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Remote Australia vs Very Remote Australia

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

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 646 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Remote Australia Very Remote Australia

Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia are both sparsely populated regions, but they differ significantly in their cultural and economic makeup. Very Remote Australia has a much larger First Nations population (29.0% compared to 3.8% in Remote Australia) and a far higher share of people speaking a First Nations language (62.8% versus 8.7%). This is consistent with a higher unemployment rate for First Nations people in Very Remote Australia, which is 26.6%, while the figure is 14.2% in Remote Australia. Economic gaps are also evident in housing, with typical weekly rent far higher in Remote Australia at $220, compared to $120 in Very Remote Australia.

The gap in the number of people using a language other than English at home has widened since 2011, with Very Remote Australia now sitting at 23.5% and Remote Australia at 3.8%. Despite this, the two areas share many daily realities; both are mostly car-dependent and have similar shares of children under 15. They also show nearly identical levels of people working from home and a similar percentage of residents who have served in the Defence Force.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 25.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Other language: 19.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia People / bedroom: 0.20 higher in Very Remote Australia Population: 29,824 larger in Remote Australia Limited English: 2.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +29,824 larger in Remote Australia gap steady

43,592 55th pct 13,768 44th pct

Median age in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +4 yrs older in Remote Australia gap steady

44 yrs 72nd pct 40 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

27.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.3 pts 27.2%

23.1% Young adults (25–44) +2.6 pts ▸ 25.7%

22.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.5 pts 17.5%

18.2% Children (0–14) +0.4 pts ▸ 18.6%

9.2% Youth (15–24) +1.7 pts ▸ 11.0%

Marital status

49.0% Married ◂ +6.0 pts 43.0%

32.2% Never married +7.2 pts ▸ 39.4%

9.6% Divorced ◂ +1.2 pts 8.4%

5.9% Widowed ◂ +0.5 pts 5.4%

3.5% Separated +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Remote 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

82.2% Australia ◂ +1.4 pts 80.8%

3.0% England ◂ +1.2 pts 1.8%

1.0% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.8% Philippines ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.3% India +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% China even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

42.4% Australian ◂ +12.5 pts 29.9%

41.7% English ◂ +14.1 pts 27.7%

9.4% German ◂ +2.5 pts 6.9%

9.4% Scottish ◂ +3.2 pts 6.1%

8.0% Irish ◂ +1.5 pts 6.6%

1.8% Italian ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

0.5% Greek +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.0% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.3% Indian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.2% English only ◂ +21.6 pts 66.6%

0.2% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% Tagalog ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Italian even 0.1%

0.2% Mandarin even 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.0%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.0%

0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.6% No religion ◂ +8.7 pts 39.9%

39.7% Christianity +1.6 pts ▸ 41.3%

10.2% Not stated +5.0 pts ▸ 15.1%

0.4% Other religions +1.9 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.6% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% Hinduism even 0.2%

0.3% Islam even 0.2%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

41.0% Year 12 ◂ +7.3 pts 33.8%

21.0% Year 11 ◂ +3.6 pts 17.4%

18.3% Year 10 +1.2 pts ▸ 19.5%

10.2% Year 9 or below +4.9 pts ▸ 15.1%

Highest qualification level

38.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +7.0 pts 31.7%

16.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +1.8 pts 14.4%

13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.8 pts 11.4%

3.0% Certificate I / II even 3.0%

3.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.3 pts 2.7%

2.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

17.1% Engineering & related ◂ +3.2 pts 13.9%

12.0% Management & commerce ◂ +3.1 pts 9.0%

10.5% Health ◂ +2.4 pts 8.1%

9.2% Education +1.2 pts ▸ 10.3%

9.2% Society & culture ◂ +0.3 pts 9.0%

6.2% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.5 pts 4.6%

5.9% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.4 pts 4.5%

5.6% Architecture & building ◂ +1.0 pts 4.6%

1.5% Creative arts +0.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

0.7% Information technology ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$136 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$740 50th pct $604 24th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$113 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$1,307 25th pct $1,194 13th pct

Family income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$331 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$1,728 41st pct $1,397 9th pct

Household income distribution

30.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.1 pts 29.6%

26.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.3 pts 23.8%

20.7% Under $650 +2.3 pts ▸ 23.0%

6.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.0 pts 5.9%

6.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 4.3%

Personal income distribution

40.3% Under $650 +4.1 pts ▸ 44.4%

32.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.5 pts 25.7%

14.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 13.0%

3.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 1.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.7% Arthritis ◂ +2.6 pts 7.1%

8.6% Asthma ◂ +1.9 pts 6.7%

7.8% Mental health ◂ +2.5 pts 5.4%

6.7% Other condition ◂ +1.5 pts 5.3%

5.4% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.5% Heart disease ◂ +0.1 pts 4.4%

3.2% Cancer ◂ +0.9 pts 2.3%

2.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 1.7%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.5% None +0.9 pts ▸ 61.4%

19.5% One condition ◂ +2.2 pts 17.3%

6.4% Two conditions ◂ +1.3 pts 5.1%

3.3% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +2,316 larger in Very Remote Australia

