| Topic | DataPack CSV included | Table names included |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples | G01, G07 | G01 - Selected person characteristics by sex G07 - Indigenous status by age by sex |
| Australian Defence Force Service | G21, G22 | G21 - Type of long-term health condition by selected person characteristics G22 - Australian Defence Force service by age by sex |
| Cultural Diversity | G01, G08, G09, G10, G11, G12, G13, G14 | G01 - Selected person characteristics by sex G08 - Ancestry by country of birth of parents G09 - Country of birth of person by age by sex G10 - Country of birth of person by year of arrival in Australia G11 - Proficiency in spoken English by year of arrival in Australia by age G12 - Proficiency in spoken English of parents by age of dependent children G13 - Language used at home by proficiency in spoken English by sex G14 - Religious affiliation by sex |
| Demographics | G01, G02, G03, G04 | G01 - Selected person characteristics by sex G02 - Selected medians and averages G03 - Place of usual residence by place of enumeration on Census Night by age G04 - Age by sex |
| Dwelling and Household Characteristics | G02, G27, G33, G34, G35, G36, G37, G41, G42 | G02 - Selected medians and averages G27 - Relationship in household by age by sex G33 - Total household income (weekly) by household composition G34 - Number of motor vehicles by dwellings G35 - Household composition by number of persons usually resident G36 - Dwelling structure G37 - Tenure and landlord type by dwelling structure G41 - Dwelling structure by number of bedrooms G42 - Dwelling structure by household composition and family composition |
| Education and Qualifications | G01, G15, G16 | G01 - Selected person characteristics by sex G15 - Type of education institution attending (full/part-time student status by age) by sex G16 - Highest year of school completed by age by sex |
| Employment and Income | G02, G17 | G02 - Selected medians and averages G17 - Total personal income (weekly) by age by sex |
| Family Characteristics | G02, G29, G30, G31, G32 | G02 - Selected medians and averages G29 - Family composition G30 - Family composition and country of birth of parents by age of dependent children G31 - Family blending G32 - Total family income (weekly) by family composition |
| Health | G19, G20, G21 | G19 - Type of long-term health condition by age by sex G20 - Count of selected long-term health conditions by age by sex G21 - Type of long-term health condition by selected person characteristics |
| Household Income and Housing Costs | G02, G33, G38, G40 | G02 - Selected medians and averages G33 - Total household income (weekly) by household composition G38 - Mortgage repayment (monthly) by dwelling structure G40 - Rent (weekly) by landlord type |
| Need for Assistance | G18 | G18 - Core activity need for assistance by age by sex |
| Relationships and Children | G05, G06, G12, G27, G28 | G05 - Registered marital status by age by sex G06 - Social marital status by age by sex G12 - Proficiency in spoken English of parents by age of dependent children G27 - Relationship in household by age by sex G28 - Number of children ever born |
| Usual Address and Internal Migration | G03 | G03 - Place of usual residence by place of enumeration on Census Night by age |
| Unpaid Work and Care | G23, G24, G25, G26 | G23 - Voluntary work for an organisation or group by age by sex G24 - Unpaid domestic work: number of hours by age by sex G25 - Unpaid assistance to a person with a disability, health condition or due to old age by age by sex G26 - Unpaid child care by age by sex |
GeoPackages
Overview
GeoPackages contain comprehensive data about people, families and dwellings for Census geographical areas ranging from Statistical Areas Level 1 to the whole of Australia. GeoPackages are Census data linked to geographical boundary data from the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) in a database container.
GeoPackages are suitable for experienced Census data users who want Community Profile data for numerous locations and have their own databases or Geographic Information System (GIS) software. GeoPackages do not include software.
What is a GeoPackage
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Description
GeoPackage is an open, non-proprietary, platform-independent and standards-based data format for geographic information system implemented as a database container. Originally designed to meet mobile geospatial needs, it is becoming a preferred means for exchanging geospatial datasets and the associated base maps and layers as a single ready-to-use file.
