TableBuilder | Census products | Data by region | Data Explorer | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Census | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Persons | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Families | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Dwellings | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Economy | |||||
Building approvals | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Businesses | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Labour | |||||
Earnings and work hours | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Employment and unemployment | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Industry | |||||
Agriculture | ✔ | ||||
Building and construction | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Mining | ✔ | ||||
Retail and wholesale | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Technology and innovation | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Tourism and transport | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
People | |||||
Population | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Migrants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Crime and justice | |||||
Education | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Housing and homelessness | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Health | |||||
Health conditions | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Disability, ageing and carers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Health services | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Mental health | ✔ | ||||
Snapshots of Australia | |||||
BLADE | |||||
MADIP | |||||
Regional statistics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare data services
Compare free and charged data services
There are a number of ways to access ABS data, in addition to data available on the website:
- this information will help you choose the best data products or services for you
- find out which products are free
- not all topics are available in all data services
Free data services
TableBuilder (free and charged options)
- create, save and download your own tables, maps and graphs using many topics (Census Basic and Businesses in Australia are free)
Census products
- QuickStats provides summary information about people, families and dwellings, comparing very small statistical areas (SA1) to state and national levels
- Community profiles are comprehensive statistical pictures for small areas (SA2), including time series profiles
- DataPacks are designed for loading detailed Census information into your database or system, comparing community characteristics and time series
Data by region
- region and local area data on population, economy, income, education and health using an interactive map
Data Explorer
- interactive online tool that presents data in a searchable, flexible and dynamic way, with user interface and API options
Topics for free data services
Show all
Features of free data services
Show all
TableBuilder (free and paid options) | Census products | Data by region | Data Explorer | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Self service or ABS provided service | Self-service | Self-service | Self-service | Self-service |
Data level of detail | Detailed | Broad-detailed | Detailed | Detailed |
Data output | Aggregate data | Aggregate data | Aggregate data | Aggregate data |
Output timing | Immediate | Immediate | Immediate | Immediate |
Statistical skills required | Intermediate users | All levels | All levels | All levels |
Platform | Online system | Website | Website | Website and API |
Prerequisites | Conditions of use | None | None | None |
How to get access | Register in Registration Centre | Data by region | Data Explorer | |
Further help | TableBuilder | Compare Census products | Web user guide API user guide |
Glossary of terms used in this table
Charged data services
TableBuilder (free and charged options)
create, save and download your own tables, maps and graphs using many topics
create your own custom data variables and large tables
MicrodataDownload (basic microdata)
- unit record data about people, households or businesses that can be downloaded for statistical analysis in your own environment, such as modelling
- highly confidentialised data items, usually provided in ranges or broad groupings
DataLab (detailed microdata)
- analyse highly detailed microdata within the secure DataLab, using statistical software including R, SAS, Stata and Python
- all output is cleared by ABS before being released to you
Consultancy services
- customised aggregate data tailored to meet your needs
- ABS provided service
Data integration
Topics for charged data services
Show all
TableBuilder | MicrodataDownload (basic microdata) | DataLab (detailed microdata) | Consultancy services | Data integration | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Census | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Persons | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Families | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Dwellings | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Economy | ||||||
Building approvals | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Businesses | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Labour | ||||||
Earnings and work hours | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Employment and unemployment | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Industry | ||||||
Agriculture | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Building and construction | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Mining | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Retail and wholesale | ||||||
Technology and innovation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Tourism and transport | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
People | ||||||
Population | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Migrants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Crime and justice | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Education | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Housing and homelessness | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Health | ||||||
Health conditions | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Disability, ageing and carers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Health services | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Mental health | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Snapshots of Australia | ||||||
BLADE | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
MADIP | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
Regional statistics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Explanations of terms used in this table
Features of charged data services
Show all
TableBuilder | MicrodataDownload (basic microdata) | DataLab (detailed microdata) | Consultancy services | Data integration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Self-service or ABS provided service | Self-service | Self-service | Self-service | ABS provided service | ABS provided service |
Indicative cost* | Annual subscription $1,340 per data series per organisation $2,670 Census TableBuilder Pro per organisation | Annual subscription $4,350 per organisation | $4,730 standard fee per new project Additional charges for non-standard access | Minimum charge $600 per request | From $2,310 (assembly of two existing simple MADIP datasets) From $52,910 (new dataset linked to MADIP) From $17,930 (new dataset linked to BLADE) |
Data level of detail | Very detailed | Broad ranges | Very detailed | Customised | Very detailed |
Data output | Aggregate data | Microdata | Microdata | Aggregate data | Microdata and aggregate data |
Output timing | Immediate | Immediate | Output cleared by ABS before release in 1-2 working days | 1-8 weeks | 2-6 months |
Statistical skills required | Intermediate users | All levels | Advanced users | All levels | Advanced users (microdata) |
Platform | Online system | Download to your own environment in SAS, SPSS, Stata or CSV | Online system using R, SAS, Stata, Python | Emailed or securely transferred to you | Access in DataLab (microdata) Emailed or securely transferred to you (aggregate data) |
Prerequisites | Conditions of use | Conditions of use Responsible officer undertaking | Safe researcher training Project and data custodian approval Conditions of use Declarations and undertakings Statistical skills | None | Safe researcher training Project and data custodian approval Conditions of use Declarations and undertakings Statistical skills |
How to get access | Register in Registration Centre Email microdata.access@abs.gov.au to subscribe | Register in Registration Centre Email microdata.access@abs.gov.au to subscribe | Register in Registration Centre Email data.services@abs.gov.au for MADIP and BLADE projects Email microdata.access@abs.gov.au for all other DataLab projects | Consultancy services request | Email data.services@abs.gov.au |
Further help | TableBuilder | MicrodataDownload Responsible use of microdata guide | Consultancy services | Data integration services |
Glossary of terms used in this table
* Further information about costs:
- Costs shown are GST inclusive and indicative. GST is not applicable for some clients.
