153,425 ▲ +1060.6%
Higher than 77% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 13,219
- 2016: 13,532
- 2021: 153,425
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Cairns · Urban Area
Demographics & Identity in Cairns
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
Nearly 10% of residents in Cairns identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure. The city has grown rapidly, adding about 140,206 people since 2011. It is now home to 153,425 people and features a diverse mix of age groups and relationship types.
153,425
▲ +1060.6%
- 1,666–2,215: 1 area
- 2,215–2,944: 0 areas
- 2,944–3,914: 0 areas
- 3,914–5,203: 1 area
- 5,203–6,917: 0 areas
- 6,917–9,196: 0 areas
- 9,196–12,225: 6 areas
- 12,225–16,252: 16 areas
- 16,252–21,605: 17 areas
- 21,605–28,721: 14 areas
- 28,721–38,182: 7 areas
- 38,182–50,758: 12 areas
- 50,758–67,478: 4 areas
- 67,478–89,704: 6 areas
- 89,704–119,252: 4 areas
- 119,252–158,533: 3 areas
- 158,533–210,752: 2 areas
- 210,752–280,172: 2 areas
- 280,172–372,458: 4 areas
- 372,458–495,142: 2 areas
- 495,142–658,237: 1 area
- 658,237–875,054: 3 areas
- 875,054–1,163,289: 1 area
- 1,163,289–1,546,466: 1 area
- 1,546,466–2,055,858: 0 areas
- 2,055,858–2,733,039: 2 areas
- 2,733,039–3,633,278: 0 areas
- 3,633,278–4,830,047: 2 areas
All urban area areas, 2021. The marker is Cairns — higher than 77% of areas.
| Cairns | 153,425 |
|---|---|
| 4870, QLD | 73,803 |
| Queensland | 5,156,138 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population has surged 1061% since 2011 to reach 153,425 people. The typical resident is now 39, which is 10 years older than the typical age recorded in 2011.
39 yrs ▲ +34.5%
Younger than 57% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 29 yrs
- 2016: 31 yrs
- 2021: 39 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 19% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure. While the proportion of seniors (15.3%) is a little below the national average, this group has grown by 11 percentage points since 2011.
15.3% ▲ +277.2%
Lower than 82% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 4.1%
- 2016: 5.2%
- 2021: 15.3%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
19.0% ▼ -26.0%
Higher than 67% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 25.7%
- 2016: 26.4%
- 2021: 19.0%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →Cairns splits fairly evenly between Young adults (25–44) (27%) and Older adults (45–64) (27%), with Children (0–14) at 19%.
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
Indigenous identity is much more common here than in most areas, rising 6.3 percentage points since 2011 to 9.6%. Additionally, 15.2% of people are in a de facto relationship, which is well above the national figure of 11.5%.
9.6% ▲ +190.4%
Higher than 86% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 3.3%
- 2016: 3.6%
- 2021: 9.6%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
15.2% ▼ -1.8%
Higher than 86% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 15.5%
- 2016: 15.0%
- 2021: 15.2%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →Cairns splits fairly evenly between Never married (42%) and Married (39%), with Divorced at 11%.
Age & sex structure
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). Demographics & Identity in Cairns [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sua/3004/cairns/topic/demographics-identity