Cairns is a city in the Cairns Region of Queensland in Australia, situated on the east coast of Far North Queensland. It has the fifth highest population in Queensland (after Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Townsville), and ranks 14th in the country. Over 160,000 people live in the Cairns urban area, with as many as two-thirds of the Tropical North Queensland population residing within the Cairns region. The population density of Cairns is 581 people per square kilometer.
According to the most recent census, most people residing in Cairns are from Australia, England, Japan, New Zealand, India, and Korea, with the top five languages spoken (apart from English) being Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Italian and German.
Just over a quarter of the people living in Cairns have no religion (25.7%), while Anglicans make up 13%, Buddhists 3.5%, the Uniting Church 3.1%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.6%, Christians 1.9%, Eastern Orthodox 1% and followers of other religions 1.3%. 19.7% did not state their faith.
The median age of the population in Cairns is 39 years of age.
The most common occupations for those living in Cairns are professionals (20.9%), managers (19.6%), sales workers (12%), community and service workers (11%), clerical/administrative workers (11%) technicians and trades workers (9.1%), labourers (8.8%), and machinery operators/drivers (4.7%). 2.9% of those polled in the census did not state or describe their occupation.
The top industries in which Cairns residents are accommodation/food services (20.7%), retail (11.6%), health care/social assistance (10.3%), transport/postal/warehousing (6.4%), public administration/safety (5.9%), administrative/support services (5.1%), professional/scientific/technical services (5.1%), education and training (4.7%), and rental, hiring and real estate services (4.6%).
Cairns was founded in 1876 and was named after William Wellington Cairns, the Governor of Queensland between 1875 and 1877. The city was formed to serve the miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield; however, it fell into decline when a more accessible route was identified from Port Douglas. Cairns later developed into a railhead as well as a major port for exporting gold and other metals, sugar cane and agricultural products from the Atherton Tableland region. The site was gradually cleared of the swamps, and the sand ridges were filled with dry mud and ballast from Edge Hill quarry.
Cairns has grown by an average of 2.3% every year over the last decade. The reasons for this include the fact that the tourism industry has remained consistently robust over the years, and this has created a high number of job opportunities within the city. Cairns is a trendy tourist destination, and this is due in part to its tropical climate and the fact that the Greater Barrier Reef – one of the seven natural wonders of the world – can be found here. The city attracts more than two million visitors every year, making it one of the globe’s top tourist hotspots. A relaxed living style has also attracted many retirees from all over the world.
| City | 2025 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 5,391,890 | |
| Sydney | 5,248,790 | |
| Brisbane | 2,568,170 | |