- The ABS/Universities Australia Agreement provides a range of ABS products and services including microdata to members of participating Australian universities. Students, staff and researchers at participating universities will not be invoiced for TableBuilder and MicrodataDownload, which are fully covered by the agreement. Some DataLab access charges apply but have been subsidised under the agreement.
- Detailed pricing information for each data service:
Geographies in free and charged products
You can compare the levels of geography that are available in each product or system. Most datasets provided by the ABS relate to the whole of Australia, but may also contain geographic data items such as state or territory, as a characteristic of the record of interest. ABS uses the Australian Statistical Geographic Standard (ASGS), which includes both ABS structures (such as Statistical Areas (SA), mesh blocks and remoteness) and non-ABS structures (such as suburb or local government area (LGA)).
Not all datasets within a system have the same geographic variables or level of detail. Check data item lists in Microdata and TableBuilder topics to confirm the geography for the dataset you are interested in.
| Census products | Data by region | Data Explorer | MicrodataDownload | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
State/Territory | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Greater capital city | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Remoteness area | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SA4 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
SA3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
SA2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
SA1 | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Mesh block | ✔ | ||||
Local Government Area (LGA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Suburb | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Postcode | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Socio economic index for Australia (SEIFA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Glossary
Show all
Data output
Data and output can be in either aggregate form (such as tabular data) or microdata (unit records):
- Aggregate data is produced by grouping information into categories and combining values within these categories, for example, a count of the number of people of a particular age (obtained from the question ‘In what year were you born?’). Also referred to as tabular data or macrodata, aggregate data is typically presented in tables.
- Microdata is a dataset of unit records where each record contains information about a person or organisation. This information can include individual responses to questions on surveys, censuses or administrative forms.
Level of detail
Data services are provided in different levels of detail, so it is important to check that the service will meet your needs:
- broad ranges - limited data items may be included, data items may be provided in groups, such as 5 or 10 year age ranges, broad geographies only may be included, such as state/territory and capital city/balance of state
- detailed - more data items may be included, data may be provided in single values, or finer ranges, finer geographies may be included, such as statistical areas, local government areas and suburbs or postcodes
- very detailed - many data items may be included, data may be provided in single values, such as individual income amounts, very fine geographies may be included, such as mesh block level
- customised - finer detail for some data items may be offset by broader detail for other data items, in order to provide you with the level of detail you need for your request
Output timing
Some data services allow you to view your output immediately, and are available for you to use at any time of day. Other services, such as DataLab, you need to wait for an ABS staff member to clear your output before it is provided to you. For data services that are not self-service, such as Information consultancies or Data integration services, the ABS will create your output, and then provide it to you. The creation process can take several weeks or months for complex requests.
Platform
Data services are provided in various forms such as:
- ABS website - you can access datasets or information directly from a web page
- online system - you log into a system from a web page via a user interface, where the system is hosted on a secure server
- API - you use an Application Programming Interface (API) from your environment to access a system using machine to machine interaction
- email or secure transfer - if ABS is providing your output to you, we will let you know how the data will be sent to you
Self-service/ABS provided service
Some data services are available immediately, and can be used at any time of the day. In other cases you may need to contact the ABS first to arrange access, but once you have been approved, the service is usually available 24 hours/7 days. Other services are provided by the ABS, so you will need to specify your needs, then allow time for the ABS to complete the work before you receive your output.
Statistical skills
All ABS data requires some statistical understanding to interpret what the data means:
- all levels - data services that are designed to get you started, or to be used by intermediate or advanced users to complement more complex services
- intermediate - some statistical training or experience needed to use these services, such as TableBuilder
- advanced - you need to have several years of statistical training or experience to use these services, such as DataLab