Education in Cairns, Australia: official figures
54.7% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 10th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the Cairns Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
How many people in Cairns left school before Year 10?
7.6% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over had left school at Year 9 or below, or never attended school, at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (9.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have a postgraduate degree?
3.6% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over held a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, joint 4th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (6.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have a university degree?
13.4% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over held a bachelor degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (17.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have a diploma?
9.8% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over held an advanced diploma or diploma as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, joint 6th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (9.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have a trade or certificate qualification?
23.7% of residents of the Cairns Region aged 15 and over held a certificate (levels I to IV, including trade qualifications) as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 7th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (19.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many teenagers in Cairns are in work or study?
74.3% of 15 to 19 year olds in the Cairns Region were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (34.5% were studying full-time and not working), against 81.4% fully engaged across Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children attend preschool in Cairns?
1,743 four-year-olds and 230 five-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program in the Cairns Region in 2024; 1,717 children attended 15 hours or more a week.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns are repaying student loans?
7,218 residents of the Cairns Region made a repayment on a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt in 2021-22, which is 42 per 1,000 residents (3rd lowest of 26 areas; Australia 45).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Cairns compares with other cities in Australia
Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Cairns ranks 22 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Sunshine Coast | 56.4% |
| 20 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 56.0% |
| 21 | Geelong | 55.2% |
| 22 | Cairns | 54.7% |
| 23 | Townsville | 54.1% |
| 24 | Wollongong | 53.7% |
| 25 | Ballarat | 52.7% |
Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Cairns ranks 26 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Ballarat | 14.9% |
| 24 | Greater Wollongong | 14.4% |
| 25 | Newcastle-Maitland | 14.2% |
| 26 | Cairns | 13.4% |
| 27 | Bendigo | 13.1% |
| 28 | Toowoomba | 13.0% |
| 29 | Townsville | 12.7% |
Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Cairns ranks 25 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Bendigo | 79.0% |
| 21 | Sunshine Coast | 78.7% |
| 22 | Central Coast | 77.5% |
| 23 | Townsville | 76.1% |
| 24 | Darwin | 75.0% |
| 25 | Cairns | 74.3% |
| 26 | Greater Darwin | 73.9% |
More on Cairns: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.