| Perth | 2,169,190 | |
| Adelaide | 1,392,940 | |
| Gold Coast | 752,570 | |
| Canberra | 482,986 | |
| Newcastle | 469,794 | |
| Wollongong | 318,535 | |
| Logan City | 282,673 | |
| Geelong | 137,220 | |
| Townsville | 128,808 | |
| Hobart | 128,557 | |
| Rockingham | 108,022 | |
| Toowoomba | 95,265 | |
| Darwin | 89,905 | |
| Mandurah | 83,294 | |
| Ballarat | 78,221 | |
| Bendigo | 76,051 | |
| Launceston | 71,395 | |
| Mackay | 66,874 | |
| Armadale | 62,296 | |
| Maitland | 61,431 | |
| Rockhampton | 60,827 | |
| Adelaide Hills | 60,394 | |
| South Brisbane | 60,000 | |
| Bunbury | 54,482 | |
| Reservoir | 47,637 | |
| Bundaberg | 46,961 | |
| Wagga Wagga | 46,735 | |
| Berwick | 44,779 | |
| Hervey Bay | 41,225 | |
| Port Macquarie | 39,219 | |
| Blacktown | 39,000 | |
| Shepparton | 38,773 | |
| Caloundra | 38,706 | |
| Hoppers Crossing | 38,108 | |
| Werribee | 37,737 | |
| Melton | 35,490 | |
| Castle Hill | 35,389 | |
| Saint Albans | 35,091 | |
| Nowra | 34,479 | |
| Frankston East | 34,457 | |
| Frankston | 34,457 | |
| Rowville | 34,145 | |
| Baulkham Hills | 33,945 | |
| Mount Waverley | 33,611 | |
| St Albans | 33,511 | |
| Tamworth | 33,475 | |
| Auburn | 33,122 | |
| Pakenham South | 32,911 | |
| Point Cook | 32,413 | |
| Epping | 32,200 | |
| Orange | 31,544 | |
| Kalgoorlie | 31,107 | |
| Dubbo | 30,574 | |
| Bankstown | 30,572 | |
| Mill Park | 30,517 | |
| Kwinana | 30,433 | |
| Preston | 29,925 | |
| Hurstville | 29,822 | |
| Sunbury | 29,566 | |
| Bathurst | 28,992 | |
| Gladstone | 28,808 | |
| Narre Warren South | 28,594 | |
| Noble Park | 28,377 | |
| Southport | 28,315 | |
| Kellyville | 27,971 | |
| Port Stephens | 27,531 | |
| Geraldton | 27,420 | |
| Banora Point | 27,368 | |
| Lismore | 27,069 | |
| Doncaster East | 27,047 | |
| Croydon | 26,946 | |
| Maroubra | 26,538 | |
| Coffs Harbour | 26,353 | |
| Mosman | 26,236 | |
| Richmond | 26,121 | |
| Narre Warren | 25,882 | |
| Randwick | 25,819 | |
| Strathfield | 25,813 | |
| Bundoora | 25,709 | |
| Albany | 25,196 | |
| Alice Springs | 25,186 | |
| Quakers Hill | 25,017 | |
| Palmerston | 25,000 | |
| Endeavour Hills | 25,000 | |
| Coburg | 24,977 | |
| Dandenong | 24,919 | |
| Fremantle | 24,835 | |
| Ferntree Gully | 24,724 | |
| Campsie | 24,541 | |
| Kew | 23,876 | |
| Hampton Park | 23,767 | |
| Canning Vale | 23,289 | |
| Glen Iris | 23,270 | |
| Mount Gambier | 23,209 | |
| Marrickville | 23,161 | |
| Northcote | 22,920 | |
| Granville | 22,889 | |
| Mount Isa | 22,785 | |
| Keysborough | 22,700 | |
| Armidale | 22,673 | |
| Morphett Vale | 22,602 | |
| Dianella | 22,521 | |
| Forest Lake | 22,426 | |
| Mornington | 22,421 | |
| Thornlie | 22,265 | |
| Ashfield | 22,000 | |
| Traralgon | 21,960 | |
| Dandenong North | 21,910 | |
| Busselton | 21,898 | |
| Cabramatta | 21,783 | |
| Greystanes | 21,703 | |
| Tarneit | 21,690 | |
| Maryborough | 21,501 | |
| Caboolture | 21,478 | |
| Kirwan | 21,416 | |
| Langwarrin | 21,371 | |
| Carlingford | 21,364 | |
| Liverpool | 21,317 | |
| Caringbah | 21,283 | |
| Brighton | 21,257 | |
| Hawthorn South | 21,177 | |
| Hawthorn | 21,177 | |
| Glenferrie | 21,177 | |
| Goulburn | 20,940 | |
| Boronia | 20,825 | |
| Woodridge | 20,650 | |
| Booval | 20,540 | |
| Thomastown | 20,331 | |
| Cheltenham | 20,292 | |
