Remoteness Area · Area profile

Remote Australia

167,349 km²

Remote Australia is characterised by a notably young population and household incomes well above most areas.

It also has a largely renting community and slightly fewer over-65s than usual.

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📍 Remote Australia, Remoteness Area

Demographics & Identity

Total population87,426▼ -8.4%since 2011 Median age36 yrs▲ +2.9%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population11.9%People aged 65 and over11.2%Children under 1522.2%People in a de facto relationship19.0%▲ +11.2%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

In Remote Australia, the largest group is Young adults (25–44) at 31%, followed by Older adults (45–64) (26%) and Children (0–14) (22%).

Young adults (25–44)31.0%

Older adults (45–64)25.6%

Children (0–14)22.2%

Seniors (65+)11.2%

Youth (15–24)9.9%

Marital status

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between Married (45%) and Never married (40%), with Divorced at 8%.

Married45%
Never married40%
Divorced8%
Separated4%
Widowed3%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Remote Australia, Australia is the majority at 87%; New Zealand is next at 4%.

Australia70.1%

New Zealand3.3%

England2.9%

Philippines1.7%

South Africa1.0%

India0.7%

China0.3%

Italy0.1%

Vietnam0.1%

Nepal0.1%

Ancestry

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between Australian (36%) and English (35%), with Scottish at 8%.

Australian35.3%

English34.4%

Scottish8.3%

Irish7.9%

German3.5%

Italian2.8%

Filipino2.0%

Dutch1.5%

Chinese1.1%

Indian0.9%

Language

People using another language at home9.2%

Language used at home

In Remote Australia, English only is the majority at 97%; Tagalog is next at 1%.

English only76.5%

Tagalog0.8%

Mandarin0.4%

Italian0.2%

Hindi0.2%

Vietnamese0.2%

Cantonese0.1%

Punjabi0.1%

Greek0.1%

Arabic0.1%

Religion

People with no religion45.7%

Religious affiliation

In Remote Australia, No religion is the majority at 54%; Christianity is next at 42%.

No religion54%
Christianity42%
Buddhism1%
Islam1%
Hinduism1%
Other religions1%
Judaism0%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1245.9%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher14.2%

Highest year of school

In Remote Australia, Year 12 is the majority at 54%; Year 10 is next at 25%.

Year 1245.9%

Year 1021.3%

Year 1110.7%

Year 9 or below6.6%

Highest qualification level

In Remote Australia, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 47%, followed by Bachelor degree (24%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (17%).

Certificate III / IV33.1%

Bachelor degree16.7%

Advanced diploma / diploma11.7%

Postgraduate degree3.3%

Certificate I / II3.1%

Graduate diploma / certificate2.7%

Field of qualification

In Remote Australia, the largest group is Engineering & related at 27%, followed by Management & commerce (17%) and Education (11%).

Engineering & related19.2%

Management & commerce12.6%

Education8.1%

Health8.0%

Society & culture7.1%

Architecture & building4.6%

Food, hospitality & personal services4.5%

Agriculture & environment3.9%

Creative arts1.8%

Natural & physical sciences1.6%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$1,113▲ +33.8%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$2,144▲ +36.1%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$2,571▲ +34.7%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week19.0%Households earning $3,000+ a week29.0%

Household income distribution

In Remote Australia, the largest group is $1,500–$2,999 at 32%, followed by $650–$1,499 (21%) and $4,000 or more (19%).

$1,500–$2,99928.2%

$650–$1,49918.8%

$4,000 or more16.4%

$3,000–$3,99912.5%

Under $65012.0%

Personal income distribution

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between Under $650 (33%) and $650–$1,499 (30%), with $1,500–$2,999 at 28%.

Under $65027.5%

$650–$1,49925.4%

$1,500–$2,99923.3%

$3,000 or more8.0%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition20.7%People with a mental health condition5.9%People needing help with daily activities2.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Remote Australia, None is the majority at 75%; One condition is next at 18%.

