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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 60 to 64 year olds, increasing by 3,570 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 females (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 1996 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 4,576 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 4,258 | 7.4 | 6.9 | +318 |
| 5 to 9 | 5,354 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 3,914 | 6.8 | 7.0 | +1,440 |
| 10 to 14 | 5,743 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 3,772 | 6.5 | 7.0 | +1,971 |
| 15 to 19 | 5,111 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 3,688 | 6.4 | 6.8 | +1,423 |
| 20 to 24 | 4,738 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5,100 | 8.8 | 7.3 | -362 |
| 25 to 29 | 5,727 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 5,536 | 9.6 | 7.6 | +191 |
| 30 to 34 | 6,141 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 5,276 | 9.1 | 7.8 | +865 |
| 35 to 39 | 6,079 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 4,974 | 8.6 | 8.0 | +1,105 |
| 40 to 44 | 6,156 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 4,483 | 7.8 | 7.4 | +1,673 |
| 45 to 49 | 6,390 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 4,012 | 7.0 | 7.0 | +2,378 |
| 50 to 54 | 6,050 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 2,889 | 5.0 | 5.4 | +3,161 |
| 55 to 59 | 5,642 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 2,177 | 3.8 | 4.4 | +3,465 |
| 60 to 64 | 5,462 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 1,892 | 3.3 | 3.8 | +3,570 |
| 65 to 69 | 4,727 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 1,842 | 3.2 | 3.8 | +2,885 |
| 70 to 74 | 3,868 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 1,618 | 2.8 | 3.6 | +2,250 |
| 75 to 79 | 2,642 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 1,127 | 2.0 | 2.7 | +1,515 |
| 80 to 84 | 1,506 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 712 | 1.2 | 1.9 | +794 |
| 85 and over | 1,508 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 442 | 0.8 | 1.6 | +1,066 |
| Total population | 87,420 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 57,712 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +29,708 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the female five year age groups of Cairns in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a similar proportion of females in the younger age groups (under 15) and a lower proportion of females in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 17.9% of the female population was aged between 0 and 15, and 16.3% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 17.5% and 18.1% respectively for Australia.
The major differences between the female age structure of Cairns and Australia were:
- A larger percentage of females aged 45 to 49 (7.3% compared to 6.5%)
- A smaller percentage of females aged 85 and over (1.7% compared to 2.6%)
- A smaller percentage of females aged 80 to 84 (1.7% compared to 2.3%)
- A smaller percentage of females aged 20 to 24 (5.4% compared to 6.0%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Cairns's female population increased by 29,708 people (51.5%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.67% per year over the period.
The largest changes in female age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 60 to 64 (+3,570 females)
- 55 to 59 (+3,465 females)
- 50 to 54 (+3,161 females)
- 65 to 69 (+2,885 females)
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