Cairns (R)

Market characteristics

Cairns (R) has a lower proportion of households in the medium to high income category compared to Queensland.

The people who live in an area are one of the most important resources that an economy draws upon, both as a market that consumes goods and services and as a source of labour.

This table provides an overview of Cairns (R)'s population demographics, and how their characteristics compare to those of the broader region.

More detailed information about Cairns (R)'s resident population, including neighbourhood profiles, can be found in the Community Profile.

Data source

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 and 2021 – by usual residence

Current area:
Current benchmark:
reset
Market characteristics
Cairns (R)20212016Change
NameNumber%. QueenslandNumber%. Queensland2021 - 2016
Population summary--------------
Total residents166,943100.2100.2156,901100.0100.0+10,042
Males82,34049.449.377,39049.349.4+4,950
Females84,59750.850.879,50850.750.6+5,089
Age structure--------------
0 - 14 years31,84819.118.732,10320.519.4-255
15 - 24 years19,48511.712.418,95112.113.0+534
25 - 54 years68,69941.240.166,89642.640.5+1,803
55 - 64 Years21,09312.712.019,02112.111.8+2,072
65 years and over25,82215.517.019,91412.715.3+5,908
Education institute attending--------------
Primary school13,7318.28.313,7838.88.5-52
Secondary school11,9927.26.810,3646.66.3+1,628
TAFE4,0232.42.12,6641.71.6+1,359
University5,6473.44.45,2683.44.5+379
Diversity--------------
Total overseas born37,27222.422.733,61221.421.6+3,660
Speaks language other than English at home23,47214.113.220,77413.211.8+2,698
Speaks another language, and English not well or not at all3,0101.81.83,2062.01.8-196
Qualifications--------------
Bachelor or higher degree25,83019.121.920,24716.218.3+5,583
Advanced Diploma or Diploma13,2809.89.411,5399.28.7+1,741
Certificate level32,08123.722.128,74123.021.3+3,340
No qualification48,00035.537.547,96338.440.9+37
Household income--------------
Nill to $6499,6507.87.610,6259.28.8-975
$650 to $1,49917,62014.213.518,15415.715.2-534
$1,500 to $2,44914,68111.811.313,10311.311.1+1,578
$2,500 or more 14,72311.913.69,2438.09.6+5,480
Housing tenure--------------
Owned16,64925.328.214,01622.527.4+2,633
Purchasing21,63332.832.418,82630.231.4+2,807
Renting21,70932.931.721,80435.031.3-95
Dwelling structure--------------
Separate house49,54868.571.946,32767.473.6+3,221
Medium house14,13219.516.213,79820.115.7+334
High density6,7859.49.76,1949.07.8+591

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics,

RDA Tropical North

economic profile