Population
Five year age groups
About this topic
Five year age groups show the population in standard five-year cohorts from early childhood through older age. Because each band covers the same span of years, the topic gives a clear and comparable view of an area's age structure.
This topic is useful for identifying growth or decline in specific cohorts and for comparing age patterns across places and over time. For service planning, it is often read together with service age groups, household types, and dwelling types.
Interpretation notes
- Age is reported as at Census night, so the counts are a snapshot of the resident age structure at that point in time.
- Because each band covers the same five-year span, this topic is best for exact cohort comparison rather than service-planning life stages.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, 25 to 29 year olds was the largest age group among residents in Cairns City, accounting for 13.8% (499 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (6.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 25 to 29 year olds, which increased by 496 people and 9.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Age structure - Five year age groups
Cairns City - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises five year age groups for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Age structure - Five year age groups snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
0 to 4
2021 count
74
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
74
2.0%
+2.0pp
5 to 9
2021 count
52
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
52
1.4%
-9.4pp
10 to 14
2021 count
72
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
72
2.0%
-2.6pp
15 to 19
2021 count
86
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
86
2.4%
+2.4pp
20 to 24
2021 count
261
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-9.7pp
261
7.2%
-9.7pp
25 to 29
2021 count
499
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+9.2pp
499
13.8%
+9.2pp
30 to 34
2021 count
375
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+10.4pp
375
10.4%
+10.4pp
35 to 39
2021 count
218
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
218
6.0%
+6.0pp
40 to 44
2021 count
205
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
205
5.7%
+1.1pp
45 to 49
2021 count
234
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
234
6.5%
-4.3pp
50 to 54
2021 count
294
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+8.1pp
294
8.1%
+8.1pp
55 to 59
2021 count
252
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
252
7.0%
+2.4pp
60 to 64
2021 count
271
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
271
7.5%
+2.9pp
65 to 69
2021 count
256
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
256
7.1%
+2.5pp
70 to 74
2021 count
225
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
225
6.2%
-7.6pp
75 to 79
2021 count
140
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
140
3.9%
+3.9pp
80 to 84
2021 count
78
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
78
2.2%
+2.2pp
85 and over
2021 count
53
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
53
1.5%
-3.1pp
Chart view
Age structure - Five year age groups change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0 to 4
+74
+2.0pp
5 to 9
+45
-9.4pp
10 to 14
+69
-2.6pp
15 to 19
+86
+2.4pp
20 to 24
+250
-9.7pp
25 to 29
+496
+9.2pp
30 to 34
+375
+10.4pp
35 to 39
+218
+6.0pp
40 to 44
+202
+1.1pp
45 to 49
+227
-4.3pp
50 to 54
+294
+8.1pp
55 to 59
+249
+2.4pp
60 to 64
+268
+2.9pp
65 to 69
+253
+2.5pp
70 to 74
+216
-7.6pp
75 to 79
+140
+3.9pp
80 to 84
+78
+2.2pp
85 and over
+50
-3.1pp
Data table
Five year age groups for Cairns City. Age structure - Five year age groups. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| 0 to 4 | 74 | 2.0% | 5.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.5% | +74 | +2.0pp |
| 5 to 9 | 52 | 1.4% | 6.5% | 7 | 10.8% | 7.1% | +45 | -9.4pp |
| 10 to 14 | 72 | 2.0% | 7.0% | 3 | 4.6% | 6.8% | +69 | -2.6pp |
| 15 to 19 | 86 | 2.4% | 6.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.3% | +86 | +2.4pp |
| 20 to 24 | 261 | 7.2% | 5.5% | 11 | 16.9% | 5.8% | +250 | -9.7pp |
| 25 to 29 | 499 | 13.8% | 6.4% | 3 | 4.6% | 6.6% | +496 | +9.2pp |
| 30 to 34 | 375 | 10.4% | 6.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 7.0% | +375 | +10.4pp |
| 35 to 39 | 218 | 6.0% | 6.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 7.0% | +218 | +6.0pp |
| 40 to 44 | 205 | 5.7% | 6.9% | 3 | 4.6% | 7.5% | +202 | +1.1pp |
| 45 to 49 | 234 | 6.5% | 7.2% | 7 | 10.8% | 7.5% | +227 | -4.3pp |
| 50 to 54 | 294 | 8.1% | 7.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 7.1% | +294 | +8.1pp |
| 55 to 59 | 252 | 7.0% | 6.6% | 3 | 4.6% | 6.5% | +249 | +2.4pp |
| 60 to 64 | 271 | 7.5% | 6.0% | 3 | 4.6% | 5.6% | +268 | +2.9pp |
| 65 to 69 | 256 | 7.1% | 5.2% | 3 | 4.6% | 4.8% | +253 | +2.5pp |
| 70 to 74 | 225 | 6.2% | 4.4% | 9 | 13.8% | 3.2% | +216 | -7.6pp |
| 75 to 79 | 140 | 3.9% | 2.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.1% | +140 | +3.9pp |
| 80 to 84 | 78 | 2.2% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.3% | +78 | +2.2pp |
| 85 and over | 53 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 3 | 4.6% | 1.3% | +50 | -3.1pp |
| Total | 3,616 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 65 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,551 | 0.0pp |