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Cairns Regional CouncilCommunity profile

Smithfield

Service age groups

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

The Age Structure of Smithfield provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Smithfield'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 Smithfield'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
Smithfield - Total persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
Service age group (years)Number%Cairns %Number%Cairns %2006 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)4456.65.52046.67.2+240
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)6609.89.22999.710.2+361
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)4877.28.33079.98.9+180
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)80512.07.731110.18.7+493
Young workforce (25 to 34)1,00314.913.237712.215.0+625
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)1,47021.820.977925.224.2+690
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)74511.113.643314.012.8+312
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)6129.111.21946.37.1+417
Seniors (70 to 84)4436.68.81464.75.0+297
Elderly aged (85 and over)651.01.5391.31.0+26
Total6,735100.0100.03,093100.0100.0+3,641
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 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 Smithfield in 2021 compared to Cairns shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 23.6% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 16.6% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 23.0% and 21.5% respectively for Cairns.

The major differences between the age structure of Smithfield and Cairns were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Tertiary education & independence' (12.0% compared to 7.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Older workers & pre-retirees' (11.1% compared to 13.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (6.6% compared to 8.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (9.1% compared to 11.2%)

Emerging groups

From 2006 to 2021, Smithfield's population increased by 3,642 people (117.7%). This represents an average annual population change of 5.32% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2006 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+690 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+625 people)
  • Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) (+493 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+417 people)

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