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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 ≈ 1,958 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Remote Australia Very Remote Australia

Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia are both vast, sparsely populated regions, but they differ sharply in their makeup and wealth. Very Remote Australia has a far higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (72.5% compared to 11.9% in Remote Australia) and a much higher share of people using a First Nations language at home (86.3% versus 16.7%). There is also a significant gap in earnings; the typical weekly personal income in Remote Australia is $1,113, which is far higher than the $333 typical in Very Remote Australia.

Since 2011, the gap between these two areas has widened across several measures, including personal and family incomes. Despite these diverging trends, they share a similar physical reality, with both being mostly car-dependent and having almost the same proportion of people who need help with daily activities. They also track closely in the amount of unpaid housework residents perform and the share of people who have served in the Defence Force.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 60.6 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Other language: 57.5 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Renting: 25.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia No car: 33.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Participation: 25.1 pts higher in Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +45,372 larger in Remote Australia gap steady

87,426 61st pct 42,054 54th pct

Median age in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +7 yrs older in Remote Australia gap narrowing

36 yrs 14th pct 29 yrs 0th pct

Age structure

31.0% Young adults (25–44) +1.6 pts ▸ 32.6%

25.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +5.7 pts 20.0%

22.2% Children (0–14) +2.3 pts ▸ 24.6%

9.9% Youth (15–24) +7.8 pts ▸ 17.7%

11.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.1 pts 5.1%

Marital status

45.0% Married ◂ +1.1 pts 43.9%

40.3% Never married +3.5 pts ▸ 43.8%

8.0% Divorced ◂ +3.6 pts 4.4%

3.2% Widowed +1.2 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.5% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 3.4%

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 +16.6 pts ▸ 86.7%

3.3% New Zealand ◂ +2.4 pts 0.9%

2.9% England ◂ +2.3 pts 0.6%

1.7% Philippines ◂ +1.2 pts 0.5%

1.0% South Africa ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

0.7% India ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.3% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

35.3% Australian ◂ +26.3 pts 9.1%

34.4% English ◂ +26.0 pts 8.3%

8.3% Scottish ◂ +5.9 pts 2.4%

7.9% Irish ◂ +5.2 pts 2.7%

3.5% German ◂ +2.2 pts 1.3%

2.8% Italian ◂ +2.3 pts 0.5%

2.0% Filipino ◂ +1.4 pts 0.6%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%

1.1% Chinese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.9% Indian ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

0.3% Greek even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

76.5% English only ◂ +52.1 pts 24.4%

0.8% Tagalog ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

0.4% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

35.1% Christianity +18.8 pts ▸ 53.9%

45.7% No religion ◂ +21.2 pts 24.5%

16.0% Not stated ◂ +2.5 pts 13.5%

0.5% Other religions +6.8 pts ▸ 7.2%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

1.0% Islam ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

0.7% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

45.9% Year 12 ◂ +18.3 pts 27.6%

6.6% Year 9 or below +18.8 pts ▸ 25.4%

21.3% Year 10 ◂ +0.5 pts 20.8%

10.7% Year 11 +2.5 pts ▸ 13.3%

Highest qualification level

33.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.4 pts 24.7%

16.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.9 pts 12.7%

11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.4 pts 8.2%

3.1% Certificate I / II +2.9 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.3% Postgraduate degree +0.8 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

19.2% Engineering & related ◂ +9.7 pts 9.5%

12.6% Management & commerce ◂ +3.7 pts 8.9%

7.1% Society & culture +2.7 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.1% Education +0.8 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.0% Health ◂ +0.6 pts 7.4%

3.9% Agriculture & environment +1.1 pts ▸ 5.0%

4.6% Architecture & building ◂ +0.4 pts 4.2%

4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.8 pts 3.7%

1.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.1 pts 1.7%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

0.8% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$780 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$1,113 82nd pct $333 0th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$695 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$2,144 86th pct $1,449 44th pct

Family income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$1,720 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$2,571 92nd pct $851 0th pct

Household income distribution

18.8% $650–$1,499 +11.5 pts ▸ 30.3%

28.2% $1,500–$2,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 29.4%

16.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +10.9 pts 5.5%

12.0% Under $650 +3.0 pts ▸ 15.1%

12.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.4 pts 7.2%

Personal income distribution

27.5% Under $650 +34.2 pts ▸ 61.7%

25.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +11.2 pts 14.2%

23.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +14.4 pts 8.9%

8.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +6.5 pts 1.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.6% Asthma ◂ +2.7 pts 3.8%

5.9% Mental health ◂ +3.2 pts 2.7%

3.7% Diabetes +2.1 pts ▸ 5.8%

5.5% Arthritis ◂ +3.9 pts 1.6%

4.9% Other condition ◂ +0.2 pts 4.7%

2.6% Heart disease +2.2 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.0% Cancer ◂ +1.4 pts 0.6%

1.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

0.6% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.3% Dementia even 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.6% None +8.4 pts ▸ 71.0%

15.1% One condition ◂ +1.5 pts 13.5%

3.9% Two conditions ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%

1.8% Three or more ◂ +0.8 pts 1.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +20,082 larger in Very Remote Australia

10,411 63rd pct 30,493 84th pct

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

25 yrs 43rd pct 26 yrs 50th pct

Median income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$299 higher in Remote Australia

