◂ +4.8 pts 9.0%

12.6% Health ◂ +4.5 pts 8.1%

8.0% Education +2.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.5 pts 4.5%

4.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.1 pts 4.6%

1.6% Agriculture & environment +3.0 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.6% Creative arts ◂ +1.7 pts 1.9%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.4 pts 0.9%

3.3% Information technology ◂ +2.8 pts 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$156 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$760 56th pct $604 24th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$345 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,539 58th pct $1,194 13th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$586 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,983 71st pct $1,397 9th pct

Household income distribution

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.9 pts 23.8%

28.7% $650–$1,499 +0.8 pts ▸ 29.6%

17.3% Under $650 +5.7 pts ▸ 23.0%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.3 pts 5.9%

8.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.7 pts 4.3%

Personal income distribution

42.1% Under $650 +2.3 pts ▸ 44.4%

33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.4 pts 25.7%

16.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.4 pts 13.0%

3.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 1.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.8% Mental health ◂ +4.5 pts 5.4%

9.5% Arthritis ◂ +2.4 pts 7.1%

9.0% Other condition ◂ +3.7 pts 5.3%

8.7% Asthma ◂ +2.1 pts 6.7%

5.5% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.4% Heart disease even 4.4%

3.1% Cancer ◂ +0.8 pts 2.3%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 1.7%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%

1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.7% None ◂ +2.2 pts 61.4%

20.0% One condition ◂ +2.7 pts 17.3%

6.6% Two conditions ◂ +1.5 pts 5.1%

3.6% Three or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +19,282 larger in Major Cities of Australia

23,272 78th pct 3,990 49th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +4 yrs older in Very Remote Australia

23 yrs 14th pct 27 yrs 57th pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$215 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$550 59th pct $335 8th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$375 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,369 53rd pct $994 4th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia even gap narrowing

2.4 43rd pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children ◂ +5.1 pts 51.5%

26.9% Couples without children +2.7 pts ▸ 29.6%

15.2% One-parent families +1.5 pts ▸ 16.6%

1.3% Other families +1.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

Household size

28.0% 1 person +6.1 pts ▸ 34.1%

33.4% 2 people ◂ +0.5 pts 32.9%

15.9% 3 people ◂ +5.1 pts 10.8%

14.9% 4 people ◂ +4.5 pts 10.4%

5.4% 5 people +0.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.4% 6 or more +3.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$200 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$320 73rd pct $120 9th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$477 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$1,560 60th pct $1,083 19th pct

People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.90 71st pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +19.5 pts 17.3%

30.7% Owned outright +5.0 pts ▸ 35.8%

28.9% Rented +6.7 pts ▸ 35.6%

2.4% Other tenure +5.6 pts ▸ 8.0%

1.2% Not stated +2.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Types of homes

74.4% Separate house +16.8 pts ▸ 91.2%

16.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +13.9 pts 2.8%

8.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +6.6 pts 1.8%

0.3% Other dwelling +2.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.9 pts 48.6%

20.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.2 pts 17.7%

19.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.1 pts 18.9%

3.4% 1 bedroom +3.5 pts ▸ 6.9%

4.0% 5 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 3.8%

0.2% Studio / none +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

Weekly rent distribution

16.6% Under $200 +46.0 pts ▸ 62.6%

41.4% $200–$349 ◂ +18.0 pts 23.5%

34.3% $350–$549 ◂ +32.5 pts 1.8%

3.5% $550–$749 ◂ +3.5 pts 0.0%

1.0% $750 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

19.3% Under $1,000 +22.3 pts ▸ 41.6%

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +2.7 pts 36.8%

26.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +14.5 pts 11.9%

10.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.6 pts 4.4%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.3% Car (driver) ◂ +11.2 pts 52.1%

1.9% Walked +13.8 pts ▸ 15.7%

9.7% Worked at home +0.9 pts ▸ 10.6%

4.3% Car (passenger) +1.1 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.9% Bus ◂ +2.4 pts 1.4%

1.0% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.8% Train ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.0 pts 33.7%

36.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +4.0 pts 32.8%

11.6% 3 vehicles +1.5 pts ▸ 13.1%

7.8% No vehicle +2.9 pts ▸ 10.7%

6.2% 4 or more +3.7 pts ▸ 9.8%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

1.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +18.6 pts ▸ 19.6%

17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +5.0 pts 12.3%

9.1% Education & training +2.5 pts ▸ 11.6%

9.7% Retail trade ◂ +2.0 pts 7.7%

8.3% Construction ◂ +2.3 pts 6.0%

6.6% Accommodation & food +0.9 pts ▸ 7.5%

7.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 6.5%

7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +5.7 pts 1.5%

6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +5.4 pts 1.3%

0.9% Mining +5.0 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.1%

4.0% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +8.2 pts 15.6%

12.0% Managers +8.8 pts ▸ 20.7%

9.3% Labourers +5.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +0.1 pts 13.1%

13.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +4.4 pts 8.8%

12.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.7 pts 11.1%

8.5% Sales workers ◂ +2.6 pts 6.0%

5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +2.3 pts ▸ 7.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +4.2 higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.7 95th pct 2.5 16th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +3.5 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.4 97th pct 2.9 19th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +50.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.2% 99th pct 32.0% 23rd pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +34.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

78.3% 97th pct 43.8% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +85.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

94.3% 97th pct 8.8% 23rd pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +45.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

83.2% 96th pct 37.7% 27th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +50.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

97.7% 96th pct 47.0% 13th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +37.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

64.5% 95th pct 26.7% 29th pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +39.9 more in Very Remote Australia

14.5 18th pct 54.4 85th pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +110 higher in Major Cities of Australia

110 92nd pct 0 4th pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

4.6% 41st pct 4.1% 31st pct

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

Compare Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Very Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA40/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA44/very-remote-australia