# Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia — 2021 Census comparison

Remoteness Area comparison · about 2,654 km apart

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are far apart in both location and character. Remote Australia has a much larger First Nations population, at 31.4% compared to 2.0% in Major Cities of Australia, and it is far more likely that residents there speak a First Nations language (54.0% versus 8.3%). Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and has a far higher share of people born overseas (36.2% compared to 19.3%), while Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent and has a much higher rate of renters at 46.7%.

This gap in renters has widened since 2011, but other similarities remain. Both areas have almost identical typical weekly household incomes, sitting around $1,900, and similar unemployment rates. They also share a similar proportion of volunteers and a nearly identical number of people per home. While Major Cities of Australia has far more people aged 65 and over, both areas have a similar share of people who speak little or no English.

## Where they differ most

- First Nations: 29.5 pts higher in Remote Australia
- Population: 2,040,619 larger in Major Cities of Australia
- 3+ bedrooms: 18.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
- Renting: 19.9 pts higher in Remote Australia
- De facto: 5.9 pts higher in Remote Australia

## Demographics & Identity

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 2,087,667 | 47,048 | 2,040,619 larger in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| Median age | 37 yrs | 34 yrs | 3 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |
| First Nations | 2.0% | 31.4% | 29.5 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |
| Aged 65+ | 15.8% | 9.5% | 6.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |
| Under 15 | 19.0% | 20.9% | 1.9 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap narrowing |
| De facto | 11.5% | 17.4% | 5.9 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap steady |

### Age structure

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Young adults (25–44) | 28.9% | 33.3% | -4.4 |
| Older adults (45–64) | 24.2% | 24.6% | -0.3 |
| Children (0–14) | 19.0% | 20.9% | -1.9 |
| Seniors (65+) | 15.8% | 9.5% | +6.2 |
| Youth (15–24) | 12.1% | 11.7% | +0.3 |

### Marital status

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Married | 47.6% | 38.4% | +9.2 |
| Never married | 36.1% | 47.3% | -11.2 |
| Divorced | 8.7% | 7.3% | +1.4 |
| Widowed | 4.4% | 3.2% | +1.2 |
| Separated | 3.2% | 3.7% | -0.5 |

### Age profile

Share of each region's population by age band and sex.

| Age band | Major Cities of Australia male | Major Cities of Australia female | Remote Australia male | Remote Australia female |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0–4 | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| 5–9 | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 3.5% |
| 10–14 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| 15–19 | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| 20–24 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| 25–29 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 4.5% |
| 30–34 | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 5.0% |
| 35–39 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| 40–44 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| 45–49 | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| 50–54 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| 55–59 | 2.9% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| 60–64 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| 65–69 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| 70–74 | 2.0% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 1.2% |
| 75–79 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| 80–84 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 85+ | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.4% |

## Ancestry & Birthplace

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Born overseas | 36.2% | 19.3% | 16.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap narrowing |

### Country of birth

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australia | 59.3% | 71.6% | -12.3 |
| England | 8.0% | 1.9% | +6.1 |
| New Zealand | 2.8% | 2.4% | +0.4 |
| India | 2.8% | 2.3% | +0.4 |
| Philippines | 1.5% | 1.9% | -0.4 |
| South Africa | 1.8% | 0.5% | +1.4 |
| China | 1.3% | 0.5% | +0.8 |
| Vietnam | 0.8% | 0.4% | +0.4 |
| Nepal | 0.2% | 0.8% | -0.6 |
| Italy | 0.8% | 0.2% | +0.6 |

### Ancestry

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 37.0% | 23.1% | +13.9 |
| Australian | 27.9% | 23.7% | +4.2 |
| Irish | 8.8% | 7.8% | +1.1 |
| Scottish | 8.7% | 6.4% | +2.3 |
| Italian | 5.5% | 1.8% | +3.7 |
| Chinese | 5.4% | 1.6% | +3.8 |
| German | 2.8% | 4.1% | -1.3 |
| Indian | 3.5% | 2.3% | +1.2 |
| Filipino | 1.8% | 2.4% | -0.5 |
| Dutch | 2.0% | 1.2% | +0.8 |
| Vietnamese | 1.1% | 0.5% | +0.6 |
| Greek | 0.7% | 0.3% | +0.4 |