GeoPackage is based on a technology called SQLite, which is a lightweight, public domain database system. If you know SQLite, then you are most of the way to understanding GeoPackage. Most modern Geographical Information systems and tools (for example: MapInfo, ArcMap, QGIS, FME and others) support GeoPackage, making it a powerful and widely adopted geospatial data interchange format.
Visit the GeoPackage website for information on the specification for GeoPackage and implementations and examples.
Advantages of using GeoPackages
- It is backed by the Open Geospatial Consortium - the international standards organisation for geospatial information and systems.
- It can hold and transport multiple spatial layers as a self-contained, single file container.
- It is based on an open and widely supported database format, allowing SQL querying of the data.
- Data can be added and removed from a GeoPackage.
- The file format is vendor agnostic. QGIS, FME and others are starting to support GeoPackage making it a widely adopted geospatial data interchange format.
How to download a GeoPackage
To access GeoPackages, navigate to the Census homepage, select the ‘Find Census data’ tile, select ‘Census data tools’, and then select ‘GeoPackages’.
Step 1 – Select a Census year
Choose from 2016 or 2021.
Step 2– Select a state, territory, or the whole of Australia
Each GeoPackage includes the following geographies that can be downloaded at either an Australia or State/Territory level.
| ABS Structures | Non-ABS structures |
|---|---|
| Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSA) | Local Government Areas (LGA) |
| Statistical Areas Level 4 (SA4) | Suburbs and Localities (SAL), State Suburbs (SSC) |
| Statistical Areas Level 3 (SA3) | Postal Areas (POA) |
| Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) | Commonwealth Electoral Divisions (CED) |
| Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1) | State Electoral Divisions (SED) |
| Significant Urban Areas (SUA) | |
| Urban Centres and Localities (UCL) | |
| Section of State (SOS) | |
| Section of State Ranges (SOSR) | |
| Remoteness Areas (RA)* |
*Available mid 2023, for more information, see 2021 Census product release guide.
Step 3 – Select a table or topic (topic selection only for 2016)
GeoPackages are based on the General community profile. The General community profile contains Census characteristics on persons, families and dwellings.
For 2016, GeoPackages are downloadable by a General community profile topic. See GeoPackages topics for more information. For 2021, GeoPackages are downloadable by a General community profile table. You can view which tables relate to each topic by selecting 'Topic'.
Step 4 - Select GDA type
Digital boundaries are available in both the Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020) and the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94). GDA2020 was adopted as the new official national datum in 2017 and will be adopted gradually by organisations across Australia. The difference between GDA94 and GDA2020 on the ground is currently about 1.8 metres. Eventually, the ABS will phase out GDA94 boundaries.
For more information about GDA2020, please refer to the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping or Geoscience Australia.
Step 5 - Select a GeoPackage type (for 2016 GeoPackages only)
Some topics can have multiple GeoPackages. It is recommended you read the tables included in each GeoPackage (found beneath the ‘Download GeoPackage’ heading) to ensure you are downloading the correct data for your analysis.
Step 6 – Download GeoPackage
Once you have selected the criteria above, the corresponding GeoPackage will appear underneath the ‘Download GeoPackage’ heading. Each GeoPackage can be downloaded as a ZIP file.
