2026 Census

2026 Census — Be Counted, Be Heard
📅 Tuesday, 11 August 2026

Your community, your say
Every five years, communities across Australia come together for the Census — a chance for every household, family and neighbourhood to be seen and heard. It’s more than a form: it’s how your local area gets the schools, hospitals, roads and services it needs.
When your community responds, decisions get made with your community in mind. Census data shapes funding for local playgroups, aged care, public transport, housing and more — the everyday things that make a place work for the people in it.

Mark it on your calendar: Tuesday 11 August 2026

Everyone counts — literally
On Census night, every person staying in your home needs to be included on the form.

What the Census asks
Questions cover age, country of birth, cultural background, living situation, work and education. New for 2026: questions on gender and sexual orientation for people aged 16 and over.

How you take part
From late July 2026, households will start receiving instructions in the mail. Know where you’ll be on the night? You can complete your form as soon as it arrives — no need to wait.
Completing the Census is compulsory, but more than that, it’s a shared moment where every household adds its voice to the bigger picture of who we are as a community and a country.

Learn more: info.census.abs.gov.au