Geography & population

The Cairns Regional Council local government area encompasses 1687 km2 of land on a narrow coastal strip between the Great Dividing Range and the Coral Sea.  It extends from the Eubenangee Swamp (near Mirriwinni) in the south to the Macalister Range (near Ellis Beach) in the north.

The region is part of Australia's Wet Tropics and is framed by the lush World Heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest to the west and north and the Coral Sea and World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the east. These attributes make the region a world renowned tourist destination.

Cairns city is the principal centre of the region and is centrally located along the coastal strip with sub-regions to the north and south consisting predominantly good quality agricultural land and areas of high ecological significance. The region is an important gateway to the nearby Atherton Tablelands, Daintree and Wet Tropics rainforest, and the outback Savannah region beyond the Great Dividing Range.

The Russell, Mulgrave and Barron Rivers are the main river systems within the region. The region also includes a number of offshore islands: Fitzroy, Green and the Frankland Islands.

• view our online maps.

You can access our free community profiles below for information about population and socio-demographic characteristics.

Cairns LGA Data

Cairns Regional Council subscribes to the .id suite of data so that this information about the Cairns Local Government Area (LGA) is freely available to be used by council staff, local businesses, investors, community groups, students and the general public.

FNQROC Economic Profile

An FNQROC Economic Profile is also available, providing data for the region covered by the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC), from Hinchinbrook to Cook and west to Carpentaria.

Queensland Government statistics

The Queensland Government Statistician's Office (QGSO) provides a broad range of expert services to support national, whole-of-government and agency policies, programs, and service delivery decisions. The QCSO is part of Queensland Treasury and provides statistics and information to government, business and the community.

Tourism visitor data

The Tropical North Queensland Regional Snapshot is produced by Tourism and Events Queensland (a Queensland Government lead agency). The Snapshot provides an overview of visitors to the region, with high-level details including where visitors came from, why they came and what they spent during their visit. Changes over time, drivers of change and insights into trends are also included.

ABS Census data

The Census of Population and Housing provides a snapshot of the nation as well as key information that benefits you and your community. Council has prepared a Snapshot of 2021 Census highlights ( PDF, 0.12 MB ). The data shows that the Cairns Local Government Area is a growing and culturally diverse community.