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Outer Regional Australia vs Very Remote Australia

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

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 2,858 km apart · Outer Regional Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia

Outer Regional Australia and Very Remote Australia are vastly different in scale and makeup. Very Remote Australia has a much more diverse population, with 30.6% born overseas and 43.1% using a language other than English at home, compared to 17.6% and 7.2% in Outer Regional Australia. Outer Regional Australia is more likely to have larger homes, with 80.5% having three or more bedrooms, and residents are far more likely to live within a 10-minute walk of public transport. In contrast, Very Remote Australia has a much higher share of renters at 37.5% and a far older First Nations population, with a typical age of 52.

Everyday life in both places shares many similarities, from the typical weekly household income of around $1,480 to the same 13% of adults holding a bachelor's degree. They also have nearly identical rates of full-time employment. While they share these core patterns, some gaps are closing; for example, the difference in the share of people born overseas has narrowed since 2011. Both areas sit well below the national figure for Year 12 completion, though Very Remote Australia is slightly higher at 36%.

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Where they differ most

Other language: 35.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Population: 179,764 larger in Outer Regional Australia 3+ bedrooms: 16.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia No religion: 18.2 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia People / bedroom: 0.20 higher in Very Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +179,764 larger in Outer Regional Australia gap steady

184,237 70th pct 4,473 31st pct

Median age in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +1 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

43 yrs 68th pct 44 yrs 72nd pct

Age structure

27.5% Older adults (45–64) +2.5 pts ▸ 30.0%

23.1% Young adults (25–44) +2.4 pts ▸ 25.5%

20.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.1 pts 19.1%

18.6% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.6 pts 17.0%

10.5% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.4 pts 8.1%

Marital status

47.1% Married +2.5 pts ▸ 49.5%

34.1% Never married ◂ +2.9 pts 31.2%

9.5% Divorced +1.3 pts ▸ 10.9%

5.5% Widowed ◂ +1.2 pts 4.3%

3.8% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Outer Regional 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

73.0% Australia ◂ +17.8 pts 55.2%

2.9% New Zealand +4.9 pts ▸ 7.8%

4.9% England ◂ +2.7 pts 2.2%

1.3% Philippines even 1.3%

1.1% South Africa ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

0.5% India even 0.5%

0.2% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

41.5% English ◂ +22.1 pts 19.4%

38.4% Australian ◂ +14.8 pts 23.6%

9.3% Scottish ◂ +3.6 pts 5.7%

0.7% Chinese +8.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.7% Irish ◂ +3.9 pts 4.8%

3.5% German ◂ +1.7 pts 1.8%

3.5% Italian ◂ +2.7 pts 0.8%

2.1% Dutch ◂ +1.1 pts 1.0%

1.6% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

0.8% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

83.2% English only ◂ +44.1 pts 39.1%

0.3% Mandarin +5.1 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.1% Cantonese +1.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.6% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

0.1% Hindi even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.4% No religion ◂ +18.2 pts 27.2%

40.6% Christianity ◂ +10.9 pts 29.7%

11.4% Not stated +8.0 pts ▸ 19.5%

0.9% Islam +16.3 pts ▸ 17.2%

0.8% Buddhism +5.2 pts ▸ 6.0%

0.5% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.4% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

42.6% Year 12 +0.3 pts ▸ 42.8%

26.5% Year 10 ◂ +7.2 pts 19.3%

11.1% Year 11 ◂ +4.8 pts 6.4%

9.0% Year 9 or below +0.5 pts ▸ 9.5%

Highest qualification level

35.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.5 pts 26.9%

16.6% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.1 pts 13.4%

13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.5 pts 11.7%

3.4% Postgraduate degree +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 3.5%

2.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%

Field of qualification

17.7% Engineering & related ◂ +4.2 pts 13.5%

12.1% Management & commerce ◂ +0.7 pts 11.4%

10.1% Health ◂ +4.0 pts 6.1%

9.1% Education ◂ +1.8 pts 7.4%

8.8% Society & culture ◂ +1.1 pts 7.6%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.9 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.9% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

5.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.1 pts 2.0%

2.2% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

2.1% Creative arts even 2.1%

1.0% Information technology +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$72 higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

$767 58th pct $839 69th pct

Household income in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$16 higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

$1,475 48th pct $1,491 51st pct

Family income in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$45 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$1,939 65th pct $1,894 58th pct

Household income distribution

27.4% $1,500–$2,999 +3.3 pts ▸ 30.7%

27.0% $650–$1,499 +1.9 pts ▸ 28.9%

18.3% Under $650 even 18.3%

8.7% $3,000–$3,999 +0.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

7.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 6.9%

Personal income distribution

39.0% Under $650 ◂ +7.8 pts 31.3%

28.6% $650–$1,499 +2.5 pts ▸ 31.1%

17.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.3 pts 16.1%

3.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 2.3%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.7% Arthritis ◂ +4.5 pts 5.2%

8.8% Mental health ◂ +5.1 pts 3.7%

8.0% Asthma ◂ +2.5 pts 5.6%

7.3% Other condition ◂ +1.8 pts 5.5%

5.2% Diabetes ◂ +1.7 pts 3.5%

4.3% Heart disease ◂ +1.0 pts 3.2%

3.2% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 2.2%

2.0% Lung condition ◂ +1.0 pts 1.1%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

