Australia’s 2026 census adds sexuality and gender questions
Australians are due to complete the compulsory 2026 census on 11 August. The 66-question survey adds questions on sexual orientation, sex recorded at birth and gender, and allows respondents to report up to four ancestries rather than two. The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the results will inform public planning, with data expected to be released from June 2027.
The story
Australia will conduct its 2026 census on the night of 11 August, asking people across the country to complete a compulsory 66-question form. The census is a five-yearly population count that collects household and individual information, including age, work, education, country of birth, religion, ancestry and languages spoken. It applies not only to Australian residents but also to international tourists and temporary visa holders present in the country on census night. This edition adds questions on sexual orientation, sex recorded at birth and gender. Dr Liz Allen, a demographer at the Australian National University, described the new set of questions as “probably the most progressive census Australia has ever seen.” Respondents will also be able to name up to four ancestries, rather than the two allowed in earlier censuses. Most people can complete the form online, though paper forms remain available. The Australian Bureau of Statistics says it will deploy 30,000 field staff, including to reach remote communities and people experiencing homelessness. Results are expected to take almost a year to process and are due to be published from June 2027.
Why it matters
Census results are used by governments at different levels to plan health, education, transport, infrastructure and social services. Counting where people live and recording demographic characteristics can shape the evidence available for those decisions. The newly included sexuality and gender information may give planners a national dataset they previously did not have, while expanded ancestry reporting can capture more than one or two elements of a person’s cultural background. These consequences are prospective: the data has not yet been collected or released.
Evidence and context
Australia’s census is held every five years and is intended to provide a national snapshot of the country’s economic, social and cultural makeup. The questionnaire covers areas including age, occupation, country of birth, religion, ancestry, languages spoken, work and education. The 2026 collection also reflects a long-running operational shift toward digital completion: nearly 80% of respondents used the online form in 2021, compared with 63% in 2016. Paper forms remain available, while 30,000 field staff are to help reach people across the country, including residents of remote communities and people experiencing homelessness.
Limits and unknowns
The new questions do not resolve every representation issue. The census will not offer an option for people to identify as intersex, although the ABS considered including such a question and it was not recommended for this census. Participation is compulsory, with penalties for failing to submit a form or deliberately giving false or misleading answers; that legal requirement sits alongside the ABS’s assurances that identifying information is protected. The practical value of the results will also depend on participation and on the time needed to process and publish the data.
What happens next
The immediate test is participation on 11 August, including whether online, paper and field-staff arrangements reach the full population. Readers can then watch for the ABS’s release of processed census results from June 2027, including how it reports the newly collected sexuality, sex-at-birth, gender and expanded ancestry data.
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Story timeline
First census
Australia conducted its first census.
Census night
Census night for Australia’s 2026 compulsory national survey.
Data release
The census data is expected to begin being made public.
Australia’s 2026 census adds sexuality and gender questions
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Highlights
- New gender and sexuality questions in 2026 census
- Expanded ancestry options in the census
- Field staff support for census completion
- Improved planning with richer census data
Transcript
Australia’s 2026 census introduces questions on sexual orientation, sex recorded at birth, and gender identity.
Respondents can now report up to four ancestries, expanding cultural background data collection.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will deploy 30,000 field staff to reach remote and vulnerable populations.
These new data points will help governments better plan health, education, and social services nationwide.
Results are expected from June 2027, offering a more inclusive national demographic snapshot.