12,567 ▲ +27.5%
Higher than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 9,853
- 2016: 11,439
- 2021: 12,567
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Cairns City · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
Demographics & Identity in Cairns City
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
More than 2,700 people moved into Cairns City since 2011, bringing the total population to 12,567. This growth has happened alongside a shift toward an older population, with the typical resident now 37 years old.
12,567
▲ +27.5%
- 1–1: 40 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 12 areas
- 4–6: 6 areas
- 6–9: 9 areas
- 9–13: 10 areas
- 13–19: 7 areas
- 19–27: 17 areas
- 27–39: 6 areas
- 39–56: 5 areas
- 56–81: 4 areas
- 81–116: 1 area
- 116–168: 5 areas
- 168–242: 3 areas
- 242–349: 4 areas
- 349–503: 2 areas
- 503–725: 9 areas
- 725–1,045: 3 areas
- 1,045–1,506: 5 areas
- 1,506–2,171: 31 areas
- 2,171–3,130: 83 areas
- 3,130–4,513: 217 areas
- 4,513–6,507: 318 areas
- 6,507–9,382: 402 areas
- 9,382–13,526: 546 areas
- 13,526–19,501: 496 areas
- 19,501–28,116: 231 areas
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Cairns City — higher than 65% of areas.
| Cairns City | 12,567 |
|---|---|
| 4870, QLD | 73,803 |
| Queensland | 5,156,138 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population grew 28% between 2011 and 2021, making it larger than about 66% of similar areas. Residents are a little younger than the national and state figures of 38 years.
37 yrs ▲ +5.7%
Younger than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 35 yrs
- 2016: 35 yrs
- 2021: 37 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Children under 15 make up only 9.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%. Young adults aged 25 to 44 are the largest group at 38.4%, while the share of seniors rose to 14.0% since 2011.
14.0% ▲ +44.0%
Lower than 69% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 9.7%
- 2016: 11.2%
- 2021: 14.0%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
9.9% ▼ -5.2%
Lower than 93% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 10.4%
- 2016: 10.4%
- 2021: 9.9%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →In Cairns City, the largest group is Young adults (25–44) at 38%, followed by Older adults (45–64) (26%) and Seniors (65+) (14%).
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
Indigenous people make up 7.5% of the population, which is well above the Australian average of 3.2%. People in de facto relationships are also much more common here than in most other areas, at 15.5%.
7.5% ▲ +7.0%
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 7.0%
- 2016: 6.9%
- 2021: 7.5%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
15.5% ▲ +4.7%
Higher than 84% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 14.9%
- 2016: 13.4%
- 2021: 15.5%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In Cairns City, Never married is the majority at 55%; Married is next at 25%.
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Cairns City
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in Cairns City [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/306021145/cairns-city/topic/demographics-identity