Health in Cairns, Australia: official figures
1,950 births were registered to mothers living in the Cairns Region in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.64 births per woman, above the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the Cairns Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the death rate in Cairns?
1,310 deaths were registered in the Cairns Region in 2024. After adjusting for age, the death rate was 5.9 per 1,000 people, 4th highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (5.3).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have a long-term health condition?
40.0% of residents of the Cairns Region reported at least one long-term health condition at the 2021 Census, 15th lowest of 31 areas, above the national figure (39.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have mental health problems?
7.9% of residents of the Cairns Region had a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) at the 2021 Census, 4th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have arthritis?
7.2% of residents of the Cairns Region had arthritis at the 2021 Census, 10th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have asthma?
6.4% of residents of the Cairns Region had asthma at the 2021 Census, 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have diabetes?
4.0% of residents of the Cairns Region had diabetes at the 2021 Census, 14th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (4.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have heart disease?
3.5% of residents of the Cairns Region had heart disease (including heart attack or angina) at the 2021 Census, joint 13th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (3.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have cancer?
2.8% of residents of the Cairns Region had cancer (including remission) at the 2021 Census, 13th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (2.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have dementia?
0.7% of residents of the Cairns Region had dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) at the 2021 Census, joint 10th lowest of 31 areas, about the same as the national figure (0.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have lung disease?
1.7% of residents of the Cairns Region had a lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) at the 2021 Census, 14th lowest of 31 areas, about the same as the national figure (1.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns need help with daily activities?
5.4% of residents of the Cairns Region said they needed help with core activities (self-care, mobility or communication) because of a disability, long-term health condition or old age at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (5.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have a disability?
The ABS modelled that 14.9% of people living in households in the Cairns Region had a disability in 2018 (a modelled estimate from the 2018 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns have private health insurance?
About 26 in every 100 residents of the Cairns Region had private health insurance in 2021-22 (43,844 people reported cover; Australia 34), the lowest of 26 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Cairns are unpaid carers?
10.4% of residents of the Cairns Region gave unpaid help to a person with a disability at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (11.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Cairns compares with other cities in Australia
Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 (2024)
Cairns ranks 4 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 | Age-standardised death rate per 1,000 people, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle | 6.7 |
| 2 | Townsville | 6.2 |
| 3 | Ballarat | 6.1 |
| 4 | Cairns | 5.9 |
| 5 | Central Coast | 5.8 |
| 6 | Bendigo | 5.8 |
| 7 | Greater Hobart | 5.8 |
Residents with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Cairns ranks 17 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 with a long-term health condition, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Greater Adelaide | 40.7% |
| 15 | Greater Brisbane | 40.3% |
| 16 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 40.2% |
| 17 | Cairns | 40.0% |
| 18 | Gold Coast | 39.6% |
| 19 | Canberra-Queanbeyan | 39.1% |
| 20 | Canberra | 39.0% |
Residents with a mental health condition, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Cairns ranks 28 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 with a mental health condition, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Greater Melbourne | 8.1% |
| 26 | Melbourne | 8.1% |
| 27 | Perth | 8.1% |
| 28 | Cairns | 7.9% |
| 29 | Greater Sydney | 6.6% |
| 30 | Greater Darwin | 5.9% |
| 31 | Darwin | 5.6% |
More on Cairns: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · 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…)
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