## Language

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other language | 21.1% | 29.2% | 8.1 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |
| Limited English | 2.7% | 3.2% | 0.5 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap steady |

### Language used at home

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English only | 73.9% | 59.6% | +14.3 |
| Mandarin | 2.4% | 0.7% | +1.6 |
| Italian | 1.1% | 0.2% | +0.9 |
| Vietnamese | 1.0% | 0.5% | +0.6 |
| Punjabi | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.0 |
| Cantonese | 0.9% | 0.2% | +0.7 |
| Tagalog | 0.7% | 0.9% | -0.2 |
| Arabic | 0.7% | 0.3% | +0.5 |
| Hindi | 0.5% | 0.4% | +0.1 |
| Greek | 0.2% | 0.1% | +0.1 |

## Religion

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 42.2% | 40.6% | 1.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |

### Religious affiliation

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 42.2% | 40.6% | +1.6 |
| Christianity | 41.9% | 40.2% | +1.6 |
| Not stated | 6.5% | 13.2% | -6.7 |
| Islam | 3.0% | 0.8% | +2.2 |
| Buddhism | 2.5% | 1.2% | +1.3 |
| Hinduism | 2.4% | 1.8% | +0.5 |
| Other religions | 1.3% | 2.0% | -0.7 |
| Judaism | 0.3% | 0.1% | +0.2 |

## Education & Qualifications

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 62.1% | 46.6% | 15.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| Bachelor+ | 26.7% | 20.3% | 6.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |

### Highest year of school

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 62.1% | 46.6% | +15.5 |
| Year 10 | 17.5% | 18.4% | -0.8 |
| Year 9 or below | 6.3% | 11.9% | -5.6 |
| Year 11 | 8.1% | 11.3% | -3.2 |

### Highest qualification level

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bachelor degree | 28.2% | 21.8% | +6.5 |
| Certificate III / IV | 26.2% | 26.4% | -0.2 |
| Advanced diploma / diploma | 15.2% | 12.1% | +3.1 |
| Postgraduate degree | 9.2% | 8.6% | +0.6 |
| Graduate diploma / certificate | 3.9% | 3.8% | +0.1 |
| Certificate I / II | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.0 |

### Field of qualification

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Management & commerce | 18.9% | 13.5% | +5.5 |
| Engineering & related | 16.8% | 11.8% | +5.0 |
| Society & culture | 11.4% | 12.7% | -1.3 |
| Health | 11.0% | 12.5% | -1.6 |
| Education | 7.9% | 7.9% | +0.0 |
| Food, hospitality & personal services | 5.1% | 4.8% | +0.3 |
| Architecture & building | 4.9% | 4.2% | +0.7 |
| Natural & physical sciences | 3.8% | 1.8% | +2.0 |
| Creative arts | 3.5% | 2.4% | +1.1 |
| Agriculture & environment | 1.5% | 2.8% | -1.4 |
| Information technology | 2.8% | 1.5% | +1.3 |

## Income

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income | $860 | $951 | $91 higher in Remote Australia | gap steady |
| Household income | $1,865 | $1,914 | $49 higher in Remote Australia | gap narrowing |
| Family income | $2,260 | $2,154 | $106 higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| High earners | 15.2% | 12.1% | 3.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |
| High-income homes | 24.3% | 23.6% | 0.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap narrowing |

### Household income distribution

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 29.1% | 29.7% | -0.5 |
| $650–$1,499 | 23.3% | 21.9% | +1.5 |
| Under $650 | 14.3% | 13.6% | +0.7 |
| $4,000 or more | 13.5% | 11.7% | +1.8 |
| $3,000–$3,999 | 10.8% | 11.9% | -1.1 |

### Personal income distribution

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $650 | 38.4% | 33.9% | +4.5 |
| $650–$1,499 | 29.1% | 28.0% | +1.1 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 20.0% | 21.3% | -1.3 |
| $3,000 or more | 6.2% | 3.7% | +2.5 |

## Health & Disability

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health condition | 26.0% | 20.4% | 5.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Mental health | 8.4% | 5.1% | 3.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Needs assistance | 4.6% | 3.7% | 0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |

