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Very Remote Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 1,460 km apart · Very Remote Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Very Remote Australia Remote Australia

Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia are both vast regions, though they differ sharply in wealth and demographics. Remote Australia has much higher typical incomes, with the usual household earning $2,144 a week compared to $1,194 in Very Remote Australia. Education levels are also higher in Remote Australia, where 45.9% of people finished Year 12, compared to 33.8% in Very Remote Australia. In contrast, Very Remote Australia has a far higher proportion of First Nations people at 29.0% and more people who speak a First Nations language (62.8% compared to 16.7% in Remote Australia).

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to the number of people per home, with about 2.5 people in each. However, the gap in typical incomes has widened since 2011, and Remote Australia has become increasingly more likely to have residents who finished Year 12. While Remote Australia is more likely to have homes within walking distance of a school or public transport, Very Remote Australia has a higher share of homes owned outright.

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Where they differ most

Population: 73,658 larger in Remote Australia Rent: $130 higher in Remote Australia Personal income: $509 higher in Remote Australia Family income: $1,174 higher in Remote Australia Household income: $950 higher in Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +73,658 larger in Remote Australia gap steady
13,768 44th pct 87,426 61st pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap widening
40 yrs 43rd pct 36 yrs 14th pct
First Nations in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +17.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
29.0% 86th pct 11.9% 72nd pct
Aged 65+ in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +6.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
17.5% 57th pct 11.2% 24th pct
Under 15 in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +3.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
18.6% 71st pct 22.2% 97th pct
De facto in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
16.3% 83rd pct 19.0% 95th pct

Age structure

25.7% Young adults (25–44) +5.3 pts ▸ 31.0%
27.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.6 pts 25.6%
18.6% Children (0–14) +3.6 pts ▸ 22.2%
17.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.4 pts 11.2%
11.0% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.0 pts 9.9%

Marital status

43.0% Married +2.0 pts ▸ 45.0%
39.4% Never married +0.9 pts ▸ 40.3%
8.4% Divorced ◂ +0.4 pts 8.0%
5.4% Widowed ◂ +2.1 pts 3.2%
3.8% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Very Remote Australia Remote 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 Remote Australia +7.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
8.5% 16th pct 16.0% 60th pct

Country of birth

80.8% Australia ◂ +10.7 pts 70.1%
0.9% New Zealand +2.4 pts ▸ 3.3%
1.8% England +1.1 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.5% Philippines +1.2 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.1% South Africa +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.6% India +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.1% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.0% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

29.9% Australian +5.4 pts ▸ 35.3%
27.7% English +6.7 pts ▸ 34.4%
6.1% Scottish +2.2 pts ▸ 8.3%
6.6% Irish +1.3 pts ▸ 7.9%
6.9% German ◂ +3.4 pts 3.5%
1.2% Italian +1.6 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.7% Filipino +1.3 pts ▸ 2.0%
1.0% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%
1.4% Greek ◂ +1.2 pts 0.3%
0.3% Chinese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.6% Indian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Other language in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +14.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
23.5% 86th pct 9.2% 50th pct
Limited English in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
2.3% 75th pct 0.6% 31st pct

Language used at home

66.6% English only +9.9 pts ▸ 76.5%
0.8% Greek ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.1% Tagalog +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.2% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.3% Punjabi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%
0.1% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.0% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.0% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.0% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Religion

No religion in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +5.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
39.9% 47th pct 45.7% 73rd pct

Religious affiliation

39.9% No religion +5.8 pts ▸ 45.7%
41.3% Christianity ◂ +6.3 pts 35.1%
15.1% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 16.0%
2.3% Other religions ◂ +1.8 pts 0.5%
0.8% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.2% Islam +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.2% Hinduism +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +12.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
33.8% 26th pct 45.9% 72nd pct
Bachelor+ in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
9.7% 15th pct 14.2% 60th pct

Highest year of school

33.8% Year 12 +12.1 pts ▸ 45.9%
19.5% Year 10 +1.8 pts ▸ 21.3%
17.4% Year 11 ◂ +6.7 pts 10.7%
15.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +8.5 pts 6.6%

Highest qualification level

31.7% Certificate III / IV +1.5 pts ▸ 33.1%
14.4% Bachelor degree +2.3 pts ▸ 16.7%
11.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.3 pts ▸ 11.7%
2.7% Postgraduate degree +0.7 pts ▸ 3.3%
3.0% Certificate I / II even 3.1%
2.0% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

