Census of Population and Housing | ||
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![]() ABS House, the headquarters for the Australian Bureau of Statistics | ||
General information | ||
Country | Australia | |
Website | census | |
Results | ||
Total population | 25,956,142 | |
Most populous | New South Wales (8,095,400) | |
Least populous | Jervis Bay Territory (313) |
The Census in Australia, officially the Census of Population and Housing, is the national census in Australia that occurs every five years.[1] The census collects key demographic, social and economic data from all people in Australia on census night, including overseas visitors and residents of Australian external territories, only excluding foreign diplomats.[2] The census is the largest and most significant statistical event in Australia and is run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).[3] Every person must complete the census, although some personal questions are not compulsory.[4] The penalty for failing to complete the census after being directed to by the Australian Statistician is one federal penalty unit, or A$220.[5] The Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 and Census and Statistics Act 1905 authorise the ABS to collect, store, and share anonymised data.[6]
The first Australian census was held on 2 April 1911,[7] but census data had been previously collected by individual states.
The most recent census was held on 10 August 2021, with the data planned to be released starting from mid-2022.[8] The next census will be held in early August 2026.