### Long-term health conditions reported

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mental health | 8.4% | 5.1% | +3.2 |
| Other condition | 7.6% | 6.0% | +1.6 |
| Arthritis | 7.4% | 4.4% | +3.0 |
| Asthma | 7.3% | 6.0% | +1.3 |
| Diabetes | 4.3% | 4.9% | -0.5 |
| Heart disease | 3.5% | 3.3% | +0.2 |
| Cancer | 2.7% | 1.6% | +1.1 |
| Lung condition | 1.5% | 1.2% | +0.3 |
| Stroke | 0.8% | 0.7% | +0.1 |
| Dementia | 0.7% | 0.5% | +0.2 |

### Number of long-term health conditions

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | 66.5% | 66.2% | +0.3 |
| One condition | 18.2% | 14.8% | +3.5 |
| Two conditions | 5.3% | 3.8% | +1.5 |
| Three or more | 2.5% | 1.9% | +0.6 |

## Community Participation

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteering | 15.1% | 14.8% | 0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap narrowing |
| Unpaid carers | 10.9% | 8.8% | 2.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |
| Unpaid child care | 29.2% | 27.2% | 2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| Defence service | 2.8% | 4.0% | 1.2 pts higher in Remote Australia |  |
| Housework 15h+ | 19.7% | 15.9% | 3.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |

## First Nations

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 40,806 | 14,794 | 26,012 larger in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Median age | 23 yrs | 27 yrs | 4 yrs older in Remote Australia |  |
| Year 12 | 40.6% | 22.6% | 18.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Unemployment | 15.1% | 17.9% | 2.8 pts higher in Remote Australia |  |
| Median income | $600 | $328 | $272 higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Household income | $1,653 | $1,139 | $514 higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Indigenous language | 8.3% | 54.0% | 45.7 pts higher in Remote Australia |  |

## Family & Households

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Household size | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 larger in Remote Australia | gap steady |
| One-parent | 13.4% | 18.9% | 5.5 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |
| Living alone | 25.0% | 26.4% | 1.4 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap steady |

### Family composition

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Couples with children | 60.0% | 55.2% | +4.8 |
| Couples without children | 25.5% | 24.1% | +1.4 |
| One-parent families | 13.4% | 18.9% | -5.5 |
| Other families | 1.2% | 1.8% | -0.6 |

### Household size

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 people | 32.9% | 30.2% | +2.6 |
| 1 person | 25.0% | 26.4% | -1.4 |
| 4 people | 16.5% | 13.4% | +3.1 |
| 3 people | 16.4% | 16.0% | +0.4 |
| 5 people | 6.4% | 7.0% | -0.6 |
| 6 or more | 2.8% | 7.0% | -4.2 |

## Housing & Dwellings

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent | $350 | $300 | $50 higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap narrowing |
| Mortgage | $1,907 | $1,733 | $174 higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| People / bedroom | 0.80 | 1.00 | 0.20 higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |
| Renting | 26.8% | 46.7% | 19.9 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |
| Owned outright | 28.4% | 16.7% | 11.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap narrowing |
| Separate houses | 77.5% | 69.9% | 7.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap narrowing |
| 3+ bedrooms | 82.4% | 64.2% | 18.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |

### How homes are owned or rented

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rented | 26.8% | 46.7% | -19.9 |
| Owned with a mortgage | 41.8% | 29.0% | +12.8 |
| Owned outright | 28.4% | 16.7% | +11.8 |
| Other tenure | 1.7% | 4.7% | -3.0 |
| Not stated | 1.2% | 2.8% | -1.6 |

### Types of homes

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Separate house | 77.5% | 69.9% | +7.7 |
| Townhouse / semi-detached | 14.3% | 21.4% | -7.1 |
| Flat or apartment | 7.7% | 3.6% | +4.1 |
| Other dwelling | 0.3% | 2.9% | -2.6 |

### Bedrooms per home

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 bedrooms | 36.8% | 42.7% | -5.9 |
| 4 bedrooms | 39.1% | 17.4% | +21.7 |
| 2 bedrooms | 12.7% | 21.5% | -8.9 |
| 1 bedroom | 3.6% | 9.6% | -6.0 |
| 5 or more | 6.4% | 4.0% | +2.4 |
| Studio / none | 0.2% | 2.0% | -1.8 |

