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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 ≈ 739 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Remote Australia Very Remote Australia

Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia are both sparsely populated areas, but they differ significantly in their demographics and wealth. Very Remote Australia has a far higher proportion of First Nations people (29.1% compared to 11.9%) and a much higher share of people who speak a First Nations language (44.2% versus 16.7%). In contrast, Remote Australia is generally wealthier, with a typical weekly household income of $2,144, which is well higher than the $1,709 seen in Very Remote Australia.

These income gaps have widened since 2011, with the difference in typical household pay growing from $101 to $435. Both areas remain mostly car-dependent and have very similar rates of home ownership and people needing help with daily activities. However, Remote Australia has a higher share of adults working or looking for work (65.0% versus 54.6%) and a larger number of people who volunteer.

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Where they differ most

One-parent: 8.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia No car: 11.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia First Nations: 17.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Renting: 13.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Rent: $130 higher in Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +26,754 larger in Remote Australia gap narrowing

87,426 61st pct 60,672 58th pct

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

36 yrs 14th pct 35 yrs 7th pct

Age structure

31.0% Young adults (25–44) +3.7 pts ▸ 34.7%

25.6% Older adults (45–64) +0.1 pts ▸ 25.8%

22.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.6 pts 19.6%

9.9% Youth (15–24) +1.5 pts ▸ 11.5%

11.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.7 pts 8.4%

Marital status

40.3% Never married +8.3 pts ▸ 48.6%

45.0% Married ◂ +8.3 pts 36.7%

8.0% Divorced ◂ +0.1 pts 7.9%

3.5% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.2% Widowed ◂ +0.5 pts 2.8%

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

70.1% Australia ◂ +4.1 pts 66.0%

3.3% New Zealand even 3.3%

2.9% England ◂ +0.4 pts 2.5%

1.7% Philippines ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

1.0% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.7% India ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.3% China even 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

35.3% Australian ◂ +11.9 pts 23.5%

34.4% English ◂ +10.6 pts 23.7%

8.3% Scottish ◂ +2.5 pts 5.8%

7.9% Irish ◂ +1.8 pts 6.1%

3.5% German ◂ +1.1 pts 2.4%

2.8% Italian ◂ +0.6 pts 2.2%

2.0% Filipino ◂ +0.7 pts 1.3%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%

1.1% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.9% Indian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Greek even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

76.5% English only ◂ +15.7 pts 60.8%

0.8% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.4% Mandarin +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Italian even 0.2%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.7% No religion ◂ +7.6 pts 38.1%

35.1% Christianity ◂ +0.1 pts 34.9%

16.0% Not stated +7.6 pts ▸ 23.5%

0.5% Other religions +1.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

1.0% Islam ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.7% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

45.9% Year 12 ◂ +9.5 pts 36.4%

21.3% Year 10 ◂ +0.2 pts 21.1%

10.7% Year 11 +0.3 pts ▸ 11.0%

6.6% Year 9 or below +2.7 pts ▸ 9.4%

Highest qualification level

33.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.7 pts 29.5%

16.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.6 pts 13.1%

11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.8 pts 8.9%

3.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.4 pts 2.9%

3.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 3.0%

2.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.9 pts 1.8%

Field of qualification

19.2% Engineering & related ◂ +2.0 pts 17.3%

12.6% Management & commerce ◂ +3.8 pts 8.8%

8.1% Education ◂ +1.8 pts 6.3%

8.0% Health ◂ +2.1 pts 5.9%

7.1% Society & culture ◂ +1.1 pts 6.0%

4.6% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 4.4%

4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.2 pts 4.3%

3.9% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.8 pts 3.1%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.4 pts 1.4%

0.8% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$117 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing

$1,113 82nd pct $996 77th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$435 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$2,144 86th pct $1,709 66th pct

Family income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$691 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$2,571 92nd pct $1,880 56th pct

Household income distribution

28.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.6 pts 27.6%

18.8% $650–$1,499 +4.2 pts ▸ 23.0%

16.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +6.5 pts 9.9%

12.0% Under $650 +4.0 pts ▸ 16.0%

12.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.6 pts 10.0%

Personal income distribution

27.5% Under $650 +2.7 pts ▸ 30.2%

25.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.6 pts 19.8%

23.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.8 pts 20.5%

8.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 6.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.6% Asthma ◂ +1.5 pts 5.0%

5.9% Mental health ◂ +1.7 pts 4.2%

5.5% Arthritis ◂ +1.8 pts 3.8%

4.9% Other condition ◂ +0.7 pts 4.2%

3.7% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.6% Heart disease +0.1 pts ▸ 2.6%

2.0% Cancer ◂ +0.6 pts 1.3%

1.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.6% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.3% Dementia even 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.6% None ◂ +1.7 pts 60.9%

15.1% One condition ◂ +2.8 pts 12.2%

3.9% Two conditions ◂ +0.7 pts 3.2%

1.8% Three or more ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +7,248 larger in Very Remote Australia

10,411 63rd pct 17,659 74th pct

Median age in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +2 yrs older in Very Remote Australia

