942
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Cairns City · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
First Nations in Cairns City
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.
Nearly 942 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Cairns City, making it one of the largest populations for this group at its level. This community is notably older than the national average, with a typical age of 28.
942
- 1–1: 115 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–3: 4 areas
- 3–5: 5 areas
- 5–7: 5 areas
- 7–9: 5 areas
- 9–12: 12 areas
- 12–17: 8 areas
- 17–23: 14 areas
- 23–31: 70 areas
- 31–43: 94 areas
- 43–58: 138 areas
- 58–80: 164 areas
- 80–109: 222 areas
- 109–149: 249 areas
- 149–204: 254 areas
- 204–279: 230 areas
- 279–381: 221 areas
- 381–521: 206 areas
- 521–712: 161 areas
- 712–974: 127 areas
- 974–1,331: 86 areas
- 1,331–1,820: 42 areas
- 1,820–2,488: 21 areas
- 2,488–3,402: 12 areas
- 3,402–4,651: 5 areas
- 4,651–6,359: 2 areas
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Cairns City — higher than 87% of areas.
| Cairns City | 942 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is 28, which is noticeably older than the Queensland figure of 23 and the national figure of 24.
28 yrs
Older than 76% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
About 45.1% of First Nations people here finished Year 12. This is a little above the Queensland rate and well above the Australian figure of 37.0%.
45.1%
Higher than 54% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
Unemployment for First Nations people is 20.6%, which is among the highest for similar areas and well above the national figure of 12.3%.
20.6%
Higher than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 household income is $1,142, which is much lower than most areas and well below the Queensland figure of $1,517. Typical personal income is $559, about the same as the state and national figures.
$559
Lower than 67% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,142
Lower than 88% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 is strong here, with 33.3% of First Nations people speaking a First Nations language. This is far above the national figure of 12.3%.
33.3%
Higher than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 City
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Cairns City [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/306021145/cairns-city/topic/first-nations