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Major Cities of Australia vs Very Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 2,274 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. Very Remote Australia has a much larger First Nations population at 72.5%, and 86.3% of its people speak a First Nations language. In contrast, Major Cities of Australia is far more diverse in terms of overseas births, with 36.2% born outside Australia. There is also a wide gap in income; the typical family in Major Cities of Australia earns $2,260 a week, while the typical family in Very Remote Australia earns $851.

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to the share of people doing 15 or more hours of unpaid housework each week. However, many other gaps have grown since 2011. The difference in typical family income has widened, and far more people in Major Cities of Australia have now completed Year 12 compared to Very Remote Australia. The gap in home ownership has also shifted, as far more people in Major Cities of Australia own their homes outright.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 70.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Born overseas: 30.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 45.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Year 12: 34.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Renting: 42.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2,045,613 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2,087,667 89th pct 42,054 54th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +8 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
37 yrs 25th pct 29 yrs 0th pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +70.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
2.0% 16th pct 72.5% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +10.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.8% 47th pct 5.1% 7th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +5.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.0% 75th pct 24.6% 100th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
11.5% 21st pct 10.2% 9th pct

Age structure

28.9% Young adults (25–44) +3.7 pts ▸ 32.6%
19.0% Children (0–14) +5.6 pts ▸ 24.6%
24.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.3 pts 20.0%
12.1% Youth (15–24) +5.6 pts ▸ 17.7%
15.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +10.7 pts 5.1%

Marital status

47.6% Married ◂ +3.7 pts 43.9%
36.1% Never married +7.7 pts ▸ 43.8%
8.7% Divorced ◂ +4.3 pts 4.4%
4.4% Widowed +0.1 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.2% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

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

Born overseas in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +30.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
36.2% 100th pct 5.3% 0th pct

Country of birth

59.3% Australia +27.4 pts ▸ 86.7%
8.0% England ◂ +7.4 pts 0.6%
2.8% New Zealand ◂ +1.9 pts 0.9%
2.8% India ◂ +2.5 pts 0.3%
1.8% South Africa ◂ +1.6 pts 0.2%
1.5% Philippines ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%
1.3% China ◂ +1.2 pts 0.1%
0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.2% Nepal even 0.2%

Ancestry

37.0% English ◂ +28.7 pts 8.3%
27.9% Australian ◂ +18.9 pts 9.1%
8.8% Irish ◂ +6.2 pts 2.7%
8.7% Scottish ◂ +6.3 pts 2.4%
5.5% Italian ◂ +5.0 pts 0.5%
5.4% Chinese ◂ +4.9 pts 0.5%
3.5% Indian ◂ +3.1 pts 0.4%
2.8% German ◂ +1.5 pts 1.3%
2.0% Dutch ◂ +1.6 pts 0.4%
1.8% Filipino ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%
1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
0.7% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +45.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
21.1% 82nd pct 66.7% 100th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +6.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
2.7% 80th pct 9.6% 100th pct

Language used at home

73.9% English only ◂ +49.5 pts 24.4%
2.4% Mandarin ◂ +2.2 pts 0.2%
1.1% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
1.0% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%
0.7% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.7% Tagalog ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%
0.5% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%
0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +17.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
42.2% 56th pct 24.5% 9th pct

Religious affiliation

41.9% Christianity +12.0 pts ▸ 53.9%
42.2% No religion ◂ +17.7 pts 24.5%
6.5% Not stated +7.0 pts ▸ 13.5%
1.3% Other religions +6.0 pts ▸ 7.2%
3.0% Islam ◂ +2.8 pts 0.2%
2.5% Buddhism ◂ +2.2 pts 0.3%
2.4% Hinduism ◂ +2.0 pts 0.4%
0.3% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +34.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
62.1% 91st pct 27.6% 11th pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +19.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.7% 87th pct 7.6% 3rd pct

Highest year of school

62.1% Year 12 ◂ +34.5 pts 27.6%
6.3% Year 9 or below +19.1 pts ▸ 25.4%
17.5% Year 10 +3.3 pts ▸ 20.8%
8.1% Year 11 +5.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

Highest qualification level

28.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.5 pts 12.7%
26.2% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.5 pts 24.7%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +6.9 pts 8.2%
9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.1 pts 4.2%
2.4% Certificate I / II +3.6 pts ▸ 6.0%
3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.5 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

