Far North

About 51.3% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, a figure far above the national average. The community is young, with a typical age of 33 and a high proportion of children under 15, though the number of seniors has risen to 10.2% since 2011.

The area has a very low proportion of overseas-born residents at 7.9%, which is far below the Queensland figure. Most people were born in Australia, and those who identify with an ancestry most commonly list Australian or English.

Around 34.9% of people use a language other than English at home, which is much higher than most similar areas. This is consistent with the high First Nations population, and about 5% of residents speak little or no English.

Religion is more common here than in other areas, with only 28.2% of people reporting no religion, far below the national figure. Over half the population identifies as Christian.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 39.5% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state and national figures.

Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical family earning $1,426 a week. This is well below the national typical figure of $2,120, although typical household incomes have risen by $321 since 2011.

Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions (17.0%) and mental health conditions (3.3%) than the state or national figures. Only 3.4% of people need help with daily activities.

Community participation is generally lower than most areas, with only 13.1% of people volunteering. Around 27.2% of people provide unpaid care for children, which is about the same as the national figure.

The First Nations community is large and distinct, with 60.3% of these residents speaking a First Nations language. However, they face significant challenges, including an unemployment rate of 17.4%, which is much higher than most areas.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.9 people per home. One-parent families are very common at 24.0%, a figure well above the national average.

Renting is very common, with 56.3% of households renting, far above the national figure. While typical weekly rents are among the lowest at $140, the area has far fewer three-bedroom homes than most other regions.

The area is heavily car-dependent, as 20.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the national average. There are no public transport stops or routes available in the region.

Movement into the area is low, with only 28.6% of people having moved in the last five years, far below the state and national figures. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 13.3% of the population.

While full-time employment is well above the national figure at 63.5%, the overall proportion of adults working or looking for work is much lower than most areas. Unemployment is high at 9.1%.

The population grew by 2.7% since 2021, which is much lower than the Queensland growth rate of 8.7%.

The region is hot and wet, with an average maximum temperature of 33.6°C and annual rainfall of 1,069mm, far above the Queensland average.

The area is highly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 1.8. Most homes are far from basic services, with 0% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of public transport.