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Cairns Regional CouncilCommunity profile

In 2021, Cairns had lower proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Redlynch - Lamb Range.

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 an indicator of Cairns's residential role and function and how it is likely to change in the future.

Service age groups divide the population into age categories that reflect typical life-stages. They indicate the level of demand for services that target people at different stages in life and how that demand is changing.

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 - Service age groups
Cairns - Total persons (Enumerated)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%Redlynch - Lamb Range %Number%Redlynch - Lamb Range %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)9,2755.46.010,4646.37.4-1,189
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)15,5429.012.615,8189.512.9-276
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)13,9388.111.812,8987.711.4+1,040
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)13,1757.77.012,8707.76.4+305
Young workforce (25 to 34)22,59713.19.122,07913.211.0+518
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)35,21820.524.335,32621.224.4-108
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)23,16513.513.422,68613.612.4+479
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)20,04011.77.919,19811.58.2+842
Seniors (70 to 84)16,3199.56.313,1507.95.1+3,169
Elderly aged (85 and over)2,5861.51.52,2351.30.9+351
Total171,855100.0100.0166,724100.0100.0+5,131
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the service age groups of Cairns in 2021 compared to Redlynch - Lamb Range shows that there was a lower proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 22.6% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 22.7% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 30.4% and 15.7% respectively for Redlynch - Lamb Range.

The major differences between the age structure of Cairns and Redlynch - Lamb Range were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (13.1% compared to 9.1%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (11.7% compared to 7.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.5% compared to 24.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Secondary schoolers' (8.1% compared to 11.8%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Cairns's population increased by 5,131 people (3.1%). This represents an average annual population change of 0.61% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+3,169 people)
  • Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) (-1,189 people)
  • Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) (+1,040 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+842 people)

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