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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Cairns City was 25 to 29 year olds. The group that changed the most since 1991 was 60 to 64 year olds, increasing by 243 people.
The Age Structure of Cairns City 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 City'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 City'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 City - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1991 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Cairns % | Number | % | Cairns % | 1991 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 111 | 1.7 | 5.4 | 307 | 5.8 | 7.7 | -196 |
| 5 to 9 | 86 | 1.3 | 6.4 | 274 | 5.2 | 7.2 | -188 |
| 10 to 14 | 117 | 1.8 | 6.9 | 206 | 3.9 | 7.0 | -89 |
| 15 to 19 | 173 | 2.7 | 6.0 | 213 | 4.0 | 6.8 | -40 |
| 20 to 24 | 486 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 690 | 13.1 | 8.3 | -204 |
| 25 to 29 | 824 | 12.7 | 6.4 | 613 | 11.6 | 9.2 | +211 |
| 30 to 34 | 632 | 9.8 | 6.7 | 395 | 7.5 | 8.9 | +237 |
| 35 to 39 | 366 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 318 | 6.0 | 8.2 | +48 |
| 40 to 44 | 353 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 324 | 6.1 | 7.8 | +29 |
| 45 to 49 | 407 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 301 | 5.7 | 6.1 | +106 |
| 50 to 54 | 508 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 274 | 5.2 | 4.7 | +234 |
| 55 to 59 | 435 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 264 | 5.0 | 4.0 | +171 |
| 60 to 64 | 517 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 274 | 5.2 | 4.2 | +243 |
| 65 to 69 | 508 | 7.8 | 5.5 | 340 | 6.5 | 3.9 | +168 |
| 70 to 74 | 410 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 213 | 4.0 | 2.7 | +197 |
| 75 to 79 | 292 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 156 | 3.0 | 1.9 | +136 |
| 80 to 84 | 154 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 63 | 1.2 | 1.0 | +91 |
| 85 and over | 95 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 44 | 0.8 | 0.6 | +51 |
| Total population | 6,474 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 5,269 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,205 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Cairns City in 2021 compared to Cairns shows that there was a lower proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 4.9% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 22.5% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.7% and 16.5% respectively for Cairns.
The major differences between the age structure of Cairns City and Cairns were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 25 to 29 (12.7% compared to 6.4%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 10 to 14 (1.8% compared to 6.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 5 to 9 (1.3% compared to 6.4%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 0 to 4 (1.7% compared to 5.4%)
Emerging groups
From 1991 to 2021, Cairns City's population increased by 1,205 people (22.9%). This represents an average annual population change of 0.69% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 1991 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 60 to 64 (+243 persons)
- 30 to 34 (+237 persons)
- 50 to 54 (+234 persons)
- 25 to 29 (+211 persons)
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