GeoPackage topics
2021 GeoPackage topics
2016 GeoPackage topics
Topic | GeoPackage | DataPack CSV included | Table names included |
|---|---|---|---|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples | ATISP | G01, G07 | G01 – Selected Person Characteristics by Sex G07 – Indigenous Status by Age by Sex |
Children and Childcare | CCA | G12A, G12B, G22A, G22B | G12 – Proficiency in Spoken English/Language of Parents by Age of Dependent Children G22 – Unpaid Child Care by Age by Sex |
CCB | G24, G55A, G55B, G56A, G56B | G24 – Number of Children Ever Born G55 – Total Family Income (weekly) by Labour Force Status of Parents/Partners for Couple Families with Children G56 – Total Family Income (weekly) by Labour Force Status of Parent for Once Parent Families | |
CCC | G44A, G44B, G44C, G44D | G44 – Labour Force Status by Sex of Parents by Age of Dependent Children for Couple Families (part 1)
| |
CCD | G44E, G44F, G45A, G45B | G44 – Labour Force Status by Sex of Parents by Age of Dependent Children for Couple Families (part 2) G45 - Labour Force Status by Sex of Parent by Age of Dependent Children for Once Parent Families | |
Cultural and Language Diversity | CLDA | G01, G07, G08 | G01 - Selected Person Characteristics by Sex G07 – Indigenous Status by Age by Sex G08 – Ancestry by Country of Birth of Parents |
CLDB | G09A, G09B, G09C, G09D | G09 – Country of Birth of Person by Age by Sex (part 1) | |
CLDC | G09E, G09F, G09G, G09H | G09 – Country of Birth of Person by Age by Sex (part 2) | |
CLDD | G10A, G10B, G10C | G10 – Country of Birth of Person by Year of Arrival in Australia | |
CLDE | G11A, G11B, G11C, G11D | G11 – Proficiency in Spoken English/Language by Year of Arrival in Australia by Age | |
CLDF | G12A, G12B | G12 - Proficiency in Spoken English/Language of Parents by Age of Dependent Children | |
CLDG | G13A, G13B, G13C, G13D | G13 – Language Spoken at Home by Proficiency in Spoken English/Language by Sex | |
CLDH | G14, G26 | G14 – Religious Affiliation by Sex G26 – Family Composition and Country of Birth of Parents by Age of Dependent Children | |
Disability, Need for Assistance and Carers | DNAC | G18, G21, G22A, G22B | G18 – Core Activity Need for Assistance by Age by Sex G21 – Unpaid Assistance to a Person with a Disability by Age by Sex G22 – Unpaid Child Care by Age by Sex |
Education and Qualifications | EQA | G15, G16A, G16B, G40, G46A, G46B | G15 – Type of Education Institution Attending (Full/Part-Time Student Status by Age) by Sex G16 – Highest Year of School Completed by Age by Sex G40 – Selected Labour Force, Education and Migration Characteristics by Sex G46 – Non-School Qualification: Level of Education by Age by Sex |
EQB | G47A, G47B, G47C, G48A, G48B, G48C | G47 – Non-School Qualification: Field of Study by Age by Sex G48 – Non-School Qualification: Field of Study by Occupation by Sex | |
EQC | G49A, G49B, G49C, G50A, G50B, G50C | G49 - Non-School Qualification: Level of Education by Occupation by Sex G50 - Non-School Qualification: Level of Education by Industry of Employment by Sex | |
Employment, Income and Unpaid Work | EIUWA | G02, G17A, G17B, G17C | G02 - Selected Medians and Averages G17 - Total Personal Income (weekly) by Age by Sex |
EIUWB | G19, G20A, G20B, G21, G22A, G22B | G19 - Voluntary Work for an Organisation or Group by Age by Sex G20 - Unpaid Domestic Work: Number of Hours by Age by Sex G21 - Unpaid Assistance to a Person with a Disability by Age by Sex G22 - Unpaid Child Care by Age by Sex | |
EIUWC | G40, G43A, G43B | G40 - Selected Labour Force, Education and Migration Characteristics by Sex G43 - Labour Force Status by Age by Sex | |
EIUWD | G44A, G44B, G44C, G44D | G44 - Labour Force Status by Sex of Parents by Age of Dependent Children for Couple Families (part 1) | |
EIUWE | G44E, G44F, G45A, G45B | G44 - Labour Force Status by Sex of Parents by Age of Dependent Children for Couple Families (part 2) G45 - Labour Force Status by Sex of Parent by Age of Dependent Children for One Parent Families | |
EIUWF | G48A, G48B, G48C, G49A, G49B, G49C | G48 - Non-School Qualification: Field of Study by Occupation by Sex G49 - Non-School Qualification: Level of Education by Occupation by Sex | |
