Households
Households without children
About this topic
Households without children includes couple-only households and lone person households, grouped by life stage. In this topic, life stage is based on the age of the household reference person rather than on the ages of all people in the dwelling.
This topic is useful for understanding the mix of younger adult, mid-life, and older households and the different housing and service needs they may have. It works best alongside household size, age structure, and dwelling type.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived subset of couple-only and lone-person households, not a summary of all household types.
- The life-stage labels are based on the age of the household reference person, so they simplify the ages of everyone else in the household.
Key insight
In 2021, lone person households was the most common household life-stage group among households in Cairns City, accounting for 24.8% (338 households). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (24.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in lone person households, which increased by 330 households, while its share fell by 11.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Households without children by life stage
Cairns City - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households without children for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Households without children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Couples without children
2021 count
314
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
+9.5pp
314
23.1%
+9.5pp
Young couples without children
2021 count
16
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
16
1.2%
-7.9pp
Middle-aged couples without children
2021 count
4
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-13.3pp
4
0.3%
-13.3pp
Older couples without children
2021 count
294
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
+21.6pp
294
21.6%
+21.6pp
Lone person households
2021 count
338
% of total
24.8%
Change from 2016
-11.6pp
338
24.8%
-11.6pp
Young lone persons
2021 count
105
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+7.7pp
105
7.7%
+7.7pp
Middle-aged lone persons
2021 count
124
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
124
9.1%
-4.5pp
Older lone persons
2021 count
99
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
99
7.3%
-6.3pp
Group households
2021 count
67
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
67
4.9%
+4.9pp
Chart view
Households without children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples without children
+311
+9.5pp
Young couples without children
+14
-7.9pp
Middle-aged couples without children
+1
-13.3pp
Older couples without children
+294
+21.6pp
Lone person households
+330
-11.6pp
Young lone persons
+105
+7.7pp
Middle-aged lone persons
+121
-4.5pp
Older lone persons
+96
-6.3pp
Group households
+67
+4.9pp
Data table
Households without children for Cairns City. Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Couples without children | 314 | 23.1% | 23.9% | 3 | 13.6% | 24.0% | +311 | +9.5pp |
| Young couples without children | 16 | 1.2% | 3.6% | 2 | 9.1% | 3.6% | +14 | -7.9pp |
| Middle-aged couples without children | 4 | 0.3% | 2.8% | 3 | 13.6% | 2.9% | +1 | -13.3pp |
| Older couples without children | 294 | 21.6% | 17.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 17.4% | +294 | +21.6pp |
| Lone person households | 338 | 24.8% | 24.1% | 8 | 36.4% | 23.8% | +330 | -11.6pp |
| Young lone persons | 105 | 7.7% | 6.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.4% | +105 | +7.7pp |
| Middle-aged lone persons | 124 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 3 | 13.6% | 9.6% | +121 | -4.5pp |
| Older lone persons | 99 | 7.3% | 8.9% | 3 | 13.6% | 7.8% | +96 | -6.3pp |
| Group households | 67 | 4.9% | 3.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.4% | +67 | +4.9pp |
| Total households | 1,361 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 22 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,339 | 0.0pp |