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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Cairns was 45 to 49 year olds. The group that changed the most since 1996 was 55 to 59 year olds, increasing by 6,710 people.
The Age Structure of Cairns provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is also an indicator of Cairns's residential role and function and how it is likely to change in the future.
Five year age groups present a classic age profile of the population. Each age group covers exactly five years, which enables direct comparison between each group.
To get a more complete picture Cairns's Age Structure should be viewed in conjunction with Household Types and Dwelling Types.
Q:
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
| Age structure - Five year age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Regional QLD % | Number | % | Regional QLD % | 1996 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 9,275 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 8,653 | 7.4 | 7.3 | +622 |
| 5 to 9 | 10,954 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 8,002 | 6.9 | 7.4 | +2,952 |
| 10 to 14 | 11,863 | 6.9 | 6.5 | 7,793 | 6.7 | 7.5 | +4,070 |
| 15 to 19 | 10,388 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 7,426 | 6.4 | 6.7 | +2,962 |
| 20 to 24 | 9,458 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 9,792 | 8.4 | 7.0 | -334 |
| 25 to 29 | 11,042 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 11,027 | 9.5 | 7.3 | +15 |
| 30 to 34 | 11,559 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 10,724 | 9.2 | 7.5 | +835 |
| 35 to 39 | 11,503 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 9,983 | 8.6 | 7.7 | +1,520 |
| 40 to 44 | 11,553 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 9,194 | 7.9 | 7.1 | +2,359 |
| 45 to 49 | 12,162 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 8,530 | 7.3 | 6.9 | +3,632 |
| 50 to 54 | 11,906 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6,231 | 5.3 | 5.6 | +5,675 |
| 55 to 59 | 11,267 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 4,557 | 3.9 | 4.8 | +6,710 |
| 60 to 64 | 10,668 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 3,972 | 3.4 | 4.3 | +6,696 |
| 65 to 69 | 9,376 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 3,736 | 3.2 | 4.3 | +5,640 |
| 70 to 74 | 8,012 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 3,076 | 2.6 | 3.6 | +4,936 |
| 75 to 79 | 5,324 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 1,989 | 1.7 | 2.5 | +3,335 |
| 80 to 84 | 2,980 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 1,213 | 1.0 | 1.5 | +1,767 |
| 85 and over | 2,586 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 733 | 0.6 | 1.0 | +1,853 |
| Total population | 171,876 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 116,631 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +55,245 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Cairns in 2021 compared to Regional QLD shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 18.7% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 16.5% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.0% and 19.8% respectively for Regional QLD.
The major differences between the age structure of Cairns and Regional QLD were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 40 to 44 (6.7% compared to 6.0%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (4.7% compared to 5.5%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 75 to 79 (3.1% compared to 3.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 80 to 84 (1.7% compared to 2.4%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Cairns's population increased by 55,245 people (47.4%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.56% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 55 to 59 (+6,710 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+6,696 persons)
- 50 to 54 (+5,675 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+5,640 persons)
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