Using the ASGS

The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) is a classification of Australia into a hierarchy of statistical areas. It is a social geography, developed to reflect the location of people and communities. The ASGS allows for the analysis and visualisation of statistics based on location.

Most ABS data and statistics below the state and territory level are released with an ASGS code. ASGS codes make it easy to find where ABS data is related to. If you know the name or the ASGS code for the location you are interested in, you can access ABS data in several ways including through publications, tables, maps and geospatial web services.

When selecting an ASGS geography, consider both the type of information you need and the size of the area you want represented. For example, you may want information about a suburb, a city, or a state or territory, and should select an ASGS boundary type which covers the location. To view the different ASGS boundary types, visit ABS Maps.

You may also want to integrate data from other sources with ABS data or use ABS data when analysing other geographic boundaries. This section provides guidance on the various ways to access ABS data.

Use of the ASGS for administrative, operational, or other non-statistical purposes should be carefully considered to ensure it is appropriate and fit for purpose.

Before using an ASGS geography, the purpose, design criteria, and update frequency should be carefully considered. ABS Maps can be used to compare these geographies visually.

Most ABS location-based data is coded to the ASGS and is released on the most suitable ASGS geography. It is often also available at higher levels of the ASGS. The table below includes some examples.

Most ABS publications below the state and territory level include an ASGS code which can be downloaded directly from the publication. This is the most straightforward option if no mapping or geospatial analysis is needed.

For data on a specific ASGS geography, for example, a particular SA2, detailed economic and social data can be viewed and downloaded from Data by region.

Census of Population and Housing data is available for all ASGS geographies with some limitations. For example, the data available at the Mesh Block level is limited to population and dwelling counts due to confidentiality restrictions. Census of Population and Housing data is also available for many geographies via Search Census Data. Most population statistics are available by SA2. Some data sources are only available for larger areas such as labour statistics, which are released by SA4.

Data generally cannot be transformed to smaller areas than the original reported geography. When transformation is applied, data quality can be impacted. Smaller area data may be available via microdata releases.

You can also view and geospatially analyse ABS data through a Geographic Information System (GIS). To do this you will need to separately download the ABS data you are interested in and the relevant ASGS boundaries, and then join the files within the GIS.

To bring ABS data directly into custom systems, you can use an Application Programming Interface (API), for example, the ABS Data Explorer or ABS Indicator API. See the Geospatial Web Services section of this publication for information on accessing ASGS boundaries as geospatial web services. 

There are many other ways to access ABS data coded to the ASGS. See Compare Data Services for a full listing of available services and the geographies included, and information on how to access these services.

The ASGS includes several different geographies that represent urban areas. Each geography is designed for different statistical purposes using different design criteria. ASGS approximations of cities and towns may differ from official or commonly applied boundaries. Before using an ASGS geography, the purpose, design criteria, and update frequency should be carefully considered. ABS Maps can be used to visually compare different geographies.

Metropolitan and non-Metropolitan

The ABS does not explicitly define metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, however the ASGS provides options for statistics on this basis. Refer to the Urban area geographies table (above) for more information.

Towns

The ABS does not explicitly define towns. However, the ABS approximates urban centres and localities with populations of over 200 people in the Urban Centres and Localities (UCL) geography.

There are many small towns with populations of less than 200 people that are not included within UCLs. These small towns and other urban areas are represented by officially recognised localities. The ABS provides Census data through Mesh Block approximated Suburbs and Localities (SAL) within the ASGS Non ABS Structures.

Data collected outside the ABS that includes geographic information can be linked with ABS data using the ASGS. Depending on the data type and the level of geographic information, non ABS data can be linked to the ASGS using point-in-polygon allocations, geocoding, allocation tables, or correspondences.

Data can be converted between ASGS editions using a variety of methods depending on the input geography information. For example, aggregated ABS data on 2021 SA2s can be converted to 2026 SA2s using a correspondence.

The table below provides a guide on transformation processes and the resulting level of accuracy from each.

The ABS recommends using methods such as point-in-polygon allocations and geocoding as the preferred methods of allocating data to the ASGS, however this is not always possible. Correspondences are a common method of transforming data but should only be used when a more accurate data transformation option isn't available, as this method is the least accurate in terms of moving data between geographies. Correspondences mathematically convert aggregated statistical data to and from different geographies.

To support the use of the ASGS, the ABS approximates some common geographies like postcodes and suburbs by building them from Mesh Blocks. This allows data to be compared in a consistent way.

For aggregated data with non-ASGS geographies (for example, school catchments), a custom correspondence would be needed. Please note these are not regularly provided by the ABS and must be arranged through statistical consultancies. Some non-ASGS geographies may be supported in TableBuilder due to ABS subject matter area requirements.

When producing or using data on the ASGS, the ASGS edition should be specified. This is because geographic boundaries can change between ASGS editions, affecting the comparability and interpretation of statistics. For more information about the structure and release schedule of the ASGS, refer to the Overview section of this publication.

When referencing the ASGS, ensure that the correct edition is used when referring to the geographical standard or structures. For example,

• ‘Australian Statistical Geography Standard Edition 4, Main Structure’ or
• ‘Main Structure, Australian Statistical Geography Standard Edition 4’.

You can also reference the ASGS by the geography with the standard. For example,

• ‘ASGS Edition 4, Significant Urban Areas 2026’.

When referencing a particular geography in the ASGS, it should use the geography and year as some Non ABS Structures can be released annually. It is therefore important to include the year to be clear what release the data is on.