Remoteness Area · Area profile
Outer Regional Australia
128,080 km²
An ageing population has become a defining feature of Outer Regional Australia, where the typical resident is now 47. This community is far older than the national average, with a significant rise in seniors since 2011. People here tend to live in large, separate houses and enjoy a slower pace of life. It is a place where home ownership is high and the connection to the land remains strong through a large agricultural workforce.
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The area is much older than most, with a typical resident aged 47 and a quarter of the population aged 65 or over. Since 2011, the proportion of seniors has risen by 5.3 points, while the share of children under 15 has fallen.
People born overseas make up 11.1% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the number of overseas-born residents has risen slightly since 2011.
English is the primary language for 85.5% of the community. Only 6.7% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.
A large number of residents report no religion, at 43.5%, which is well above the national figure. This has been a significant shift, rising by 19 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is far below the national average, with only 13.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people have completed Year 12 than in 2011.
Incomes are generally well below the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,231 a week. Only 11.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen by 7.9 points since 2011.
Residents face more health challenges than most, with 33.1% living with a long-term condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7% of people now need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is much more common here than in other areas, with 20.5% of people helping out. Unpaid care is also prevalent, with 13.7% of the community providing unpaid support.
There are 7,694 First Nations people in the area. The typical age for this group is 23, which is a little younger than the national figure, and 4.1% speak a First Nations language.
Living arrangements are often solitary, with 31% of people living alone—well above the national average. While homes are slightly smaller on average, couples without children make up a large portion of households.
Home ownership is very high, with 44.7% of homes owned outright. Detached houses are the norm for 91.1% of the community, and typical weekly rents of $240 are well below the national figure.
Car travel is essential, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. Very few homes lack a vehicle, and 62.3% of workers travel by car as the driver.
The population is relatively stable, with 33.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. However, recent arrivals from overseas have increased since 2011.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing are major employers for 17% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is a little below the national figure of 5.1%.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.6. While many homes are near a park, only 30.8% are within a 15-minute walk of health services.