Yarrabah

An assessment of population growth drivers in Yarrabah reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Yarrabah's population was approximately 2,659 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 154 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 2,505. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,659 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 16.7 persons per square kilometer. Yarrabah's growth rate of 6.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area at 5.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 97.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Future demographic trends forecast a significant population increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas, with an expected rise to 746 persons by 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 28.1% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Yarrabah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Yarrabah has seen approximately 10 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 53 homes. As of FY-26, 0 approvals have been recorded so far. On average, 0.7 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction cost of new properties in Yarrabah is $476,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Yarrabah has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance with the broader area. New development consists predominantly of standalone homes (90.0%) and a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (10.0%), preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

This trend favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (71.0% at Census), demonstrating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Yarrabah is 692 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain 746 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Yarrabah has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

AreaSearch has identified ten projects that could impact the area significantly due to their potential influence on local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Notable projects include the Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative, the Smart Water Meter Program planned for 2023-2026, the Leak Detection Program scheduled from 2022 to 2025, and CairnsPlan initiated in 2016. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Yarrabah face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Yarrabah has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented in the area. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 67.1%.

This rate is 63.1% higher than the Rest of Queensland's rate of 4.1%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Yarrabah lags significantly at 36.5%, compared to the Rest of Queensland's 65.7%. According to Census responses, only 3.0% of residents work from home. However, it should be noted that Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure.

The leading employment industries among Yarrabah residents are health care and social assistance, public administration and safety, and education and training. The area has a particularly notable concentration in public administration and safety, with employment levels at 4.9 times the regional average. In contrast, retail trade employs only 1.8% of local workers, which is below the Rest of Queensland's rate of 10.0%. The limited number of Census working population compared to resident population suggests that there may be limited employment opportunities locally. Over the 12 months leading up to September 2025, labour force levels in Yarrabah decreased by 1.8%, while employment decreased by 41.6%. This resulted in an increase in unemployment rate of 22.4 percentage points. In contrast, the Rest of Queensland experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a rise in unemployment rate of only 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Yarrabah. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Yarrabah's employment mix suggests that local employment should increase by 7.9% over five years and 16.4% over ten years. It is important to note that these projections are based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and do not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The median income among taxpayers in Yarrabah SA2 was $43,613 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $51,839 during the same period. These figures compare to national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth since June 2023, estimated median income is approximately $47,935 by September 2025, with average income projected at around $56,976 during the same period. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 17th percentile ($1,254 weekly), while personal income sits at the lowest percentile. The income bracket of $800 - 1,499 captures 31.1% of Yarrabah's community, differing from surrounding regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 band dominates with 31.7%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.3% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 23rd percentile nationally.

Yarrabah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Yarrabah's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.4% houses and 28.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yarrabah was at 11.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 0.7% and rented at 88.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,392, while the median weekly rent was $150. Nationally, Yarrabah's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Yarrabah features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 85.8% of all households, including 35.8% couples with children, 9.9% couples without children, and 36.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 14.2%, composed of 11.1% lone person households and 1.9% group households. The median household size is 4.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Yarrabah faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 3.4%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 2.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (0.6%) and postgraduate qualifications (0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (5.2%) and certificates (32.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.1% in primary education, 10.6% in secondary education, and 0.5% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Yarrabah is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Yarrabah faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% of the total population (around 1,217 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are diabetes and heart disease, affecting 8.6 and 5.1% of residents respectively. However, 77.5% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The under-65 population has better health outcomes than average. As of 2021, 8.2% of Yarrabah's residents are aged 65 and over (218 people), lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings higher than those of the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Yarrabah was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Yarrabah had a cultural diversity level above average, with 0.2 percent of its population born overseas and 81.6 percent speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Yarrabah, accounting for 88.8 percent of the population, significantly higher than the regional average of 52.2 percent across Rest of Qld. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were Australian Aboriginal (89.7%), Other (7.0%), and Australian (1.2%).

The Australian Aboriginal percentage was substantially higher than the regional average of 3.9%, while the Australian figure was notably lower than the regional average of 26.5%.

Yarrabah hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Yarrabah has a median age of 25, which is significantly lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Yarrabah has a higher concentration of 15-24 year-olds at 18.9%, but fewer 65-74 year-olds at 3.9%. This 15-24 age group is well above the national average of 12.5%. Between 2021 and the present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 1.2% to 3.3%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 20.7% to 17.5%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 10.2% to 7.8%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Yarrabah's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to rise substantially by 222 people (52%), from 424 to 647. The 55-64 group shows more modest growth at 2%, adding only 5 residents.