Usual address five years ago indicator (UAI5P)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Cite
Reference period
2026

Definition

This variable shows whether a person: 

  • lived at the same address five years ago as their current usual home 
  • lived somewhere else in Australia five years ago 
  • usually lived in another country five years ago

When combined with the usual address Census night indicator (UAICP), usual address one year ago indicator (UAI1P), and place of usual residence (PURP) data, this variable helps to show migration patterns. 

Scope

All persons aged five years and over 

Categories

CodeCategory
1 Same as in 2026 
2 Elsewhere in Australia 
3 Overseas in 2021 
& Not stated 
@ Not applicable 
V Overseas visitor 2026 

Not applicable (@) category comprises:  

  • persons aged under five years 

 See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.  

Question(s) from the Census form

Where did the person usually live five years ago (at 11 August 2021)?

How this variable is created

This is derived from the Census question, 'Where did the person usually live five years ago (at 11 August 2021)?' Responses are captured automatically from the mark boxes on the form. 

If the mark boxes are left blank but an address is provided, UAI5P is derived from the reported address. If neither the indicator nor the address is provided, the response is coded as ‘Not stated’. 

If a person aged under 20 years (that is, aged under 15 five years earlier) does not answer this question but has a parent who does, their UAI5P is set to match that of their parent. 

History and changes

The question relating to usual address five years ago was first asked in the 1971 Census and has been asked at every Census since then.  

In 2026, the years in the category labels were updated.