18.9% Management & commerce ◂ +10.0 pts 8.9%
16.8% Engineering & related ◂ +7.3 pts 9.5%
11.4% Society & culture ◂ +1.6 pts 9.8%
11.0% Health ◂ +3.6 pts 7.4%
7.9% Education +1.0 pts ▸ 8.9%
5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.5 pts 3.7%
1.5% Agriculture & environment +3.5 pts ▸ 5.0%
4.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 4.2%
3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.9 pts 0.8%
3.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.8 pts 1.7%
2.8% Information technology ◂ +2.4 pts 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$527 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$860 72nd pct $333 0th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$416 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,865 74th pct $1,449 44th pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$1,409 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,260 83rd pct $851 0th pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +9.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.2% 81st pct 5.6% 21st pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +11.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
24.3% 83rd pct 12.7% 27th pct

Household income distribution

23.3% $650–$1,499 +7.0 pts ▸ 30.3%
29.1% $1,500–$2,999 +0.3 pts ▸ 29.4%
14.3% Under $650 +0.8 pts ▸ 15.1%
13.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.0 pts 5.5%
10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.6 pts 7.2%

Personal income distribution

38.4% Under $650 +23.3 pts ▸ 61.7%
29.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +14.9 pts 14.2%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +11.1 pts 8.9%
6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.7 pts 1.5%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +8.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
26.0% 43rd pct 17.2% 13th pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +5.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
8.4% 44th pct 2.7% 9th pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.6% 40th pct 3.1% 16th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.4% Mental health ◂ +5.7 pts 2.7%
7.6% Other condition ◂ +2.8 pts 4.7%
7.4% Arthritis ◂ +5.8 pts 1.6%
7.3% Asthma ◂ +3.5 pts 3.8%
4.3% Diabetes +1.5 pts ▸ 5.8%
3.5% Heart disease +1.3 pts ▸ 4.8%
2.7% Cancer ◂ +2.1 pts 0.6%
1.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%
0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.5% None +4.5 pts ▸ 71.0%
18.2% One condition ◂ +4.7 pts 13.5%
5.3% Two conditions ◂ +2.6 pts 2.7%
2.5% Three or more ◂ +1.5 pts 1.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +7.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.1% 44th pct 7.7% 11th pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
10.9% 45th pct 12.2% 69th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +17.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
29.2% 89th pct 46.6% 100th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.8% 36th pct 1.6% 11th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia even gap narrowing
19.7% 52nd pct 19.7% 51st pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +10,313 larger in Major Cities of Australia
40,806 87th pct 30,493 84th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3 yrs older in Very Remote Australia
23 yrs 14th pct 26 yrs 50th pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +21.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
40.6% 85th pct 18.7% 16th pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +15.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
15.1% 55th pct 30.4% 80th pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$332 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$600 75th pct $268 0th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$550 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,653 78th pct $1,103 19th pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +78.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
8.3% 59th pct 86.3% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.2 larger in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
2.6 77th pct 3.8 100th pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +11.5 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
13.4% 27th pct 24.9% 94th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
25.0% 23rd pct 21.7% 8th pct

Family composition

60.0% Couples with children ◂ +1.4 pts 58.6%
25.5% Couples without children ◂ +11.4 pts 14.1%
13.4% One-parent families +11.5 pts ▸ 24.9%
1.2% Other families +1.3 pts ▸ 2.4%

Household size

32.9% 2 people ◂ +13.4 pts 19.5%
2.8% 6 or more +23.7 pts ▸ 26.5%
25.0% 1 person ◂ +3.3 pts 21.7%
16.5% 4 people ◂ +4.4 pts 12.1%
16.4% 3 people ◂ +5.9 pts 10.5%
6.4% 5 people +3.3 pts ▸ 9.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$265 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$350 79th pct $85 0th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$807 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,907 86th pct $1,100 21st pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.60 higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 1.40 100th pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +42.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
26.8% 43rd pct 69.6% 100th pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +22.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
28.4% 30th pct 6.2% 2nd pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
77.5% 24th pct 80.8% 28th pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +19.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
82.4% 95th pct 63.3% 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.8% Rented +42.8 pts ▸ 69.6%
41.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +39.4 pts 2.4%
28.4% Owned outright ◂ +22.2 pts 6.2%
1.7% Other tenure +16.9 pts ▸ 18.6%
1.2% Not stated +2.1 pts ▸ 3.3%