1,674 44th pct 3,990 49th pct

Median age in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +4 yrs older in Very Remote Australia

23 yrs 14th pct 27 yrs 57th pct

Median income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$218 higher in Remote Australia

$553 61st pct $335 8th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$294 higher in Remote Australia

$1,288 43rd pct $994 4th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Very Remote Australia gap steady

2.3 22nd pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

51.7% Couples with children ◂ +0.2 pts 51.5%

35.6% Couples without children ◂ +6.0 pts 29.6%

11.9% One-parent families +4.7 pts ▸ 16.6%

0.8% Other families +1.5 pts ▸ 2.3%

Household size

38.4% 2 people ◂ +5.5 pts 32.9%

31.4% 1 person +2.7 pts ▸ 34.1%

11.5% 3 people ◂ +0.8 pts 10.8%

11.1% 4 people ◂ +0.8 pts 10.4%

5.4% 5 people +0.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.1% 6 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 5.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$100 higher in Remote Australia gap steady

$220 36th pct $120 9th pct

Mortgage in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$109 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing

$1,192 29th pct $1,083 19th pct

People / bedroom in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.20 higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.90 71st pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.2% Owned outright ◂ +3.4 pts 35.8%

27.0% Rented +8.6 pts ▸ 35.6%

27.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +10.5 pts 17.3%

3.9% Other tenure +4.2 pts ▸ 8.0%

2.1% Not stated +1.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

Types of homes

90.1% Separate house +1.1 pts ▸ 91.2%

5.4% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.6 pts 2.8%

2.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.0 pts 1.8%

1.2% Other dwelling +1.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

Bedrooms per home

51.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.6 pts 48.6%

22.5% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.8 pts 17.7%

16.2% 2 bedrooms +2.7 pts ▸ 18.9%

4.0% 1 bedroom +2.9 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.8% 5 or more even 3.8%

0.5% Studio / none +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

Weekly rent distribution

37.5% Under $200 +25.1 pts ▸ 62.6%

45.0% $200–$349 ◂ +21.5 pts 23.5%

12.0% $350–$549 ◂ +10.2 pts 1.8%

0.4% $550–$749 ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.3% $750 or more even 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

36.5% Under $1,000 +5.0 pts ▸ 41.6%

38.8% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +2.0 pts 36.8%

14.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.6 pts 11.9%

4.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 4.4%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.7% Car (driver) ◂ +11.6 pts 52.1%

5.8% Walked +9.9 pts ▸ 15.7%

9.9% Worked at home +0.7 pts ▸ 10.6%

4.3% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.7% Bus +0.7 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.4% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +6.3 pts 32.8%

32.3% 1 vehicle +1.4 pts ▸ 33.7%

15.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.1 pts 13.1%

4.9% No vehicle +5.9 pts ▸ 10.7%

8.6% 4 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

19.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +0.1 pts ▸ 19.6%

11.1% Health care & social assistance +1.2 pts ▸ 12.3%

7.8% Education & training +3.8 pts ▸ 11.6%

8.8% Retail trade ◂ +1.0 pts 7.7%

8.1% Construction ◂ +2.1 pts 6.0%

6.9% Accommodation & food +0.6 pts ▸ 7.5%

7.1% Mining ◂ +1.2 pts 5.9%

4.1% Public administration & safety +2.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.1%

3.5% Other services +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.3% Manufacturing ◂ +2.0 pts 1.3%

3.0% Administrative & support ◂ +0.3 pts 2.7%

Occupations people work in

19.6% Managers +1.1 pts ▸ 20.7%

13.1% Professionals +2.5 pts ▸ 15.6%

14.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.7 pts 11.1%

13.4% Labourers +1.3 pts ▸ 14.7%

11.3% Community & personal service +1.8 pts ▸ 13.1%

9.7% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.9 pts 8.8%

8.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.3 pts 7.8%

7.9% Sales workers ◂ +2.0 pts 6.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.3 higher in Remote Australia

2.8 22nd pct 2.5 16th pct

Types ≤15 min in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.1 more in Remote Australia

3.0 22nd pct 2.9 19th pct

15-min city in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.5 pts higher in Remote Australia

33.6% 27th pct 32.0% 23rd pct

Walk to shops in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +10.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

33.2% 16th pct 43.8% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +25.4 pts higher in Remote Australia

34.2% 41st pct 8.8% 23rd pct

Walk to school in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +5.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

32.5% 22nd pct 37.7% 27th pct

Walk to a park in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +12.3 pts higher in Remote Australia

59.3% 37th pct 47.0% 13th pct

Walk to health in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +4.5 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

22.2% 14th pct 26.7% 29th pct

Amenities/1k in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +17.1 more in Very Remote Australia

37.3 73rd pct 54.4 85th pct

Intersections/km² in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia even

0 26th pct 0 4th pct

Mean slope in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.8 pts higher in Remote Australia

4.9% 45th pct 4.1% 31st pct

Compare Remote Australia with nearby areas

Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of 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). Remote Australia vs Very Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA43/remote-australia/vs/RA44/very-remote-australia