None62.6%

One condition15.1%

Two conditions3.9%

Three or more1.8%

Long-term health conditions reported

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between Asthma (20%) and Mental health (18%), with Arthritis at 17%.

Asthma6.6%

Mental health5.9%

Arthritis5.5%

Other condition4.9%

Diabetes3.7%

Heart disease2.6%

Cancer2.0%

Lung condition1.2%

Stroke0.6%

Dementia0.3%

Community Participation

Volunteers21.0%People providing unpaid care8.0%People caring for children unpaid27.6%People who served in the Defence Force2.5%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework18.7%

Family & Households

Average household size2.5▼ -3.8%since 2011 One-parent families11.8%People living alone26.7%▲ +10.9%since 2011

Family composition

In Remote Australia, Couples with children is the majority at 60%; Couples without children is next at 27%.

Couples with children60%
Couples without children27%
One-parent families12%
Other families1%

Household size

In Remote Australia, the largest group is 2 people at 33%, followed by 1 person (27%) and 4 people (15%).

2 people33.3%

1 person26.7%

4 people15.2%

3 people13.9%

5 people7.4%

6 or more3.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$250▲ +78.6%since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$1,660▼ -3.9%since 2011 Average people per bedroom0.80▼ -27.3%since 2011 Households renting43.7%Homes owned outright24.5%Separate (detached) houses82.3%Homes with three or more bedrooms78.0%▲ +3.2%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

In Remote Australia, the largest group is Rented at 45%, followed by Owned outright (25%) and Owned with a mortgage (24%).

Rented45%
Owned outright25%
Owned with a mortgage24%
Other tenure6%

Types of homes

In Remote Australia, Separate house is the majority at 83%; Townhouse / semi-detached is next at 11%.

Separate house83%
Townhouse / semi-detached11%
Flat or apartment4%
Other dwelling2%

Bedrooms per home

In Remote Australia, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 42%, followed by 4 bedrooms (32%) and 2 bedrooms (14%).

3 bedrooms41.4%

4 bedrooms31.3%

2 bedrooms13.6%

1 bedroom5.6%

5 or more5.3%

Studio / none0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

In Remote Australia, the largest group is Under $200 at 36%, followed by $200–$349 (29%) and $350–$549 (19%).

Under $20033.2%

$200–$34926.4%

$350–$54916.9%

$550–$7498.0%

$750 or more6.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between $1,000–$1,799 (31%) and $1,800–$2,999 (29%), with Under $1,000 at 24%.

$1,000–$1,79929.6%

$1,800–$2,99927.3%

Under $1,00022.8%

$3,000 or more14.5%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle4.6%▼ -23.8%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

In Remote Australia, the largest group is 2 vehicles at 40%, followed by 1 vehicle (29%) and 3 vehicles (16%).

2 vehicles40.0%

1 vehicle29.0%

3 vehicles16.1%

4 or more10.4%

No vehicle4.6%

How people get to work

In Remote Australia, Car (driver) is the majority at 76%; Worked at home is next at 9%.

Car (driver)63.8%

Worked at home7.2%

Walked5.3%

Car (passenger)5.3%

Bus1.5%

Bicycle1.2%

Train0.0%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years43.1%Recent arrivals from overseas14.7%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate3.2%Labour-force participation65.0%Employed full-time67.7%

Industries people work in

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between Mining (14%) and Agriculture, forestry & fishing (13%), with Health care & social assistance at 10%.

Mining13.2%

Agriculture, forestry & fishing12.5%

Health care & social assistance9.7%

Education & training8.7%

Construction7.4%

Transport & warehousing6.7%

Retail trade6.5%

Public administration & safety6.3%

Accommodation & food6.1%

Other services3.6%

Occupations people work in

Remote Australia splits fairly evenly between Technicians & trades (19%) and Managers (19%), with Professionals at 14%.

Technicians & trades18.2%

Managers18.1%

Professionals14.0%

Labourers11.0%

Clerical & administrative10.8%

Machinery operators & drivers10.5%

Community & personal service9.4%

Sales workers5.9%

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

👥 Demographics & Identity