Households
Households with children
About this topic
Households with children groups households according to whether children are present and the life stage of those children. In this topic, life stage is based on the ages of the children in the household rather than the age of the parents.
This topic is useful for understanding likely demand for childcare, schools, youth services, and family housing. It should be read with household size, age structure, and dwelling type to build a fuller picture of family life in an area.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived subset of households that classifies households by whether children are present and by the ages of those children.
- The life-stage labels describe the ages of children in the household, not the ages of parents or carers.
Key insight
In 2021, households with children was the most common household life-stage group among households in Cairns (R), accounting for 37.8% (24,926 households). This share was higher than Regional Qld (36.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in households with children, which increased by 1,211 households, while its share fell by 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Households with children by life stage
Cairns (R) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households with children for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Households with children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Couples with children
2021 count
16,499
% of total
25.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
16,499
25.0%
-0.5pp
Couples with young children
2021 count
9,590
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
9,590
14.5%
-0.7pp
Couples with mixed-age children
2021 count
2,549
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,549
3.9%
+0.1pp
Couples with older children
2021 count
4,362
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
4,362
6.6%
+0.2pp
Single parents with children
2021 count
8,427
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
8,427
12.8%
+0.2pp
Single parents with young children
2021 count
3,773
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
3,773
5.7%
-0.3pp
Single parents with mixed-age children
2021 count
1,162
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,162
1.8%
+0.2pp
Single parents with older children
2021 count
3,491
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
3,491
5.3%
+0.3pp
Total households with children
2021 count
24,926
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
24,926
37.8%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Households with children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples with children
+604
-0.5pp
Couples with young children
+106
-0.7pp
Couples with mixed-age children
+154
+0.1pp
Couples with older children
+351
+0.2pp
Single parents with children
+607
+0.2pp
Single parents with young children
+50
-0.3pp
Single parents with mixed-age children
+194
+0.2pp
Single parents with older children
+365
+0.3pp
Total households with children
+1,211
-0.3pp
Data table
Households with children for Cairns (R). Households with children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Couples with children | 16,499 | 25.0% | 25.5% | 15,895 | 25.5% | 26.3% | +604 | -0.5pp |
| Couples with young children | 9,590 | 14.5% | 14.2% | 9,484 | 15.2% | 14.9% | +106 | -0.7pp |
| Couples with mixed-age children | 2,549 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 2,395 | 3.8% | 3.9% | +154 | +0.1pp |
| Couples with older children | 4,362 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 4,011 | 6.4% | 7.4% | +351 | +0.2pp |
| Single parents with children | 8,427 | 12.8% | 11.2% | 7,820 | 12.6% | 11.0% | +607 | +0.2pp |
| Single parents with young children | 3,773 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 3,723 | 6.0% | 4.9% | +50 | -0.3pp |
| Single parents with mixed-age children | 1,162 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 968 | 1.6% | 1.4% | +194 | +0.2pp |
| Single parents with older children | 3,491 | 5.3% | 5.0% | 3,126 | 5.0% | 4.7% | +365 | +0.3pp |
| Total households with children | 24,926 | 37.8% | 36.7% | 23,715 | 38.1% | 37.2% | +1,211 | -0.3pp |
| Total households | 65,917 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 62,267 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,650 | 0.0pp |