25 yrs 43rd pct 27 yrs 57th pct

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

$567 67th pct $349 10th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$745 higher in Remote Australia

$1,740 83rd pct $995 4th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.2 larger in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing

2.5 67th pct 2.7 86th pct

Family composition

59.9% Couples with children ◂ +6.5 pts 53.4%

27.4% Couples without children ◂ +3.1 pts 24.2%

11.8% One-parent families +8.4 pts ▸ 20.2%

0.9% Other families +1.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

Household size

33.3% 2 people ◂ +3.2 pts 30.1%

26.7% 1 person +2.6 pts ▸ 29.3%

15.2% 4 people ◂ +2.2 pts 13.0%

13.9% 3 people ◂ +0.6 pts 13.3%

7.4% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 7.3%

3.4% 6 or more +3.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$130 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$250 45th pct $120 9th pct

Mortgage in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$158 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing

$1,660 68th pct $1,502 55th pct

People / bedroom in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.90 71st pct

How homes are owned or rented

43.7% Rented +13.2 pts ▸ 56.9%

24.5% Owned outright ◂ +6.5 pts 18.0%

23.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +12.1 pts 11.4%

6.1% Other tenure +3.5 pts ▸ 9.6%

2.2% Not stated +1.8 pts ▸ 4.1%

Types of homes

82.3% Separate house ◂ +0.7 pts 81.6%

11.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.9 pts 6.3%

2.0% Other dwelling +4.9 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.1 pts 2.4%

Bedrooms per home

41.4% 3 bedrooms +5.4 pts ▸ 46.8%

31.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +11.0 pts 20.3%

13.6% 2 bedrooms +2.5 pts ▸ 16.0%

5.6% 1 bedroom +2.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

5.3% 5 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 3.6%

0.7% Studio / none +0.9 pts ▸ 1.6%

Weekly rent distribution

33.2% Under $200 +26.7 pts ▸ 59.8%

26.4% $200–$349 ◂ +8.4 pts 18.0%

16.9% $350–$549 ◂ +7.7 pts 9.1%

8.0% $550–$749 ◂ +5.6 pts 2.4%

6.5% $750 or more ◂ +5.6 pts 0.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

29.6% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.6 pts 28.0%

22.8% Under $1,000 +5.6 pts ▸ 28.3%

27.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.6 pts 23.7%

14.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 13.4%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.8% Car (driver) ◂ +20.6 pts 43.2%

5.3% Walked +8.1 pts ▸ 13.5%

1.5% Bus +7.9 pts ▸ 9.5%

7.2% Worked at home ◂ +2.1 pts 5.0%

5.3% Car (passenger) +1.5 pts ▸ 6.7%

1.2% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.0% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +10.0 pts 30.0%

29.0% 1 vehicle +7.2 pts ▸ 36.2%

16.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +5.3 pts 10.8%

4.6% No vehicle +11.2 pts ▸ 15.7%

10.4% 4 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 7.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.2% Mining +12.6 pts ▸ 25.8%

12.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +4.6 pts 7.9%

9.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.5 pts 8.2%

8.7% Education & training +0.4 pts ▸ 9.1%

7.4% Construction ◂ +0.5 pts 6.9%

6.3% Public administration & safety +0.9 pts ▸ 7.2%

6.1% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 6.9%

6.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.8 pts 4.0%

6.5% Retail trade ◂ +1.2 pts 5.3%

3.0% Administrative & support +0.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.6% Other services ◂ +0.9 pts 2.7%

2.7% Manufacturing ◂ +1.3 pts 1.3%

Occupations people work in

18.2% Technicians & trades +0.4 pts ▸ 18.5%

18.1% Managers ◂ +5.2 pts 12.9%

10.5% Machinery operators & drivers +5.8 pts ▸ 16.3%

14.0% Professionals ◂ +0.2 pts 13.8%

11.0% Labourers +1.2 pts ▸ 12.2%

10.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.0 pts 8.8%

9.4% Community & personal service +1.4 pts ▸ 10.8%

5.9% Sales workers ◂ +1.7 pts 4.2%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.1 higher in Remote Australia

3.4 50th pct 3.3 43rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.2 more in Very Remote Australia

3.6 51st pct 3.9 66th pct

15-min city in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +7.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

40.6% 42nd pct 48.3% 71st pct

Walk to shops in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +10.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

40.8% 34th pct 51.1% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +28.8 pts higher in Remote Australia

41.0% 52nd pct 12.2% 26th pct

Walk to school in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

55.3% 70th pct 56.1% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.4 pts higher in Remote Australia

71.7% 68th pct 70.3% 64th pct

Walk to health in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +20.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

23.8% 19th pct 44.4% 72nd pct

Amenities/1k in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +15.6 more in Very Remote Australia

28.9 64th pct 44.5 78th pct

Intersections/km² in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia even

0 27th pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia

3.5% 20th pct 3.2% 14th pct

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

Compare Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Major Cities of 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/RA53/remote-australia/vs/RA54/very-remote-australia