EIUWG | G50A, G50B, G50C | G50 - Non-School Qualification: Level of Education by Industry of Employment by Sex | |
EIUWH | G51A, G51B, G51C, G51D | G51 - Industry of Employment by Age by Sex | |
EIUWI | G52A, G52B, G52C, G52D, G53A, G53B | G52 - Industry of Employment by Hours Worked by Sex G53 - Industry of Employment by Occupation | |
EIUWJ | G54A, G54B, G55A, G55B, G56A, G56B | G54 - Total Family Income (weekly) by Labour Force Status of Partners for Couple Families with no Children G55 - Total Family Income (weekly) by Labour Force Status of Parents/Partners for Couple Families with Children G56 - Total Family Income (weekly) by Labour Force Status of Parent for One Parent Families | |
EIUWK | G57A, G57B, G58A, G58B, G59 | G57 - Occupation by Age by Sex G58 - Occupation by Hours Worked by Sex G59 - Method of Travel to Work by Sex | |
Household Income and Housing Costs | HIHC | G02, G28, G29, G34, G35, G36 | G02 - Selected Medians and Averages G28 - Total Family Income (weekly) by Family Composition G29 - Total Household Income (weekly) by Household Composition G34 - Mortgage Repayment (monthly) by Dwelling Structure G35 - Mortgage Repayment (monthly) by Family Composition G36 - Rent (weekly) by Landlord Type |
Selected Dwelling and Household Characteristics | SDHCA | G02, G23A, G23B, G29, G30, G31, G32, G33, G34, G35 | G02 - Selected Medians and Averages G23 - Relationship in Household by Age by Sex G29 - Total Household Income (weekly) by Household Composition G30 - Number of Motor Vehicles by Dwellings G31 - Household Composition by Number of Persons Usually Resident G32 - Dwelling Structure G33 - Tenure and Landlord Type by Dwelling Structure G34 - Mortgage Repayment (monthly) by Dwelling Structure G35 - Mortgage Repayment (monthly) by Family Composition |
SDHCB | G36, G37, G38, G39 | G36 - Rent (weekly) by Landlord Type G37 - Dwelling Internet Connection by Dwelling Structure G38 - Dwelling Structure by Number of Bedrooms G39 - Dwelling Structure by Household Composition and Family Composition | |
Selected Family Characteristics | SFC | G02, G25, G26, G27, G28 | G02 - Selected Medians and Averages G25 - Family Composition G26 - Family Composition and Country of Birth of Parents by Age of Dependent Children G27 - Family Blending G28 - Total Family Income (weekly) by Family Composition |
Selected Person Characteristics | SPCA | G01, G02, G03, G04A, G04B, G05, G06 | G01 - Selected Person Characteristics by Sex G02 - Selected Medians and Averages G03 - Place of Usual Residence on Census Night by Age G04 - Age by Sex G05 - Registered Marital Status by Age by Sex G06 - Social Marital Status by Age by Sex |
SPCB | G23A, G23B, G24 | G23 - Relationship in Household by Age by Sex G24 - Number of Children Ever Born | |
Usual Address and Internal Migration | UAIM | G03, G40, G41, G42 | G03 - Place of Usual Residence on Census Night by Age G40 - Selected Labour Force, Education and Migration Characteristics by Sex G41 - Place of Usual Residence 1 Year Ago by Sex G42 - Place of Usual Residence 5 Years Ago by Sex |
Files contained in a GeoPackage
GeoPackage (GPKG) file
- Census data merged with boundary information
Metadata folder
- Sequential template files (.xlsx) containing the information about the Community Profile template, such as information about the sequential numbers and data labels, the table descriptions and the population that is being counted
- Metadata file (.xlsx) containing information on the table numbers, names, populations and cell descriptor information
- Geography descriptor file (.xlsx) which lists all geographies used in GeoPackages by level, code, label and area
- Additional geography metadata files (.xml)
What you need to use a GeoPackage
- Software for compressed zip files
- Spreadsheet application (such as Excel) for the Metadata files
- Geographic Information System (GIS) software
Additivity of data
Please note that there are small random adjustments made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of respondents. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from the table totals.
Resources
Page last updated on 12 October 2023