13.9% Engineering & related +5.3 pts ▸ 19.2%
9.0% Management & commerce +3.7 pts ▸ 12.6%
10.3% Education ◂ +2.2 pts 8.1%
9.0% Society & culture ◂ +1.8 pts 7.1%
8.1% Health ◂ +0.1 pts 8.0%
4.6% Architecture & building even 4.6%
4.6% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.7 pts 3.9%
4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services even 4.5%
1.9% Creative arts ◂ +0.2 pts 1.8%
0.9% Natural & physical sciences +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.5% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$509 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$604 24th pct $1,113 82nd pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$950 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$1,194 13th pct $2,144 86th pct
Family income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$1,174 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$1,397 9th pct $2,571 92nd pct
High earners in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +12.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
6.5% 29th pct 19.0% 89th pct
High-income homes in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +18.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
10.1% 11th pct 29.0% 89th pct

Household income distribution

29.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.8 pts 18.8%
23.8% $1,500–$2,999 +4.4 pts ▸ 28.2%
23.0% Under $650 ◂ +11.0 pts 12.0%
4.3% $4,000 or more +12.2 pts ▸ 16.4%
5.9% $3,000–$3,999 +6.7 pts ▸ 12.5%

Personal income distribution

44.4% Under $650 ◂ +16.9 pts 27.5%
25.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.3 pts 25.4%
13.0% $1,500–$2,999 +10.2 pts ▸ 23.3%
1.9% $3,000 or more +6.1 pts ▸ 8.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
24.8% 39th pct 20.7% 22nd pct
Mental health in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Remote Australia
5.4% 23rd pct 5.9% 28th pct
Needs assistance in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
4.2% 33rd pct 2.9% 14th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

7.1% Arthritis ◂ +1.6 pts 5.5%
6.7% Asthma ◂ +0.1 pts 6.6%
6.1% Diabetes ◂ +2.4 pts 3.7%
5.4% Mental health +0.6 pts ▸ 5.9%
5.3% Other condition ◂ +0.4 pts 4.9%
4.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 2.6%
2.3% Cancer ◂ +0.3 pts 2.0%
1.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%
0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%
0.6% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.4% None +1.2 pts ▸ 62.6%
17.3% One condition ◂ +2.2 pts 15.1%
5.1% Two conditions ◂ +1.2 pts 3.9%
2.4% Three or more ◂ +0.6 pts 1.8%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
22.8% 87th pct 21.0% 84th pct
Unpaid carers in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +3.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
11.5% 60th pct 8.0% 18th pct
Unpaid child care in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
28.8% 88th pct 27.6% 86th pct
Defence service in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Remote Australia
2.4% 25th pct 2.5% 27th pct
Housework 15h+ in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
21.3% 63rd pct 18.7% 41st pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +6,421 larger in Remote Australia
3,990 49th pct 10,411 63rd pct
Median age in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2 yrs older in Very Remote Australia
27 yrs 57th pct 25 yrs 43rd pct
Year 12 in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +15.9 pts higher in Remote Australia
17.0% 13th pct 32.9% 60th pct
Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +13.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
26.6% 77th pct 13.5% 43rd pct
Median income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$232 higher in Remote Australia
$335 8th pct $567 67th pct
Household income in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$746 higher in Remote Australia
$994 4th pct $1,740 83rd pct
Indigenous language in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +46.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
62.8% 98th pct 16.7% 75th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Remote Australia gap steady
2.4 43rd pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
16.6% 74th pct 11.8% 13th pct
Living alone in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +7.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
34.1% 89th pct 26.7% 36th pct

Family composition

51.5% Couples with children +8.4 pts ▸ 59.9%
29.6% Couples without children ◂ +2.3 pts 27.4%
16.6% One-parent families ◂ +4.9 pts 11.8%
2.3% Other families ◂ +1.4 pts 0.9%

Household size

34.1% 1 person ◂ +7.4 pts 26.7%
32.9% 2 people +0.5 pts ▸ 33.3%
10.4% 4 people +4.9 pts ▸ 15.2%
10.8% 3 people +3.1 pts ▸ 13.9%
6.1% 5 people +1.4 pts ▸ 7.4%
5.9% 6 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 3.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$130 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$120 9th pct $250 45th pct
Mortgage in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +$577 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$1,083 19th pct $1,660 68th pct
People / bedroom in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
0.90 71st pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +8.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
35.6% 72nd pct 43.7% 85th pct
Owned outright in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +11.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
35.8% 57th pct 24.5% 23rd pct
Separate houses in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +8.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
91.2% 72nd pct 82.3% 32nd pct
3+ bedrooms in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +8.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
70.0% 25th pct 78.0% 72nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.6% Rented +8.2 pts ▸ 43.7%
35.8% Owned outright ◂ +11.3 pts 24.5%
17.3% Owned with a mortgage +6.2 pts ▸ 23.5%
8.0% Other tenure ◂ +1.9 pts 6.1%
3.5% Not stated ◂ +1.3 pts 2.2%

