Australia's 13th Census of Population and Housing was conducted on Tuesday 6 August 1996. Data from the 1996 Census is available through the following products.

Basic Community Profile for Australia

Detailed tables of key characteristics for people, families and dwellings.

Basic Community Profile for Other Areas

Detailed tables of key characteristics for people, families and dwellings for states, Statistical Divisions, Statistical Subdivisions and Statistical Local Areas.

State and Summary extracts

A summary of findings and selected characteristics for Australia and each state and territory.

Urban Centre and Localities extracts

Census characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities across Australia, ranking the top 200 based on person, family and dwelling characteristics.

Family and Labour Force extracts

Household, family and labour force characteristics for Australia and each state and territory.

Selected Social and Housing Characteristics

A range of social and housing statistics produced from the 1996 Census for Australia, the states and territories, and their regions.

Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA96)

Summary measures derived from 1996 Census data. SEIFA includes five indexes to allow ranking of regions and areas, providing a method of determining the level of social and economic well-being in each region.

1996 Household Sample File (HSF)

A comprehensive Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) of 1996 Census variables, containing a 1% random sample of private dwellings and associated family and person records, and a 1% random sample of persons from non-private dwellings.

The 1996 HSF is available via the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) for ABS approved users. For more information on how to gain access to the HSF visit the the How to apply for microdata page.

Australia in Profile – A Regional Analysis

Commentary and data on a number of key social indicators from the 1996 Census, with a focus on regional distributions and comparisons. Topics include cultural diversity, living arrangements, education, work and housing.

Counting the Homeless

A report on a research project to analyse information on the homeless population in Australia using 1996 Census data and administrative data.

CDATA96

A powerful desktop software package that allows users to analyse and display comprehensive 1996 Census data in detailed maps, graphs and reports. This product is no longer sold by the ABS, and limited support is available for existing users.