Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Detailed information about Census variables, concepts and terms.
Introduction
The Census dictionary provides detailed information about Census variables and concepts, helping data users better understand and interpret Census data.
This initial release of the 2026 Census data dictionary is a preliminary publication that offers a high-level overview of key Census variables. It describes variables that will be collected in the 2026 Census; the associated data will be released from June 2027. Additional releases of the dictionary will be published in the lead-up to the data release.
The main sections included in this release are:
- Variables index - alphabetical list of all variables, with links to the dictionary page.
- Variables by topic - allows users to find variables based on topic group, with links to further details.
Future releases of the 2026 Census data dictionary will include:
- What’s new for 2026 – a summary of changes to classifications, variables and Census questions since 2021, including new variables.
- A comprehensive list of variables in the Census data, including those sourced from administrative data.
- A glossary of terms and definitions to support a broader understanding of the Census and its topics.
For information on variables and concepts from the most recent Census, see the 2021 Census dictionary.
About Census variables
Information collected through Census questions is transformed into data, which is then output as Census variables.
This initial release of the dictionary contains information on:
- Variable definition
- Scope (the population to which the variable applies)
- Categories
- Related Census questions
- How the variable is created
- History and changes
The dictionary will be updated when data is released and will include additional sections on:
- Data use considerations (including non-response rates)
- Related variables and glossary terms
- Useful links