The Queensland Plan
Regional Snapshot
Far North Queensland
The Far North Queensland region covers an
area of 339,606km2 stretching around a large
portion of the Queensland coastline and can lay
claim to the most northerly point of Australia.
Far North Queensland’s population is becoming increasingly
educated with 54.8 per cent of people holding non-school#
qualifications in 2011, compared with 51.8 per cent in 2006.
The region stretches from the city of Cairns, north
to the Torres Strait and west to the Gulf Country.
Economy, industry and development
Population
In June 2012, Far North Queensland’s population was
271,273 people or 5.9 per cent of Queensland’s total population.
Based on current trends, the region is predicted to grow by an
average of 1.4 per cent per year to 2031.
The population is starting to age with 11.8 per cent of the
population over the age of 65 years in June 2012, up 1.6 percentage
points since 2007.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples made up 14.9 per
cent of the total population of the Far North Queensland in 2011.
This is approximately 26.5 per cent of the state’s total Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander population.
In 2011, 16.2 per cent of Far North Queensland’s population was
born overseas, and 13.4 per cent spoke a language other than
English at home.
Life and community
More than 86.5 per cent of people in Far North Queensland live
in outer regional centres, and the remaining 13.5 per cent in
remote or very remote locations.
Great state. Great opportunity.
Fewer occupied private dwellings were owned outright—
27.3 per cent in 2011 compared with 27.5 per cent in 2006.
The top three employment industries in Far North Queensland
are health care and social assistance, retail trade and
accommodation and food services. The number of people
employed in health care and assistance rose by an average
of 5.9 per cent per year from 2006 to 2011, while the other
industries remained stable.
Small business continues to be a mainstay of local employment
with 95.0 per cent of businesses in 2011–12 employing less than
20 staff, up from 94.6 per cent since 2008-09.
The unemployment rate increased 0.6 of a percentage point to
8.4 per cent between 2008–09 and 2012–13.
The value of building approvals have declined by an average
of 20.1 per cent per year in five years, down to $406 million.
Environment
The Far North Queensland region is well known for its natural
environment, including the Great Barrier Reef, national parks,
and coastline.
In December 2012, Far North Queensland had more than
40,230km2 of protected land, including the Daintree National Park.
Summary table Far North Queensland region
i
Historical
Current
Difference
Persons
247,489 (June 2007)
271,273 (June 2012)
 1.9% per year
Aged 65+
10.2% (June 2007)
11.8% (June 2012)
 1.6ppt
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
14.1% (2006 Census)
14.9% (2011 Census)
 0.8ppt
Born overseas
14.4% (2006 Census)
16.2% (2011 Census)
 1.8ppt
Fully owned private dwellings
27.5% (2006 Census)
27.3% (2011 Census)
 –0.2 ppt
Non-school qualifications#
51.8% (2006 Census)
54.8% (2011 Census)
 3.0 ppt
Major city
0.0% (2006 Census)
0.0% (2011 Census)
0.0ppt
Inner regional
0.0% (2006 Census)
0.0% (2011 Census)
0.0ppt
Outer regional
86.1% (2006 Census)
86.5% (2011 Census)
 0.4ppt
Remote
3.9% (2006 Census)
3.6% (2011 Census)
 –0.3ppt
Very remote
10.0% (2006 Census)
9.9% (2011 Census)
 –0.1ppt
Population
Life and community
Remoteness by population
Economy, industry and development
Unemployment rate
7.8% (2008–09)
8.4% (2012–13)
 0.6 ppt
Small Business
94.6% (2008–09)
95.0% (2011–12)
 0.3 ppt
Health care and social assistance
10,952 (2006 Census)
14,614 (2011 Census)
 5.9% per year
Retail trade
12,867 (2006 Census)
12,977 (2011 Census)
 0.2% per year
Accomodation and food services
10,735 (2006 Census)
10,746 (2011 Census)
$1247.4m (2007–08)
$406.4m (2012–13)
 –20.1% per year
Data not available
40,230.2km2
N/A
Top three industries by employment
Building approvals
0.0%
Environment
Protected area
(current at December 2012)
Did you know?
i Data provided by Queensland Treasury and Trade
ii http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/region/tourist-information
ppt – Percentage point
This region contains the only
place in the world where two
world heritage areas meet—the
Great Barrier Reef and the Wet
Tropics Rainforestii.
DPC3356_FNQ
# A ‘non-school’ qualification is any qualification awarded for education attainments other than those of pre-primary, primary or secondary education. These could
be degrees, certificates or diplomas. Source: Australia’s welfare 2013, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare