The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has announced a series of changes, including questions on sex, household, and family relationships to the 2026 Census.
Georgia Chapman, Director of the 2026 Census, said, “The Census provides some of Australia’s most valuable statistics, and it’s important that it reflects our contemporary society and captures emerging data needs.”
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This follows the announcement of a new topic on sexual orientation and gender last September, after the federal government faced backlash for initially deciding not to include additional gender and sexuality categories.
“We will use a large-scale test during the second half of 2025 to ensure the final questions achieve the best possible outcomes.”
The upcoming Census will feature revisions to 10 existing topics, including updates on sex and household relationships.
The Census is held every five years, with the most recent being conducted in August 2021.
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For the first time, a question on sexual orientation and gender will be included for Australians aged 16 and over.
Other key changes include updates to the ancestry question, expanding it from two to four categories, and including liver disease under long-term health conditions.
Additionally, the question on transport will now recognise bicycles and e-bikes as modes of travel to work.
Chapman said the organisation had reviewed over 1,000 pieces of feedback from public consultations and conducted “extensive” testing with a diverse group of Australians.
The ABS will also introduce non-gendered terms in household and family relationship questions to be more inclusive.
The question on sex will collect data on “sex recorded at birth” to differentiate it from gender.
Chapman thanked all participants who provided feedback and said the changes would help ensure the 2026 Census captures the most accurate and relevant data for Australia’s diverse population.
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