### Weekly rent distribution

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $350–$549 | 43.3% | 28.5% | +14.9 |
| $200–$349 | 34.2% | 20.9% | +13.4 |
| Under $200 | 10.4% | 32.4% | -21.9 |
| $550–$749 | 6.4% | 8.0% | -1.6 |
| $750 or more | 2.5% | 2.2% | +0.3 |

### Monthly mortgage distribution

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $1,000–$1,799 | 30.5% | 36.7% | -6.2 |
| $1,800–$2,999 | 35.5% | 33.6% | +1.9 |
| $3,000 or more | 15.9% | 10.8% | +5.1 |
| Under $1,000 | 12.7% | 14.0% | -1.3 |

## Transport & Vehicles

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No car | 5.0% | 13.0% | 8.0 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 3.8% | 3.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| PT commute | 5.2% | 1.3% | 3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |

### How people get to work

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Car (driver) | 62.1% | 62.5% | -0.5 |
| Walked | 1.6% | 8.5% | -6.9 |
| Worked at home | 7.6% | 3.8% | +3.8 |
| Car (passenger) | 4.4% | 7.5% | -3.1 |
| Bicycle | 0.7% | 3.4% | -2.7 |
| Bus | 3.0% | 1.3% | +1.8 |
| Train | 2.2% | 0.0% | +2.2 |

### Motor vehicles per home

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 vehicles | 39.9% | 32.5% | +7.4 |
| 1 vehicle | 35.2% | 36.0% | -0.8 |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 13.0% | -8.0 |
| 3 vehicles | 12.9% | 12.0% | +0.9 |
| 4 or more | 7.0% | 6.5% | +0.5 |

## Migration & Movement

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recent movers | 39.4% | 40.8% | 1.4 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap narrowing |
| Recent arrivals | 10.6% | 24.4% | 13.8 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |

## Jobs & Industry

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment | 5.3% | 4.7% | 0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap steady |
| Participation | 65.3% | 59.9% | 5.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia | gap widening |
| Full-time | 60.0% | 70.8% | 10.8 pts higher in Remote Australia | gap widening |

### Industries people work in

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health care & social assistance | 14.2% | 19.7% | -5.5 |
| Public administration & safety | 6.0% | 18.1% | -12.2 |
| Education & training | 8.8% | 10.1% | -1.3 |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | 6.9% | +2.0 |
| Construction | 8.8% | 7.3% | +1.6 |
| Professional & technical | 7.8% | 4.3% | +3.5 |
| Mining | 6.6% | 1.3% | +5.3 |
| Accommodation & food | 6.5% | 6.2% | +0.3 |
| Manufacturing | 5.3% | 1.8% | +3.5 |
| Transport & warehousing | 4.5% | 3.3% | +1.2 |
| Other services | 3.9% | 4.5% | -0.6 |
| Administrative & support | 3.1% | 2.7% | +0.5 |

### Occupations people work in

| Category | Major Cities of Australia % | Remote Australia % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professionals | 23.8% | 23.2% | +0.6 |
| Community & personal service | 12.0% | 17.4% | -5.4 |
| Technicians & trades | 14.6% | 13.3% | +1.3 |
| Managers | 11.8% | 13.0% | -1.1 |
| Clerical & administrative | 12.5% | 12.1% | +0.4 |
| Labourers | 8.7% | 8.3% | +0.4 |
| Sales workers | 8.0% | 5.7% | +2.3 |
| Machinery operators & drivers | 6.9% | 4.3% | +2.6 |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Major Cities of Australia | Remote Australia | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 6.1 | 3.8 | 2.3 higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 5.8 | 3.9 | 1.9 more in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| 15-min city | 72.7% | 45.2% | 27.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Walk to shops | 69.0% | 47.9% | 21.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Walk to transit | 94.1% | 48.7% | 45.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Walk to school | 80.0% | 65.9% | 14.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Walk to a park | 96.1% | 76.8% | 19.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Walk to health | 54.8% | 32.4% | 22.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Amenities/1k | 15.4 | 14.6 | 0.9 more in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Intersections/km² | 104 | 0 | 104 higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |
| Mean slope | 6.1% | 3.1% | 2.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA50/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA73/remote-australia