Urban Area · Area profile

Cairns

254 km²

Cairns is characterised by a high share of renters and a slightly larger population than usual.

It also has somewhat more graduates than the norm and slightly above-average household incomes.

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📍 Cairns, Urban Area

Demographics & Identity

Total population153,425▲ +1060.6%since 2011 Median age39 yrs▲ +34.5%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population9.6%People aged 65 and over15.3%Children under 1519.0%People in a de facto relationship15.2%▼ -1.8%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

In Cairns, the largest group is Young adults (25–44) at 27%, followed by Older adults (45–64) (27%) and Children (0–14) (19%).

Young adults (25–44)27.1%

Older adults (45–64)26.9%

Children (0–14)19.0%

Seniors (65+)15.3%

Youth (15–24)11.7%

Marital status

In Cairns, the largest group is Never married at 42%, followed by Married (39%) and Divorced (11%).

Never married42%
Married39%
Divorced11%
Widowed4%
Separated4%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Cairns, the largest group is Australia at 86%, followed by England (5%) and New Zealand (4%).

Australia68.2%

England4.0%

New Zealand2.9%

Philippines1.3%

India1.2%

China0.6%

South Africa0.5%

Italy0.4%

Nepal0.4%

Vietnam0.2%

Ancestry

In Cairns, the largest group is English at 34%, followed by Australian (29%) and Irish (10%).

English34.2%

Australian29.4%

Irish10.4%

Scottish9.3%

German5.2%

Italian4.7%

Chinese2.1%

Filipino2.0%

Dutch1.6%

Indian1.3%

Language

People using another language at home14.7%

Language used at home

In Cairns, the largest group is English only at 96%, followed by Mandarin (1%) and Punjabi (1%).

English only76.1%

Mandarin0.7%

Punjabi0.6%

Italian0.6%

Tagalog0.5%

Cantonese0.4%

Vietnamese0.3%

Hindi0.2%

Arabic0.1%

Greek0.1%

Religion

People with no religion42.4%

Religious affiliation

In Cairns, the largest group is Christianity at 48%, followed by No religion (47%) and Buddhism (2%).

Christianity48%
No religion47%
Buddhism2%
Other religions1%
Hinduism1%
Islam1%
Judaism0%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1255.5%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher19.7%

Highest year of school

In Cairns, the largest group is Year 12 at 62%, followed by Year 10 (21%) and Year 11 (9%).

Year 1255.5%

Year 1019.1%

Year 117.8%

Year 9 or below7.4%

Highest qualification level

In Cairns, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 39%, followed by Bachelor degree (27%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (19%).

Certificate III / IV31.0%

Bachelor degree21.3%

Advanced diploma / diploma15.4%

Postgraduate degree5.8%

Graduate diploma / certificate3.4%

Certificate I / II2.4%

Field of qualification

In Cairns, the largest group is Management & commerce at 19%, followed by Engineering & related (17%) and Society & culture (15%).

Management & commerce15.8%

Engineering & related14.0%

Society & culture12.1%

Health11.7%

Education7.8%

Food, hospitality & personal services6.6%

Architecture & building5.4%

Creative arts2.5%

Natural & physical sciences2.3%

Agriculture & environment1.7%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$812▼ -11.5%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$1,575▼ -32.0%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$1,951▼ -21.3%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week9.2%Households earning $3,000+ a week16.8%

Household income distribution

In Cairns, the largest group is $1,500–$2,999 at 34%, followed by $650–$1,499 (31%) and Under $650 (17%).

$1,500–$2,99930.9%

$650–$1,49928.4%

Under $65015.6%

$3,000–$3,9999.1%

$4,000 or more7.7%

Personal income distribution

In Cairns, the largest group is Under $650 at 41%, followed by $650–$1,499 (37%) and $1,500–$2,999 (19%).

Under $65036.7%

$650–$1,49933.5%

$1,500–$2,99916.6%

$3,000 or more2.9%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition24.6%People with a mental health condition7.9%People needing help with daily activities5.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Cairns, the largest group is None at 72%, followed by One condition (19%) and Two conditions (6%).

None64.1%

One condition17.1%

Two conditions5.1%

Three or more2.4%

Long-term health conditions reported

In Cairns, the largest group is Mental health at 19%, followed by Other condition (18%) and Arthritis (17%).

