16,153
Higher than 95% of council (lga) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Cairns · Council (LGA)
First Nations in Cairns
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 striking 21.2% of First Nations people in Cairns speak a traditional language, a figure well above both the state and national averages. This community is one of the largest First Nations populations in the region, characterized by a young age profile and strong educational outcomes.
16,153
- 1–1: 9 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 3 areas
- 4–6: 0 areas
- 6–9: 1 area
- 9–12: 12 areas
- 12–18: 5 areas
- 18–25: 11 areas
- 25–36: 20 areas
- 36–52: 16 areas
- 52–74: 13 areas
- 74–106: 29 areas
- 106–151: 26 areas
- 151–217: 32 areas
- 217–310: 44 areas
- 310–444: 37 areas
- 444–636: 42 areas
- 636–910: 51 areas
- 910–1,302: 49 areas
- 1,302–1,864: 32 areas
- 1,864–2,668: 55 areas
- 2,668–3,819: 26 areas
- 3,819–5,466: 24 areas
- 5,466–7,823: 11 areas
- 7,823–11,198: 7 areas
- 11,198–16,027: 5 areas
- 16,027–22,940: 5 areas
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Cairns — higher than 95% of areas.
| Cairns | 16,153 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 16,153 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Cairns. The typical person in this group is 23, which is a little younger than the national figure of 24.
23 yrs
Younger than 71% of council (lga) 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 a strong point here, with 48.8% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is far above the Australian figure of 37% and well above the Queensland average.
48.8%
Higher than 86% of council (lga) 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.
Finding work is more challenging here than in most areas, with an unemployment rate of 16.4%. This is well above both the Queensland (13.3%) and Australian (12.3%) rates.
16.4%
Higher than 76% of council (lga) 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 incomes are around the middle for this level. The usual weekly household income is $1,435, and the typical personal income is $576, both of which are about the same as the state and national figures.
$576
Higher than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,435
Higher than 57% of council (lga) 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.
Cultural heritage is highly visible, as 21.2% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is among the highest rates for similar areas and well above the national figure of 12.3%.
21.2%
Higher than 87% of council (lga) 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
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Cairns [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA32080/cairns/topic/first-nations