Urban Centre · Area profile
Cairns
199 km²
A significantly larger proportion of people in Cairns identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander compared to the rest of the state. This is a growing city of over 153,000 people that attracts a high number of overseas arrivals and new residents. The community is generally younger than the national average, with a notably high percentage of children and a small number of seniors. It is a place where diverse cultural backgrounds and a transient population shape a unique regional hub.
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 9.7%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. While the typical resident is 39, the area has a higher share of children under 15 than most places, though this has fallen since 2011.
Overseas birth rates are among the highest for this level at 23.3%, and the area sees a fair amount of variety in ancestry, with English, Australian, and Irish being the most common.
Many residents use a language other than English at home (14.7%), a figure much higher than most similar areas. This diversity is reflected in the 1.9% who speak little or no English, which is also higher than the usual rate.
A large share of the community reports no religion at 42.4%, which is well above the Australian average. This figure has risen sharply by 17 percentage points since 2011.
The area is more qualified than most similar places, with 19.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Both university degrees and Year 12 completion rates have risen since 2011.
Typical weekly personal income is $811, which is about the same as the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week remains well below the national average.
Residents here are generally healthier than in other similar areas, with a long-term health condition rate of 24.6%, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%.
The area has a higher number of former Defence Force members than most areas. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011 and is now lower than the national figure.
Families in Cairns tend to be larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home. There is also a higher proportion of one-parent families compared to the state and national averages.
Rental properties are much more common here than in most areas, at 36.2%. This is consistent with a lower rate of outright home ownership, which is well below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, but 11.8% of the workforce now works from home, a figure that has more than tripled since 2011. Very few people use public transport to commute.
The population is quite mobile, with 44.2% of residents having moved in the last five years. This is well above the national average, though the number of recent overseas arrivals has fallen since 2011.
A higher number of adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, with many employed in health care, social assistance, and tourism-related food and accommodation.
Cairns is somewhat walkable, especially regarding public transport and parks, where access is far above the state average. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or grocery store.