Types of homes

91.2% Separate house ◂ +8.9 pts 82.3%
2.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +8.3 pts ▸ 11.1%
1.8% Flat or apartment +1.8 pts ▸ 3.6%
2.3% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

Bedrooms per home

48.6% 3 bedrooms ◂ +7.2 pts 41.4%
17.7% 4 bedrooms +13.7 pts ▸ 31.3%
18.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.3 pts 13.6%
6.9% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.3 pts 5.6%
3.8% 5 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 5.3%
1.0% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

62.6% Under $200 ◂ +29.4 pts 33.2%
23.5% $200–$349 +2.9 pts ▸ 26.4%
1.8% $350–$549 +15.0 pts ▸ 16.9%
0.0% $550–$749 +8.0 pts ▸ 8.0%
0.3% $750 or more +6.2 pts ▸ 6.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +18.8 pts 22.8%
36.8% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +7.2 pts 29.6%
11.9% $1,800–$2,999 +15.4 pts ▸ 27.3%
4.4% $3,000 or more +10.1 pts ▸ 14.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +6.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
10.7% 84th pct 4.6% 22nd pct
Work from home in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
10.6% 55th pct 7.2% 25th pct
PT commute in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
1.5% 45th pct 1.6% 48th pct

How people get to work

52.1% Car (driver) +11.7 pts ▸ 63.8%
15.7% Walked ◂ +10.4 pts 5.3%
10.6% Worked at home ◂ +3.4 pts 7.2%
5.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.1 pts 5.3%
1.4% Bus +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.6% Bicycle +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

32.8% 2 vehicles +7.2 pts ▸ 40.0%
33.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.7 pts 29.0%
13.1% 3 vehicles +3.1 pts ▸ 16.1%
10.7% No vehicle ◂ +6.2 pts 4.6%
9.8% 4 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +15.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
27.7% 13th pct 43.1% 76th pct
Recent arrivals in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
12.0% 26th pct 14.7% 42nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +4.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
8.1% 73rd pct 3.2% 11th pct
Participation in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +10.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
54.1% 41st pct 65.0% 88th pct
Full-time in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +7.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
60.6% 59th pct 67.7% 83rd pct

Industries people work in

19.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +7.1 pts 12.5%
5.9% Mining +7.3 pts ▸ 13.2%
12.3% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.5 pts 9.7%
11.6% Education & training ◂ +2.9 pts 8.7%
7.7% Retail trade ◂ +1.2 pts 6.5%
7.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.4 pts 6.1%
6.0% Construction +1.3 pts ▸ 7.4%
4.1% Transport & warehousing +2.7 pts ▸ 6.7%
6.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.2 pts 6.3%
3.8% Other services ◂ +0.2 pts 3.6%
2.7% Administrative & support +0.3 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.3% Manufacturing +1.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

Occupations people work in

20.7% Managers ◂ +2.6 pts 18.1%
11.1% Technicians & trades +7.0 pts ▸ 18.2%
15.6% Professionals ◂ +1.6 pts 14.0%
14.7% Labourers ◂ +3.7 pts 11.0%
13.1% Community & personal service ◂ +3.8 pts 9.4%
8.8% Clerical & administrative +2.1 pts ▸ 10.8%
7.8% Machinery operators & drivers +2.7 pts ▸ 10.5%
6.0% Sales workers ◂ +0.1 pts 5.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.8 higher in Remote Australia
2.5 16th pct 3.4 50th pct
Types ≤15 min in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.7 more in Remote Australia
2.9 19th pct 3.6 51st pct
15-min city in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +8.5 pts higher in Remote Australia
32.0% 23rd pct 40.6% 42nd pct
Walk to shops in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +3.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
43.8% 49th pct 40.8% 34th pct
Walk to transit in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +32.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.8% 23rd pct 41.0% 52nd pct
Walk to school in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +17.6 pts higher in Remote Australia
37.7% 27th pct 55.3% 70th pct
Walk to a park in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +24.7 pts higher in Remote Australia
47.0% 13th pct 71.7% 68th pct
Walk to health in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +2.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
26.7% 29th pct 23.8% 19th pct
Amenities/1k in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +25.5 more in Very Remote Australia
54.4 85th pct 28.9 64th pct
Intersections/km² in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia even
0 4th pct 0 27th pct
Mean slope in Very Remote Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
4.1% 31st pct 3.5% 20th pct

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

Compare Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Very Remote Australia vs Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA44/very-remote-australia/vs/RA53/remote-australia