$567 67th pct $268 0th pct

Household income in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$637 higher in Remote Australia

$1,740 83rd pct $1,103 19th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.3 larger in Very Remote Australia gap steady

2.5 67th pct 3.8 100th pct

Family composition

59.9% Couples with children ◂ +1.3 pts 58.6%

27.4% Couples without children ◂ +13.3 pts 14.1%

11.8% One-parent families +13.1 pts ▸ 24.9%

0.9% Other families +1.5 pts ▸ 2.4%

Household size

33.3% 2 people ◂ +13.9 pts 19.5%

26.7% 1 person ◂ +5.1 pts 21.7%

3.4% 6 or more +23.2 pts ▸ 26.5%

15.2% 4 people ◂ +3.1 pts 12.1%

13.9% 3 people ◂ +3.3 pts 10.5%

7.4% 5 people +2.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$165 higher in Remote Australia gap widening

$250 45th pct $85 0th pct

Mortgage in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +$560 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing

$1,660 68th pct $1,100 21st pct

People / bedroom in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.60 higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 1.40 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

43.7% Rented +25.8 pts ▸ 69.6%

24.5% Owned outright ◂ +18.3 pts 6.2%

23.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +21.1 pts 2.4%

6.1% Other tenure +12.5 pts ▸ 18.6%

2.2% Not stated +1.0 pts ▸ 3.3%

Types of homes

82.3% Separate house ◂ +1.5 pts 80.8%

11.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +1.2 pts 10.0%

2.0% Other dwelling +1.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.2 pts 3.3%

Bedrooms per home

41.4% 3 bedrooms +5.7 pts ▸ 47.1%

31.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +18.0 pts 13.3%

13.6% 2 bedrooms +8.1 pts ▸ 21.7%

5.6% 1 bedroom +4.7 pts ▸ 10.4%

5.3% 5 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 2.9%

0.7% Studio / none +1.0 pts ▸ 1.7%

Weekly rent distribution

33.2% Under $200 +41.6 pts ▸ 74.8%

26.4% $200–$349 ◂ +17.0 pts 9.4%

16.9% $350–$549 ◂ +14.3 pts 2.5%

8.0% $550–$749 ◂ +7.5 pts 0.6%

6.5% $750 or more ◂ +6.0 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

22.8% Under $1,000 +15.9 pts ▸ 38.6%

29.6% $1,000–$1,799 +5.7 pts ▸ 35.3%

27.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +12.8 pts 14.5%

14.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +7.7 pts 6.8%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.8% Car (driver) ◂ +27.7 pts 36.1%

5.3% Walked +27.0 pts ▸ 32.3%

5.3% Car (passenger) +5.0 pts ▸ 10.3%

7.2% Worked at home ◂ +2.9 pts 4.2%

1.5% Bus +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.2% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +22.9 pts 17.1%

4.6% No vehicle +33.8 pts ▸ 38.4%

29.0% 1 vehicle +8.3 pts ▸ 37.2%

16.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +11.5 pts 4.6%

10.4% 4 or more ◂ +7.7 pts 2.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

8.7% Education & training +6.7 pts ▸ 15.4%

6.3% Public administration & safety +8.9 pts ▸ 15.3%

9.7% Health care & social assistance +4.8 pts ▸ 14.6%

13.2% Mining ◂ +7.0 pts 6.1%

12.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +3.0 pts 9.5%

6.1% Accommodation & food +1.4 pts ▸ 7.5%

7.4% Construction ◂ +3.1 pts 4.2%

6.5% Retail trade +0.8 pts ▸ 7.3%

6.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +4.4 pts 2.4%

0.8% Arts & recreation +3.3 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.6% Other services ◂ +0.7 pts 2.8%

3.0% Administrative & support ◂ +0.5 pts 2.5%

Occupations people work in

14.0% Professionals +8.0 pts ▸ 22.0%

9.4% Community & personal service +10.3 pts ▸ 19.6%

18.2% Technicians & trades ◂ +7.9 pts 10.3%

18.1% Managers ◂ +5.4 pts 12.7%

11.0% Labourers +2.2 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.2 pts 8.7%

10.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.9 pts 5.6%

5.9% Sales workers ◂ +1.1 pts 4.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.3 higher in Remote Australia

3.4 50th pct 3.1 28th pct

Types ≤15 min in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.1 more in Very Remote Australia

3.6 51st pct 3.7 55th pct

15-min city in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +4.0 pts higher in Remote Australia

40.6% 42nd pct 36.6% 33rd pct

Walk to shops in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +17.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

40.8% 34th pct 58.6% 77th pct

Walk to transit in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +41.0 pts higher in Remote Australia

41.0% 52nd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +11.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

55.3% 70th pct 67.1% 81st pct

Walk to a park in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +4.8 pts higher in Remote Australia

71.7% 68th pct 67.0% 56th pct

Walk to health in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +33.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

23.8% 19th pct 57.5% 86th pct

Amenities/1k in Remote Australia in Very Remote Australia +13.3 more in Remote Australia

28.9 64th pct 15.7 29th 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 +0.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

3.5% 20th pct 3.7% 24th 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 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). 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/RA74/very-remote-australia