Cairns

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 98,349 people were usually resident in Cairns: of these 49.8% were male and 50.2% were female. Of the total population 8.6% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 22.2% of people usually resident in Cairns were children aged 0-14 years, and 18.3% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 34 years.

In the 2006 Census, 82.6% of people usually resident in Cairns were Australian citizens, 17.8% were born overseas and 9.9% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 41.6% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Cairns were married, 14.1% were either separated or divorced, 4.5% were widowed and 39.8% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 72.0% of people usually resident in Cairns, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.5%, New Zealand 3.2%, Papua New Guinea 1.2%, Japan 1.1% and Philippines 0.8%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Cairns were Catholic 25.6%, No Religion 21.2%, Anglican 17.4%, Uniting Church 5.0% and Presbyterian and Reformed 3.8%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Cairns were Japanese 1.4%, Italian 0.9%, German 0.6%, Torres Strait Creole 0.4% and Hmong 0.4%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 81.1%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 50,266 people aged 15 years and over in Cairns were in the labour force. Of these 64.2% worked full-time, 25.1% worked part-time, 3.7% were away from work, 2.6% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 4.4% were unemployed. 18,502 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Cairns were Technicians and Trades Workers 16.6%, Professionals 16.0%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.7%, Sales Workers 11.7%, Community and Personal Service Workers 11.1%, Labourers 11.0%, Managers 11.0% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.1%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Cairns, the most common responses for industry of employment included Accommodation 4.7%, School Education 4.5%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.3%, Hospitals 3.4% and Residential Building Construction 2.8%.

In the 2006 Census in Cairns, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $535, the median family income was $1,176 and the median household income was $1,047.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 24,444 families in Cairns: of these 36.7% were couple families without children, 42.0% were couple families with children, 19.4% were one parent families and 1.8% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 40,234 occupied private dwellings were counted in Cairns.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Cairns, 65.6% were separate houses, 8.4% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 22.4% were flats, units or apartments and 3.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Cairns, 21.4% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 30.1% were owned with a mortgage and 35.8% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Cairns, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 52.3% were rented from a real estate agent, 12.4% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 33.1% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Cairns, the median weekly rent was $190. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,257. 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, 59.5% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 22.5% were single (or lone) person households and 4.9% were group households.