| Punchbowl | 20,236 | |
| Prospect | 20,217 | |
| Greensborough | 20,214 | |
| Gawler | 20,006 | |
| Burnie | 19,972 | |
| Balwyn North | 19,968 | |
| Lalor | 19,873 | |
| Brunswick | 19,867 | |
| Hornsby | 19,863 | |
| St Clair | 19,837 | |
| Springvale | 19,771 | |
| Wheelers Hill | 19,753 | |
| Craigieburn | 19,728 | |
| Whyalla | 19,645 | |
| Glenroy | 19,644 | |
| Camberwell | 19,637 | |
| Malvern East | 19,593 | |
| Murray Bridge | 19,577 | |
| Echuca | 19,457 | |
| Devonport | 19,317 | |
| Roxburgh Park | 19,235 | |
| Glenmore Park | 19,200 | |
| Epping | 18,969 | |
| Ballajura | 18,952 | |
| Essendon | 18,852 | |
| Cherrybrook | 18,778 | |
| Altona Meadows | 18,746 | |
| Cranbourne | 18,622 | |
| Katoomba | 18,593 | |
| Surfers Paradise | 18,501 | |
| Parramatta | 18,448 | |
| Broken Hill | 18,430 | |
| Doncaster | 18,359 | |
| Eltham | 18,162 | |
| Fairfield | 18,081 | |
| Morayfield | 18,020 | |
| Engadine | 17,937 | |
| Eastwood | 17,865 | |
| Saint Kilda | 17,795 | |
| Highton | 17,793 | |
| Mulgrave | 17,647 | |
| Forster | 17,591 | |
| Wantirna South | 17,477 | |
| Dee Why | 17,463 | |
| Thornbury | 17,434 | |
| Wahroonga | 17,371 | |
| Frankston South | 17,360 | |
| Wyndham Vale | 17,304 | |
| Gosnells | 17,277 | |
| Mount Eliza | 17,248 | |
| Willetton | 17,243 | |
| Carrum Downs | 17,213 | |
| North Ryde | 17,208 | |
| Mount Martha | 17,087 | |
| Wangaratta | 16,845 | |
| Sunnybank Hills | 16,830 | |
| Cronulla | 16,754 | |
| Sunshine West | 16,743 | |
| Taree | 16,621 | |
| Earlwood | 16,564 | |
| Sunnybank | 16,442 | |
| South Grafton | 16,399 | |
| Cessnock | 16,393 | |
| Hillside | 16,326 | |
| Westmead | 16,309 | |
| Carnegie | 16,299 | |
| Nerang | 16,256 | |
| Narangba | 16,223 | |
| Deer Park | 16,204 | |
| Taylors Lakes | 16,095 | |
| Deception Bay | 16,090 | |
| Umina | 16,059 | |
| Seaford | 16,033 | |
| Burwood | 16,030 | |
| Yagoona | 16,003 | |
| West Pennant Hills | 15,967 | |
| Paralowie | 15,872 | |
| Lilydale | 15,649 | |
| Moe | 15,582 | |
| Clayton | 15,543 | |
| Lara | 15,520 | |
| Griffith | 15,455 | |
| Bracken Ridge | 15,355 | |
| Eight Mile Plains | 15,322 | |
| Parafield Gardens | 15,317 | |
| Prestons | 15,313 | |
| Buderim | 15,228 | |
| Brighton East | 15,167 | |
| Carindale | 15,135 | |
| Port Hedland | 15,044 | |
| Duncraig | 15,026 | |
| Pascoe Vale | 15,000 | |
| Rochedale South | 14,996 | |
| Coorparoo | 14,944 | |
| Meadow Heights | 14,843 | |
| Mitcham | 14,811 | |
| Casula | 14,696 | |
| Bossley Park | 14,585 | |
| Cranbourne North | 14,570 | |
| Caulfield North | 14,554 | |
| Lakemba | 14,468 | |
| Kingston | 14,371 | |
| Grovedale | 14,308 | |
| Horsham | 14,285 | |
| Bentleigh | 14,271 | |
| Ballina | 14,242 | |
| Kingsford | 14,232 | |
| Lidcombe | 14,161 | |
| Carlton | 14,104 | |
| Wantirna | 13,978 | |
| Manly | 13,949 | |
| Ingleburn | 13,902 | |
| Burleigh Waters | 13,868 | |
| Elwood | 13,785 | |
| Cleveland | 13,776 | |
| Victoria Point | 13,755 | |
| Yarraville | 13,747 | |
| Singleton | 13,665 | |
| Bongaree | 13,649 | |
| Raymond Terrace | 13,606 | |
| Mount Druitt | 13,582 | |
| Bacchus Marsh | 13,575 | |
| Newtown | 13,552 | |
| Moonee Ponds | 13,532 | |
| Palm Beach | 13,494 | |
| Ascot Vale | 13,475 | |
| Morwell | 13,399 | |
| Port Melbourne | 13,293 | |
