The bar charts illustrate the proportion of people born in and outside Australia living in cities, towns, and rural areas in 1950 and 2010.
Overall, it is clear that in both years, the majority of people lived in cities, regardless of whether they were born in Australia or abroad. However, the percentage of those living in urban areas increased substantially over the period, while the figures for towns and rural areas declined significantly.
In 1950, about 50% of people born in Australia lived in cities, compared with around 70% of those born overseas. Around 20% and 30% of these two groups respectively lived in rural areas, while the proportion living in towns was lower in both cases.
By 2010, the urban population had grown sharply, reaching about 65% for Australian-born people and 80% for those born outside the country. In contrast, the share of people living in towns and rural areas fell dramatically to below 20% for both groups, with rural populations becoming particularly small.
In summary, the charts show a clear movement towards city life between 1950 and 2010, accompanied by a steady decline in the number of people living in rural regions.