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 2,669 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 164 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 2,505. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,669 in June 2025 and address validation as of the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 16.8 persons per square kilometer. Yarrabah's growth rate of 6.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area average of 5.8%. Natural growth contributed approximately 98.4% 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 by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; therefore, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 and based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate a significant increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas, with Yarrabah expected to increase by 680 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 25.5% over the 16 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 dwellings. As of FY26, 0 approvals have been recorded to date. On average, 0.7 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25.

The supply of new properties is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $476,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. Relative to the rest of Queensland, Yarrabah has similar levels of development per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area.

Ninety percent of new developments consist of standalone homes, and 10% are townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated count of 692 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Yarrabah will gain approximately 680 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Yarrabah has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Seven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include the Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative, Smart water meter program from 2023 to 2026, Cairns Transit Network, and CairnsPlan 2016. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Yarrabah has a mixed workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 74.2%. By December 2025182 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 70.2% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, indicating potential for improvement. Workforce participation in Yarrabah stands at 36.5%, significantly lower than Regional Qld's 64.5%.

Census data shows only 3.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. Notably, public administration & safety employs 4.9 times the regional average, while retail trade employs just 1.8% of local workers compared to Regional Qld's 10.0%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the discrepancy between working population and resident population counts.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4%, accompanied by a 55.2% drop in employment, leading to a 30.9 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7% and labour force grow by 1.0%, with a slight increase of 0.3 percentage points in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varied rates across industries. Applying these projections to Yarrabah's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.9% over five years and 16.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

Yarrabah SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $43,613. The average income stood at $51,839 during this period. This is lower than the national figures for Regional Qld, which were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. By March 2026, with an estimated Wage Price Index growth of 11.36%, median income would be approximately $48,567 and average income around $57,728. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranked at the 17th percentile ($1,254 weekly), while personal income was at the 0th percentile. In Yarrabah SA2, 31.1% of individuals earned between $800 and $1,499, differing from the surrounding region where earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 dominated with 31.7%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.3% income retention, total disposable income ranked 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). This compares to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yarrabah was at 11.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 0.7% and rented dwellings at 88.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,392, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent was recorded at $150, compared to Regional Qld's $345. 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 comprise 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 account for the remaining 14.2%, with lone person households at 11.1% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 4.5 people, larger than the Regional Queensland 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 the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common 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+ 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 of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups exhibit notable health issues. Private health cover is extremely low in Yarrabah, at approximately 46% of the total population (around 1,222 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld and the 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 free of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The under-65 population in Yarrabah has better health outcomes than average. The area has 8.4% of residents aged 65 and over (223 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. 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 the average, with 0.2% of its residents born overseas and 81.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Yarrabah, accounting for 88.8% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Queensland. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian Aboriginal (89.7%), Other (7.0%), and Australian (1.2%).

The proportion of Australian Aboriginal residents was significantly higher than the regional average of 3.9%, while the Australian group was notably lower at 1.2% compared to the regional average of 26.5%.

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

Yarrabah's median age at 26 years is significantly younger than Regional Queensland's average of 41 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Regional Qld, Yarrabah has a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (19.0%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.0%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 12.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 1.2% to 3.4%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 20.7% to 17.8% and the 45 to 54 group fell from 10.2% to 8.0%. Demographic modeling indicates that Yarrabah's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to grow steadily, increasing by 199 people (50%) from 402 to 602. Conversely, numbers in the 55 to 64 age range are expected to decrease.