Mental health7.9%

Other condition7.7%

Arthritis7.1%

Asthma6.3%

Diabetes4.0%

Heart disease3.5%

Cancer2.8%

Lung condition1.7%

Stroke0.9%

Dementia0.7%

Community Participation

Volunteers13.9%People providing unpaid care10.3%People caring for children unpaid25.4%People who served in the Defence Force4.2%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework18.2%

Family & Households

Average household size2.5▼ -13.8%since 2011 One-parent families18.8%People living alone27.5%▲ +65.4%since 2011

Family composition

In Cairns, the largest group is Couples with children at 52%, followed by Couples without children (28%) and One-parent families (19%).

Couples with children52%
Couples without children28%
One-parent families19%
Other families1%

Household size

In Cairns, the largest group is 2 people at 35%, followed by 1 person (27%) and 3 people (16%).

2 people34.8%

1 person27.5%

3 people15.7%

4 people13.6%

5 people5.3%

6 or more3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$340—since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$1,595▼ -26.4%since 2011 Average people per bedroom0.80▼ -27.3%since 2011 Households renting36.1%Homes owned outright25.7%Separate (detached) houses71.0%Homes with three or more bedrooms70.5%▼ -16.0%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

In Cairns, the largest group is Rented at 37%, followed by Owned with a mortgage (36%) and Owned outright (26%).

Rented37%
Owned with a mortgage36%
Owned outright26%
Other tenure1%

Types of homes

In Cairns, the largest group is Separate house at 71%, followed by Flat or apartment (17%) and Townhouse / semi-detached (11%).

Separate house71%
Flat or apartment17%
Townhouse / semi-detached11%
Other dwelling1%

Bedrooms per home

In Cairns, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 36%, followed by 4 bedrooms (30%) and 2 bedrooms (22%).

3 bedrooms35.2%

4 bedrooms29.1%

2 bedrooms21.5%

5 or more6.2%

1 bedroom5.6%

Studio / none0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

In Cairns, the largest group is $350–$549 at 43%, followed by $200–$349 (39%) and Under $200 (12%).

$350–$54941.8%

$200–$34937.9%

Under $20011.3%

$550–$7495.0%

$750 or more0.9%

Monthly mortgage distribution

In Cairns, the largest group is $1,000–$1,799 at 44%, followed by $1,800–$2,999 (29%) and Under $1,000 (19%).

$1,000–$1,79941.2%

$1,800–$2,99927.5%

Under $1,00017.9%

$3,000 or more7.8%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle6.7%▲ +117.3%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

In Cairns, the largest group is 1 vehicle at 38%, followed by 2 vehicles (38%) and 3 vehicles (12%).

1 vehicle38.4%

2 vehicles37.9%

3 vehicles11.6%

No vehicle6.7%

4 or more5.5%

How people get to work

In Cairns, the largest group is Car (driver) at 73%, followed by Worked at home (15%) and Car (passenger) (6%).

Car (driver)57.9%

Worked at home11.8%

Car (passenger)5.1%

Walked2.4%

Bicycle1.2%

Bus1.0%

Train0.0%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years44.2%Recent arrivals from overseas12.2%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate5.8%Labour-force participation62.6%Employed full-time58.2%

Industries people work in

In Cairns, the largest group is Health care & social assistance at 19%, followed by Accommodation & food (11%) and Retail trade (10%).

Health care & social assistance18.4%

Accommodation & food10.3%

Retail trade9.8%

Education & training8.8%

Construction8.4%

Public administration & safety7.4%

Transport & warehousing5.8%

Professional & technical4.8%

Other services4.5%

Administrative & support3.7%

Occupations people work in

In Cairns, the largest group is Professionals at 21%, followed by Community & personal service (15%) and Technicians & trades (15%).

Professionals20.9%

Community & personal service15.1%

Technicians & trades14.7%

Clerical & administrative11.9%

Managers10.9%

Labourers9.8%

Sales workers9.6%

Machinery operators & drivers5.4%

Nearby areas

Townsville Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Mackay Emerald Not in any Significant Urban Area (Qld)Mount Isa Rockhampton Yeppoon

👥 Demographics & Identity