Yarrabah

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

As of November 2025, the estimated population for the Yarrabah statistical area (Lv2) is around 2,659. This reflects an increase of 154 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,505. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 16.7 persons per square kilometer. The Yarrabah (SA2) experienced a growth rate of 6.1% since the 2021 census, exceeding the SA3 area's growth rate of 5.7%. Natural growth contributed approximately 98.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of national regional areas. The Yarrabah (SA2) is expected to expand by 746 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 28.1% in total 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 averaged approximately 9 new dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. From FY-21 to FY-25, an estimated 48 homes were approved, with none so far in FY-26.

Over the past 5 financial years, an average of 0.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. New supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and potential for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value was $479,000, moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. Compared to Rest of Qld, Yarrabah has similar construction activity per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

However, recent activity has intensified. Construction activity is below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. 83% of new building activity involves standalone homes, maintaining Yarrabah's low-density character focused on family homes. With around 123 people per approval, Yarrabah reflects a low-density area. Future projections estimate Yarrabah adding 746 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

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

AreaSearch has identified ten projects that could impact the area significantly. Key initiatives include the Cairns Smart Green Economy Initiative, the Smart water meter program from 2023 to 2026, the Leak Detection Program running from 2022 to 2025, and CairnsPlan launched in 2016. The following list details those projects 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 diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate is 67.1%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025233 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 63.1% above Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Yarrabah is significantly lower at 36.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. The area specializes in public administration & safety, with an employment share 4.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, retail trade is under-represented, with only 1.8% of Yarrabah's workforce compared to Rest of Qld's 10.0%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.8%, while employment declined by 41.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 22.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7% and labour force grow by 2.1%, with a slight increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland employment contracted by 0.01%, losing 1,210 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yarrabah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.9% over five years and 16.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The median taxpayer income in Yarrabah is $41,380 and the average is $51,961 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of Qld having a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% from financial year 2023 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $45,481 (median) and $57,110 (average). Census data shows household income ranks at the 17th percentile ($1,254 weekly), with personal income at the 0th percentile. Income distribution reveals that 31.1% of Yarrabah's population falls within the $800 - 1,499 range, differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 31.7%. Housing costs are modest, retaining 89.3% of income, but 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 evaluated in the latest Census comprised 71.4% houses and 28.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 87.1% houses and 12.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yarrabah was at 11.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (0.7%) or rented (88.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,392, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent figure in Yarrabah was recorded at $150, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $250. Nationally, Yarrabah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 make up the remaining 14.2%, consisting 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 2.4.

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 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.

Yarrabah's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Yarrabah, with younger cohorts having a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 48% (~1,270 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are diabetes (8.6%) and heart disease (5.1%). A total of 77.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Rest of Qld's 68.1%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 7.7% (204 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 23.6%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in the broader 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% 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, significantly higher than the 59.2% regional average in Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups in Yarrabah were Australian Aboriginal (89.7%), Other (7.0%), and Australian (1.2%).

This compares to regional averages of 11.3% for Australian Aboriginal, 46.1% for Other, and 23.0% for Australian.

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

Yarrabah has a median age of 25, which is significantly younger than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Yarrabah has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (18.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.1%). This 15-24 concentration is well above the national figure of 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 1.2% to 2.8% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 10.2% to 7.9%, and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 20.7% to 18.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Yarrabah's age structure. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, with an increase of 231 people (56%) from 414 to 646. Conversely, numbers in the 5 to 14 age range are expected to fall by 12.