Remoteness Area · Area profile
Remote Australia
25,359 km²
Far older than most similar regions, Remote Australia is a sparsely populated area where the typical resident is 50. It is a place of extremes, with a population of 8,423 people living in a landscape dominated by detached houses and a high proportion of seniors. The community is marked by a strong trend toward secularism and lower typical incomes compared to the national figures. This combination of an aging population and modest wealth defines its current character.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with a typical age of 50 and over a quarter of residents aged 65 or more. Children under 15 make up only 13.3% of the population, which is well below the Australian average.
Most residents were born in Australia, and English is the most common ancestry at 42.2%. While the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure, it has risen to 14.4% since 2011.
English is the primary language for 83.8% of the community, and the number of people using another language at home is far below the national average at 6.1%. Very few people speak little or no English.
Secularism is common here, with 45.2% of people reporting no religion, a figure well above the national average. This represents a significant rise of 18 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels are far below the national average, with only 35.1% of residents completing Year 12. However, both school completion and bachelor degree attainment have risen since 2011.
Typical incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with a typical household earning $994 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 8.2% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are common, as 34.6% of people have a long-term health condition, well above the national average. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions at 10.7%.
Volunteerism is well above the national average at 18.7%, and a higher proportion of residents have served in the Defence Force. Unpaid housework is also more common here than in most areas.
There are 548 First Nations people in the area. They are noticeably older than the national average with a typical age of 31, and the unemployment rate is well below the national figure at 8.2%.
The area has a very high number of people living alone—38.6%—which is far above the national figure. Consequently, homes are smaller, with just 2.0 people per household.
Detached houses are the norm for 94.1% of residents, and nearly half of all homes are owned outright. Rent and mortgage payments are far below the national average.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 58.7% of workers driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. Working from home is far less common here than across Australia.
Recent arrivals from overseas are more common here than in the rest of the country, with 17.8% arriving in the last five years. This is a rise from 13.2% in 2011.
Far fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the national figure, at just 49.5%. Common industries include accommodation and food services, as well as agriculture and mining.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.5. While 60.7% of homes are near a park, street connectivity is non-existent.