Overview of the 2026 Census topic review

The ABS has published outcomes of the 2026 Census topic review.

You can subscribe to receive updates about the 2026 Census at www.subscribe.abs.gov.au/2026Census.

Overview

The Census of Population and Housing provides a snapshot of Australia. It shows how our nation changes over time, helps estimate our population and informs critical decisions that guide our future. The 2021 Census collected data on a range of topics. The next Census will take place in 2026.

A successful Census relies on strong community support. This support is achieved through collecting data of national importance while also ensuring the Census is easy to complete and not seen as being too intrusive.

The topics that can be collected in the Census are specified in the Census and Statistics Regulation 2016 (the Regulation). The Australian Government makes the decision on what topics are included in the Regulation. The ABS has the authority to determine the wording of the questions for the topics in the Census.

Prior to every Census, the ABS undertakes a review which identifies where the Census can meet additional data needs, improve alignment with other national datasets, and improve the respondent experience by being more inclusive and reducing the burden on people when completing the form.

The review includes extensive public consultation, stakeholder engagement and testing and informs a recommendation to the Government on the topics for the next Census.

Changes to content for the 2026 Census

In mid-2024, the ABS made a recommendation to the Australian Government on the topics for the 2026 Census. This was based on the outcomes of consultation, engagement and testing undertaken as part of the 2026 Census topic review. The Government decided to include a new topic of ‘sexual orientation and gender’ in the 2026 Census, for people aged 16 years and older. The Government also accepted the ABS recommendation to return the Number of children ever born topic to a decennial collection and be removed from the 2026 Census.

Following the Government decision on the 2026 Census topics, an amendment to the Regulation was tabled in both houses of the Australian Parliament in November 2024. The ABS will implement the topic changes once this process is complete.

The ABS will make changes to the questions for 10 existing topics in the 2026 Census. 

Changes to content for the 2026 Census(a)
Theme	Topic	Changes for 2026 Census(b)
Cultural diversity	Ancestry	Increase the number of ancestries collected from two to four to better reflect cultural diversity.
	Country of birth of parents	Update the question design to be more inclusive.(c)
	Religious affiliation	Change the instructional text to support accurate data collection and reflect changes to the classification. The question wording and a pick list will be used for the 2026 Census as they were for the 2021 Census.
Health	Long-term health conditions	Include ‘liver disease’ to collect a wider range of long-term health conditions.
Household and families	Household and family relationships	Introduce non-gendered terms to be more inclusive.
Household and families	Persons temporarily absent on Census night	Update the question on sex to collect ‘sex recorded at birth’. (d)
Income, work and service with the Australian Defence Force	Industry of employment	Update the question wording to improve alignment with the Labour Force Survey.
Income, work and service with the Australian Defence Force	Labour force status	Update response categories to improve alignment with the Labour Force Survey.
Population	Number of children ever born	Topic to return to a decennial collection and be removed from the 2026 Census.(e)
	Sex	Update to the question wording to specifically collect ‘sex recorded at birth’ and update response categories to improve data quality.(d)
	Sexual orientation and gender	New topic to be collected for people aged 16 years and over.(e)
Transport	Mode of travel to work	Update response categories to include ‘Bicycle (including e-bike)’ to include more contemporary modes of travel.

Excludes changes to ordering and sequencing of questions, and minor changes that occur every Census to instructional or explanatory text for existing questions on the form (including the supplementary questions on the online form that are used to improve coding of Industry and Occupation topics).
Further information on changes considered, including feedback received through the phase one and two consultations, is available in 2026 Census topic review: Phase one directions and 2026 Census topic review: Phase two directions.
Variations in the question design will be required between the paper and web-based forms due to the functionality available in the online form but not on the paper form.
Changes to the question on sex, to collect 'sex recorded at birth', are required to differentiate it from the separate question on gender. The ABS will determine the question design on sex once the process to amend the Census and Statistics Regulation 2016, to include the topic of sexual orientation and gender, is complete.

2026 Census topic review timeline

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Description

This diagram shows the timeline of the 2026 Census topic review.

Phase one of public consultation was open from 28 February 2023 to 28 April 2023. The ABS asked about information needs not currently met by the ABS. Phase two consultation was open from 27 July 2023 to 8 September 2023. During this phase, the ABS prioritised information needs and asked for feedback on proposed changes to Census topics.

In late 2023, consultation outcomes were published and shared on the ABS website, including the Census topics progressing to testing.

From late 2023 until mid 2024 the ABS began testing Census topics to inform recommendations to the Government.

In mid 2024, the ABS recommend 2026 Census topics to the Australian Government for decision. Following Government decision, changes to topics were tabled in Parliament and will be considered final after 15 sitting days. This process is due for completion in mid-2025. The ABS will continue testing activities in 2025 to decide on the final question design. All changes to Census content will be included in a large-scale test in August 2025.

The final questions for the 2026 Census will be published on the ABS website in late 2025.

Assessing topics

The ABS considered requests for new or changed topics for the Census against a set of criteria. The topics collected in the previous Census were also reviewed against the same criteria. These criteria have been informed by the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses.

The first step in this process was to assess the public value of collecting data on the topic. To do this the ABS considered consultation feedback and whether: 

The topic is of current national importance.
There is a need for data at the national level, and either the local level or for small population groups.
There is likely to be a continuing need for data on the topic following the Census.

The ABS further assessed topics that rated strongly against the public value criteria. This assessment helped to determine if the Census is the most appropriate way to provide data on the topic. The criterion considered were:

There are no other suitable alternative data sources or solutions that could meet the topic need.
Data on the topic can be collected efficiently.
A representative of the household would be willing and able to answer questions on the topic for each member of the household.

In addition to assessing the topics individually, the ABS considered if the combination of topics would maintain a high level of public support for the Census. This included the overall size and complexity of the Census form, and if collecting data on a topic would impact how the public answers questions on other topics.

See the detailed assessment criteria for our considerations for each criterion. 

Consultation and engagement

The ABS undertook a two-phase public consultation process to identify the topics with the strongest public value for inclusion in the 2026 Census:

Phase one: 28 February to 28 April 2023 – asked for submissions on what information the public would like the ABS to collect on the Census.
Phase two: 27 July to 8 September 2023 - consulted on topics identified during phase one consultation for inclusion, change or removal from the 2026 Census.

Phase one

Phase two

Development and Testing

The testing of content is an important step in the 2026 Census topic review process. It helps the ABS determine whether high quality data on a topic can be collected in the Census.

Testing is designed to inform: 

The ABS recommendation to the Australian Government on topics for inclusion in the 2026 Census.
The ABS decisions on the questions that will be on the 2026 Census form. 
Communication, engagement and support materials to assist the public in completing the 2026 Census.

The ABS commenced testing potential content changes for the 2026 Census in late 2023.Testing has been undertaken with a range of population groups, across different geographical areas. The testing program included focus groups, short web surveys and interviews. The ABS also investigated motivators and barriers to Census completion, including the level of understanding and support for selected potential content changes.

The ABS has engaged extensively with the community throughout development and testing to help inform testing approaches.

Further information on testing activities is available in 2026 Census topic review: Update on process (September 2024).

Subscribe for updates

You can subscribe to receive updates about the 2026 Census at  www.subscribe.abs.gov.au/2026Census.

Resources

2026 Census topic consultation resources are available to download. 

The ABS has published the following additional information on the 2026 Census topic review process:  