58.6% None +2.8 pts ▸ 61.4%

19.3% One condition ◂ +5.2 pts 14.1%

6.4% Two conditions ◂ +3.0 pts 3.3%

3.4% Three or more ◂ +1.8 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +10,858 larger in Outer Regional Australia

10,888 64th pct 30 16th pct

Median age in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +27 yrs older in Very Remote Australia

25 yrs 43rd pct 52 yrs 99th pct

Median income in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$166 higher in Very Remote Australia

$483 38th pct $649 81st pct

Household income in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$586 higher in Very Remote Australia

$1,288 43rd pct $1,874 87th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

2.4 43rd pct 2.3 22nd pct

Family composition

52.4% Couples with children +2.8 pts ▸ 55.1%

32.7% Couples without children +1.8 pts ▸ 34.4%

14.0% One-parent families ◂ +4.3 pts 9.7%

1.0% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

Household size

37.1% 2 people ◂ +2.2 pts 34.8%

29.2% 1 person +3.8 pts ▸ 33.0%

13.2% 3 people ◂ +1.1 pts 12.1%

12.1% 4 people ◂ +1.4 pts 10.7%

5.6% 5 people +0.8 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.8% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$60 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$260 51st pct $200 30th pct

Mortgage in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +$195 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$1,495 55th pct $1,300 36th pct

People / bedroom in Outer Regional 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

26.7% Rented +10.8 pts ▸ 37.5%

36.0% Owned outright ◂ +1.7 pts 34.3%

32.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +13.0 pts 19.1%

3.2% Other tenure +2.8 pts ▸ 6.0%

2.0% Not stated +1.2 pts ▸ 3.2%

Types of homes

89.5% Separate house ◂ +8.2 pts 81.3%

0.9% Flat or apartment +9.0 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.7 pts 7.3%

1.2% Other dwelling ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

42.2% 3 bedrooms +0.3 pts ▸ 42.5%

32.5% 4 bedrooms ◂ +16.0 pts 16.5%

13.5% 2 bedrooms +11.0 pts ▸ 24.4%

3.7% 1 bedroom +5.3 pts ▸ 9.0%

5.8% 5 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 4.6%

0.5% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

48.1% $200–$349 ◂ +10.6 pts 37.5%

24.8% Under $200 +17.3 pts ▸ 42.1%

20.2% $350–$549 ◂ +8.6 pts 11.6%

1.6% $550–$749 ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

0.3% $750 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.6% $1,000–$1,799 +4.9 pts ▸ 43.5%

23.9% Under $1,000 +4.0 pts ▸ 27.9%

24.0% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 21.0%

7.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 5.4%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

65.4% Car (driver) ◂ +5.1 pts 60.3%

7.8% Worked at home ◂ +2.6 pts 5.3%

3.8% Walked +1.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

5.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.5 pts 4.0%

1.3% Bus +1.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.6% Bicycle +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

32.1% 1 vehicle +6.4 pts ▸ 38.6%

38.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.9 pts 35.2%

15.6% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.3 pts 14.3%

9.9% 4 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 7.6%

4.3% No vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 4.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

5.8% Public administration & safety +11.7 pts ▸ 17.5%

12.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +5.4 pts 6.7%

12.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +10.6 pts 1.4%

6.3% Accommodation & food +5.1 pts ▸ 11.4%

7.5% Construction +1.9 pts ▸ 9.4%

9.2% Mining ◂ +4.8 pts 4.3%

8.8% Retail trade +0.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

8.7% Education & training ◂ +1.7 pts 7.1%

2.3% Administrative & support +4.6 pts ▸ 7.0%

4.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.6%

4.4% Manufacturing ◂ +3.1 pts 1.3%

4.0% Other services ◂ +1.1 pts 2.8%

Occupations people work in

16.3% Technicians & trades +1.3 pts ▸ 17.7%

15.6% Managers ◂ +0.2 pts 15.3%

11.1% Community & personal service +3.7 pts ▸ 14.8%

14.4% Professionals ◂ +1.5 pts 12.9%

12.8% Labourers ◂ +0.7 pts 12.1%

10.3% Clerical & administrative +2.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

10.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.1 pts 6.3%

7.5% Sales workers ◂ +1.3 pts 6.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.5 higher in Outer Regional Australia

3.6 66th pct 3.1 31st pct

Types ≤15 min in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.5 more in Outer Regional Australia

3.7 56th pct 3.2 27th pct

15-min city in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +13.8 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia

42.8% 54th pct 29.1% 16th pct

Walk to shops in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +17.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

42.9% 43rd pct 60.8% 79th pct

Walk to transit in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +49.5 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia

49.5% 71st pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +33.1 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia

49.3% 56th pct 16.2% 9th pct

Walk to a park in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +14.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia

67.5% 58th pct 52.6% 19th pct

Walk to health in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +9.4 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia

36.5% 57th pct 27.0% 29th pct

Amenities/1k in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +21.5 more in Very Remote Australia

19.2 43rd pct 40.7 75th pct

Intersections/km² in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +6 higher in Very Remote Australia

0 42nd pct 7 72nd pct

Mean slope in Outer Regional Australia in Very Remote Australia +7.1 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

5.3% 56th pct 12.4% 100th pct

Compare Outer Regional Australia with nearby areas

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

Compare Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Outer Regional Australia vs Very Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA52/outer-regional-australia/vs/RA94/very-remote-australia