Types of homes

77.5% Separate house +3.3 pts ▸ 80.8%
14.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.4 pts 10.0%
7.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +4.4 pts 3.3%
0.3% Other dwelling +3.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

Bedrooms per home

36.8% 3 bedrooms +10.3 pts ▸ 47.1%
39.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +25.8 pts 13.3%
12.7% 2 bedrooms +9.0 pts ▸ 21.7%
3.6% 1 bedroom +6.8 pts ▸ 10.4%
6.4% 5 or more ◂ +3.5 pts 2.9%
0.2% Studio / none +1.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

Weekly rent distribution

10.4% Under $200 +64.3 pts ▸ 74.8%
43.3% $350–$549 ◂ +40.8 pts 2.5%
34.2% $200–$349 ◂ +24.8 pts 9.4%
6.4% $550–$749 ◂ +5.8 pts 0.6%
2.5% $750 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

12.7% Under $1,000 +26.0 pts ▸ 38.6%
35.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +21.0 pts 14.5%
30.5% $1,000–$1,799 +4.8 pts ▸ 35.3%
15.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +9.1 pts 6.8%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +33.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
5.0% 43rd pct 38.4% 100th pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
7.6% 28th pct 4.2% 11th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.2% 87th pct 2.6% 61st pct

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) ◂ +26.0 pts 36.1%
1.6% Walked +30.8 pts ▸ 32.3%
4.4% Car (passenger) +5.8 pts ▸ 10.3%
7.6% Worked at home ◂ +3.3 pts 4.2%
3.0% Bus ◂ +0.5 pts 2.5%
2.2% Train ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%
0.7% Bicycle +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

Motor vehicles per home

39.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +22.8 pts 17.1%
5.0% No vehicle +33.4 pts ▸ 38.4%
35.2% 1 vehicle +2.0 pts ▸ 37.2%
12.9% 3 vehicles ◂ +8.3 pts 4.6%
7.0% 4 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 2.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +15.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
39.4% 62nd pct 24.5% 4th pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +13.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
10.6% 16th pct 23.7% 78th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +10.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
5.3% 54th pct 16.2% 82nd pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +25.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
65.3% 88th pct 39.9% 19th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +7.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
60.0% 57th pct 67.0% 81st pct

Industries people work in

8.8% Education & training +6.6 pts ▸ 15.4%
6.0% Public administration & safety +9.3 pts ▸ 15.3%
14.2% Health care & social assistance +0.4 pts ▸ 14.6%
0.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +8.8 pts ▸ 9.5%
8.9% Retail trade ◂ +1.6 pts 7.3%
8.8% Construction ◂ +4.6 pts 4.2%
7.8% Professional & technical ◂ +6.8 pts 1.1%
6.5% Accommodation & food +1.0 pts ▸ 7.5%
6.6% Mining ◂ +0.4 pts 6.1%
5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +4.3 pts 0.9%
4.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.2 pts 2.4%
1.8% Arts & recreation +2.4 pts ▸ 4.1%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +1.8 pts 22.0%
12.0% Community & personal service +7.6 pts ▸ 19.6%
14.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +4.4 pts 10.3%
8.7% Labourers +4.6 pts ▸ 13.2%
11.8% Managers +0.9 pts ▸ 12.7%
12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.8 pts 8.7%
8.0% Sales workers ◂ +3.2 pts 4.8%
6.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.3 pts 5.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.0 higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.1 86th pct 3.1 28th pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.1 more in Major Cities of Australia
5.8 87th pct 3.7 55th pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +36.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
72.7% 87th pct 36.6% 33rd pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +10.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
69.0% 85th pct 58.6% 77th pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +94.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
94.1% 96th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +13.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
80.0% 93rd pct 67.1% 81st pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +29.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
96.1% 91st pct 67.0% 56th pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
54.8% 83rd pct 57.5% 86th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.2 more in Very Remote Australia
15.4 27th pct 15.7 29th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +104 higher in Major Cities of Australia
104 91st pct 0 0th pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.1% 73rd pct 3.7% 24th pct

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

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

Compare Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Remote 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/RA50/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA74/very-remote-australia