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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 ≈ 1,851 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 far apart and very different in their makeup. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and more likely to be overseas-born (28.0%) or have a bachelor degree (26.1%). In contrast, Very Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent and has a much larger First Nations population, with 29.1% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 44.2% speaking a First Nations language.

Both areas sit close to the national figure for typical family income, which is $1,983 in Major Cities of Australia and $1,880 in Very Remote Australia. While they share similar unemployment rates, they have diverged in other ways since 2011. The gaps in university degrees and Year 12 completions have widened, and the difference in the proportion of people born overseas has also grown.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 27.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Renting: 28.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Population: 1,283,528 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 23.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia De facto: 9.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +1,283,528 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

1,344,200 87th pct 60,672 58th pct

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

39 yrs 38th pct 35 yrs 7th pct

Age structure

27.5% Young adults (25–44) +7.3 pts ▸ 34.7%

24.6% Older adults (45–64) +1.2 pts ▸ 25.8%

17.1% Children (0–14) +2.5 pts ▸ 19.6%

18.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +10.2 pts 8.4%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.8 pts 11.5%

Marital status

36.6% Never married +12.0 pts ▸ 48.6%

45.4% Married ◂ +8.8 pts 36.7%

9.4% Divorced ◂ +1.5 pts 7.9%

5.5% Widowed ◂ +2.7 pts 2.8%

3.1% Separated +1.0 pts ▸ 4.1%

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 ◂ +2.3 pts 66.0%

5.6% England ◂ +3.1 pts 2.5%

0.7% New Zealand +2.6 pts ▸ 3.3%

3.2% India ◂ +2.7 pts 0.4%

1.8% China ◂ +1.6 pts 0.3%

1.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

1.2% Italy ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.9% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

36.5% English ◂ +12.8 pts 23.7%

29.9% Australian ◂ +6.4 pts 23.5%

8.1% Scottish ◂ +2.3 pts 5.8%

7.6% Irish ◂ +1.5 pts 6.1%

6.9% Italian ◂ +4.8 pts 2.2%

6.6% German ◂ +4.2 pts 2.4%

4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.3 pts 0.9%

3.1% Indian ◂ +2.5 pts 0.6%

2.8% Greek ◂ +2.6 pts 0.2%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.3 pts 0.3%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

1.3% Filipino even 1.3%

Language

Language used at home

74.3% English only ◂ +13.6 pts 60.8%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.9 pts 0.4%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%

1.5% Greek ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%

1.4% Punjabi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%

0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.4% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion ◂ +6.8 pts 38.1%

39.9% Christianity ◂ +5.0 pts 34.9%

5.5% Not stated +18.1 pts ▸ 23.5%

2.9% Islam ◂ +2.3 pts 0.5%

2.7% Hinduism ◂ +2.4 pts 0.4%

2.3% Buddhism ◂ +1.4 pts 0.9%

1.7% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 ◂ +23.0 pts 36.4%

12.7% Year 10 +8.5 pts ▸ 21.1%

14.7% Year 11 ◂ +3.7 pts 11.0%

8.6% Year 9 or below +0.8 pts ▸ 9.4%

Highest qualification level

27.1% Certificate III / IV +2.4 pts ▸ 29.5%

28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.4 pts 13.1%

14.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +5.9 pts 8.9%

10.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.4 pts 2.9%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.3 pts 1.8%

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

Field of qualification

19.3% Management & commerce ◂ +10.5 pts 8.8%

14.0% Engineering & related +3.3 pts ▸ 17.3%

13.7% Society & culture ◂ +7.7 pts 6.0%

12.6% Health ◂ +6.6 pts 5.9%

8.0% Education ◂ +1.6 pts 6.3%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 4.3%

4.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.4 pts 4.4%

3.6% Creative arts ◂ +2.3 pts 1.4%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.6 pts 1.8%

3.3% Information technology ◂ +2.7 pts 0.5%

1.6% Agriculture & environment +1.5 pts ▸ 3.1%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$236 higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

$760 56th pct $996 77th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$170 higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

$1,539 58th pct $1,709 66th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$103 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady

$1,983 71st pct $1,880 56th pct

Household income distribution

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.1 pts 27.6%

28.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.7 pts 23.0%

17.3% Under $650 ◂ +1.3 pts 16.0%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 +0.8 pts ▸ 10.0%

8.9% $4,000 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 9.9%

Personal income distribution

42.1% Under $650 ◂ +11.9 pts 30.2%

33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +13.3 pts 19.8%

16.4% $1,500–$2,999 +4.1 pts ▸ 20.5%

3.5% $3,000 or more +3.2 pts ▸ 6.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.8% Mental health ◂ +5.6 pts 4.2%

9.5% Arthritis ◂ +5.7 pts 3.8%

9.0% Other condition ◂ +4.8 pts 4.2%

8.7% Asthma ◂ +3.7 pts 5.0%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.1 pts 4.4%

