1,090
Higher than 81% of indigenous location areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Cairns - West · Indigenous Location
First Nations in Cairns - West
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — how many people identify as First Nations, and how they fare on age, schooling, work, income and language. From the ABS 2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile; the ABS notes these counts are an undercount.
A strong cultural presence defines Cairns - West, where 22.3% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is far above the national figure and reflects a community with deep ties to its heritage. Across the area, 1,090 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live and work.
1,090
- 1–1: 17 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 0 areas
- 4–5: 2 areas
- 5–7: 0 areas
- 7–10: 3 areas
- 10–13: 1 area
- 13–19: 2 areas
- 19–26: 7 areas
- 26–36: 9 areas
- 36–49: 13 areas
- 49–68: 34 areas
- 68–95: 43 areas
- 95–131: 69 areas
- 131–182: 88 areas
- 182–251: 108 areas
- 251–348: 107 areas
- 348–482: 139 areas
- 482–667: 115 areas
- 667–923: 127 areas
- 923–1,278: 91 areas
- 1,278–1,769: 71 areas
- 1,769–2,448: 39 areas
- 2,448–3,389: 22 areas
- 3,389–4,691: 16 areas
- 4,691–6,494: 8 areas
- 6,494–8,989: 7 areas
All indigenous location areas, 2021. The marker is Cairns - West — higher than 81% of areas.
| Cairns - West | 1,090 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 25, making this group a little older than those in Queensland and Australia.
25 yrs
Older than 50% of indigenous location areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
School completion is high here, with 55.1% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is far above the figures for both the state and the nation.
55.1%
Higher than 92% of indigenous location areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Work
Engagement with the labour force.
The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 12.6%, which is about the same as the Queensland and Australian figures.
12.6%
Higher than 53% of indigenous location areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Typical personal incomes for First Nations residents are $622, which is a little above the national figure. Household incomes are also higher than most areas at $1,587.
$622
Higher than 72% of indigenous location areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,587
Higher than 70% of indigenous location areas.
Median total weekly income for households with one or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.
Language & culture
Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Language preservation is significant in this area, with 22.3% of First Nations people speaking a traditional language—far above the 12.3% seen across Australia.
22.3%
Higher than 73% of indigenous location areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Cairns - West
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Cairns - West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/iloc/ILOC30900204/cairns-west/topic/first-nations