Victoria
Australian Census to Ask About Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
The 2026 national census will feature new questions on sexual orientation and gender identity to assist with health and community planning.
The next Australian census in 2026 will ask respondents about their sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time. The decision to update the national survey, which occurs every five years, is aimed at building a more accurate, inclusive and comprehensive demographic profile of the modern Australian nation.
According to a wire report, the inclusion of these new topics is designed to help policy makers build a clearer picture of Australia's LGBTQ+ population. The collected data will be used directly to support future planning for health and community services across the country, ensuring public resources and programs are distributed where they are most needed.
Advocates have strongly welcomed the announcement, stating that members of the diverse community deserve to be officially counted. Previously, the national census did not capture detailed information on sexual orientation or gender identity. Supporters of the change argued this omission left a significant gap in the national database used by governments, non-profit organisations, and local service providers to allocate essential funding and develop targeted support programs.
While the broad decision to include these new topics in the upcoming survey has been confirmed, the precise wording of the new questions and the exact format they will take in the 2026 census forms have not yet been finalised. Government statistical agencies are expected to conduct further consultation with community organisations to refine the questions, ensuring they are respectful, clear, and capable of generating highly accurate data from respondents.
Watch for the release of the draft census questions and guidelines as government statisticians prepare for the rollout of the 2026 national survey.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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