| Yeppoon | 13,285 | |
| Keilor East | 13,259 | |
| Port Augusta | 13,257 | |
| Port Pirie | 13,206 | |
| Williamstown | 13,203 | |
| Footscray | 13,203 | |
| Sale | 13,186 | |
| Coogee | 13,179 | |
| Templestowe Lower | 13,152 | |
| Brunswick West | 13,148 | |
| Surrey Hills | 13,133 | |
| Hawthorn East | 13,133 | |
| Port Lincoln | 13,044 | |
| Doonside | 13,031 | |
| Concord | 13,008 | |
| Toongabbie | 13,003 | |
| Dulwich Hill | 12,981 | |
| Balwyn | 12,944 | |
| Miranda | 12,903 | |
| Toorak | 12,871 | |
| Beaumaris | 12,829 | |
| Port Kennedy | 12,816 | |
| Broome | 12,766 | |
| Fawkner | 12,596 | |
| Scarborough | 12,593 | |
| St Kilda East | 12,576 | |
| Inala | 12,568 | |
| Warwick | 12,562 | |
| Rosebud | 12,501 | |
| Hampton | 12,482 | |
| Como | 12,425 | |
| Ashwood | 12,420 | |
| Chadstone | 12,357 | |
| Marsfield | 12,347 | |
| Kiama | 12,286 | |
| Leichhardt | 12,248 | |
| Mayfield | 12,248 | |
| Springvale South | 12,184 | |
| Goonellabah | 12,137 | |
| Port Augusta West | 12,133 | |
| Geelong West | 12,121 | |
| Lavington | 12,032 | |
| Doreen | 12,000 | |
| Newport | 11,987 | |
| Greenvale | 11,969 | |
| Blackburn | 11,958 | |
| Burwood | 11,886 | |
| West Ryde | 11,867 | |
| Penrith | 11,813 | |
| Kingswood Park | 11,813 | |
| Varsity Lakes | 11,796 | |
| Donvale | 11,795 | |
| Muswellbrook | 11,791 | |
| Taylors Hill | 11,785 | |
| Bateau Bay | 11,759 | |
| North Melbourne | 11,755 | |
| Wynnum West | 11,745 | |
| Karratha | 11,728 | |
| Charlestown | 11,725 | |
| Wynnum | 11,719 | |
| Penshurst | 11,692 | |
| Mentone | 11,667 | |
| Paddington | 11,661 | |
| Caringbah South | 11,605 | |
| Clayton South | 11,600 | |
| Happy Valley | 11,531 | |
| Diamond Creek | 11,504 | |
| Redfern | 11,482 | |
| North Fitzroy | 11,473 | |
| Warnbro | 11,421 | |
| Vermont South | 11,416 | |
| Sandy Bay | 11,334 | |
| East Maitland | 11,310 | |
| South Perth | 11,301 | |
| Lithgow | 11,298 | |
| Bayswater | 11,240 | |
| Manly West | 11,195 | |
| Parkdale | 11,185 | |
| Caulfield South | 11,113 | |
| Gympie | 11,027 | |
| Bairnsdale | 11,005 | |
| Bowen | 10,983 | |
| Nunawading | 10,947 | |
| Wanneroo | 10,931 | |
| Samford Valley | 10,931 | |
| Mount Gravatt East | 10,891 | |
| Altona North | 10,886 | |
| Caroline Springs | 10,880 | |
| Bulleen | 10,868 | |
| Kensington | 10,847 | |
| Gladesville | 10,835 | |
| Menai | 10,781 | |
| Bondi Beach | 10,748 | |
| Wellington Point | 10,713 | |
| Mount Lawley | 10,703 | |
| Annerley | 10,664 | |
| Tewantin | 10,660 | |
| Box Hill North | 10,649 | |
| Sunshine North | 10,637 | |
| Yokine | 10,613 | |
| Batemans Bay | 10,557 | |
| Camp Hill | 10,533 | |
| Marangaroo | 10,519 | |
| Dapto | 10,478 | |
| Maylands | 10,447 | |
| Drummoyne | 10,385 | |
| Melton West | 10,381 | |
| Bondi | 10,373 | |
| Sydenham | 10,323 | |
| Keilor Downs | 10,307 | |
| Neutral Bay | 10,276 | |
| Highett | 10,263 | |
| West Footscray | 10,222 | |
| Nambour | 10,221 | |
| Rutherford | 10,182 | |
| Maribyrnong | 10,165 | |
| Hallam | 10,162 | |
| Hillarys | 10,160 | |
| Burwood East | 10,141 | |
| Blackburn South | 10,129 | |
| Darlinghurst | 10,128 | |
| Hamilton | 10,104 | |
| Dingley Village | 10,072 | |
| Glenorchy | 10,062 | |
| Forest Hill | 10,052 | |
| Kilsyth | 10,043 | |
| Parkes | 10,026 | |
| Nedlands | 10,020 |
