Library Guides: Place & Liveability: Living in Rural Areas

Source: Hamish Weir (2019)

Though the majority of the world's resident live in cities, a large number of people live instead in rural areas. But why di people choose to live in rural areas, and what are some of the issues people face when living rurally? Read through the resources below to learn more.

Rural and remote populations (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, n.d.)
Around 7 million people—about 29% of the population—live in rural and remote areas (ABS 2017e). These Australians face unique challenges due to their geographic isolation, and they often have poorer health and welfare outcomes than people living in major cities. Despite poorer health outcomes for some, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey found that Australians living in small towns (of fewer than 1,000 people) and in non-urban areas generally experienced higher levels of life satisfaction than those living in major cities (Wilkins 2015). Read through this report to learn more.
Rural area (National Geographic, n.d.)
A rural area is an open swath of land that has few homes or other buildings, and not very many people. A rural area’s population density is very low. Read through this article to learn more.
Families in regional, rural and remote Australia (Australian Institute of Family Services, 2011, March)
This fact sheet describes how the characteristics of Australian families differ between the "city" and the "bush”. It includes information about the geographic distribution of families; household type; family structure; age distribution; access to services and the characteristics of children’s outcomes. While there are many similarities between families regardless of where they live, geographic distance still has a significant influence on Australians and their families.
Rural & remote health (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024, April 30)
Around 7 million people – or 28% of the Australian population – live in rural and remote areas, which encompass many diverse locations and communities (ABS 2023h). These Australians face unique challenges due to their geographic location and often have poorer health outcomes than people living in metropolitan areas. Data show that people living in rural and remote areas have higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths and injury and also have poorer access to, and use of, primary health care services, than people living in Major cities.
The location effect: why where you live matters (Australian Unity, 2021, July 19)
Whether you love the country life or revel in the hustle and bustle of the city, where you live has an impact your wellbeing. Read through this website to learn more.
6 proven benefits of country living (Moving.com, 2018, September 18)
This article lists some of the reasons people prefer living in rural areas over cities.