Cairns (QLD)

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 122,731 people were usually resident in Cairns (QLD): of these 49.9% were male and 50.1% were female. Of the total population 7.8% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 22.1% of people usually resident in Cairns (QLD) were children aged 0-14 years, and 18.8% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 34 years.

In the 2006 Census, 82.9% of people usually resident in Cairns (QLD) were Australian citizens, 18.4% were born overseas and 9.6% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 42.9% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Cairns (QLD) were married, 14.0% were either separated or divorced, 4.4% were widowed and 38.7% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 71.8% of people usually resident in Cairns (QLD), stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 4.0%, New Zealand 3.3%, Papua New Guinea 1.1%, Japan 1.0% and Philippines 0.7%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Cairns (QLD) were Catholic 25.2%, No Religion 21.7%, Anglican 17.9%, Uniting Church 5.0% and Presbyterian and Reformed 3.9%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Cairns (QLD) were Japanese 1.3%, Italian 0.9%, German 0.7%, Torres Strait Creole 0.4% and Hmong 0.3%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 82.0%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 63,161 people aged 15 years and over in Cairns (QLD) were in the labour force. Of these 63.9% worked full-time, 25.5% worked part-time, 3.7% were away from work, 2.6% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 4.3% were unemployed. 23,256 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Cairns (QLD) were Technicians and Trades Workers 16.6%, Professionals 16.0%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.4%, Sales Workers 11.7%, Managers 11.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 11.2%, Labourers 11.0% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.0%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Cairns (QLD), the most common responses for industry of employment included Accommodation 5.0%, School Education 4.6%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.3%, Hospitals 3.3% and Residential Building Construction 2.8%.

In the 2006 Census in Cairns (QLD), the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $534, the median family income was $1,180 and the median household income was $1,054.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 31,157 families in Cairns (QLD): of these 37.7% were couple families without children, 41.9% were couple families with children, 18.7% were one parent families and 1.7% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 50,880 occupied private dwellings were counted in Cairns (QLD).

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Cairns (QLD), 66.7% were separate houses, 7.7% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 22.0% were flats, units or apartments and 3.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Cairns (QLD), 22.2% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 30.2% were owned with a mortgage and 35.1% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Cairns (QLD), of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 53.1% were rented from a real estate agent, 10.9% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 33.5% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Cairns (QLD), the median weekly rent was $198. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,280. The average people per household was 2.5 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Cairns (QLD), 60.0% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 21.4% were single (or lone) person households and 4.7% were group households.