4.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 2.6%

3.1% Cancer ◂ +1.7 pts 1.3%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.8 pts 1.1%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.7% None ◂ +2.7 pts 60.9%

20.0% One condition ◂ +7.8 pts 12.2%

6.6% Two conditions ◂ +3.4 pts 3.2%

3.6% Three or more ◂ +2.1 pts 1.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +5,613 larger in Major Cities of Australia

23,272 78th pct 17,659 74th 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 +$201 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$550 59th pct $349 10th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$374 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,369 53rd pct $995 4th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.3 larger in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

2.4 43rd pct 2.7 86th pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children ◂ +3.2 pts 53.4%

26.9% Couples without children ◂ +2.7 pts 24.2%

15.2% One-parent families +5.0 pts ▸ 20.2%

1.3% Other families +1.0 pts ▸ 2.2%

Household size

33.4% 2 people ◂ +3.3 pts 30.1%

28.0% 1 person +1.3 pts ▸ 29.3%

15.9% 3 people ◂ +2.5 pts 13.3%

14.9% 4 people ◂ +1.8 pts 13.0%

5.4% 5 people +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%

2.4% 6 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 6.9%

Housing & Dwellings

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

$320 73rd pct $120 9th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$58 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$1,560 60th pct $1,502 55th 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

28.9% Rented +28.0 pts ▸ 56.9%

36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +25.4 pts 11.4%

30.7% Owned outright ◂ +12.7 pts 18.0%

2.4% Other tenure +7.2 pts ▸ 9.6%

1.2% Not stated +2.9 pts ▸ 4.1%

Types of homes

74.4% Separate house +7.2 pts ▸ 81.6%

16.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +10.5 pts 6.3%

8.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +6.0 pts 2.4%

0.3% Other dwelling +6.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +4.8 pts 46.8%

20.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.5 pts 20.3%

19.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.0 pts 16.0%

3.4% 1 bedroom +4.4 pts ▸ 7.8%

4.0% 5 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 3.6%

0.2% Studio / none +1.4 pts ▸ 1.6%

Weekly rent distribution

16.6% Under $200 +43.2 pts ▸ 59.8%

41.4% $200–$349 ◂ +23.4 pts 18.0%

34.3% $350–$549 ◂ +25.2 pts 9.1%

3.5% $550–$749 ◂ +1.1 pts 2.4%

1.0% $750 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +11.5 pts 28.0%

19.3% Under $1,000 +9.0 pts ▸ 28.3%

26.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.7 pts 23.7%

10.0% $3,000 or more +3.4 pts ▸ 13.4%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.3% Car (driver) ◂ +20.0 pts 43.2%

1.9% Walked +11.6 pts ▸ 13.5%

9.7% Worked at home ◂ +4.6 pts 5.0%

3.9% Bus +5.6 pts ▸ 9.5%

4.3% Car (passenger) +2.5 pts ▸ 6.7%

1.0% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.8% Train ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.4 pts 36.2%

36.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +6.8 pts 30.0%

7.8% No vehicle +7.9 pts ▸ 15.7%

11.6% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.7 pts 10.8%

6.2% 4 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 7.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

0.9% Mining +24.9 pts ▸ 25.8%

17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +9.0 pts 8.2%

9.7% Retail trade ◂ +4.5 pts 5.3%

9.1% Education & training even 9.1%

8.3% Construction ◂ +1.4 pts 6.9%

1.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +6.9 pts ▸ 7.9%

7.2% Public administration & safety +0.1 pts ▸ 7.2%

7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +5.1 pts 2.0%

6.6% Accommodation & food +0.2 pts ▸ 6.9%

6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +5.4 pts 1.3%

4.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

4.0% Other services ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +10.0 pts 13.8%

12.8% Technicians & trades +5.7 pts ▸ 18.5%

5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +10.8 pts ▸ 16.3%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +2.5 pts 10.8%

13.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +4.3 pts 8.8%

12.0% Managers +0.9 pts ▸ 12.9%

9.3% Labourers +2.9 pts ▸ 12.2%

8.5% Sales workers ◂ +4.4 pts 4.2%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +3.4 higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.7 95th pct 3.3 43rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +2.6 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.4 97th pct 3.9 66th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +34.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.2% 99th pct 48.3% 71st pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +27.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

78.3% 97th pct 51.1% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +82.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

94.3% 97th pct 12.2% 26th pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +27.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

83.2% 96th pct 56.1% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +27.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

97.7% 96th pct 70.3% 64th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +20.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

64.5% 95th pct 44.4% 72nd pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +30.0 more in Very Remote Australia

14.5 18th pct 44.5 78th pct

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

110 92nd pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

4.6% 41st pct 3.2% 14th 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

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Major Cities of 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/RA54/very-remote-australia