ACON: The 2026 Census: How LGBTQ+ People Will Be Counted
Michael Barnett OAM
13-07-2026 - 09:57 AMThe 2026 Census: How LGBTQ+ People Will Be Counted
This year’s Census is a historic milestone. For the first time, Australians aged 16 and over will be asked about their sexual orientation and gender identity, marking a significant moment in the recognition of LGBTQ+ communities in national statistics.
This change came after years of advocacy from LGBTQ+ organisations who argued that access to this data would have an enormous impact on improving social cohesion and the health outcomes of LGBTQ+ communities.
What Are the New Questions?
There are three questions relevant to LGBTQ+ communities in the 2026 Census:
NEW QUESTION: Sexual orientation
The Census will ask ‘How does the person describe their sexual orientation?’ Categories include straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, and another term. You can also select “prefer not to answer”. There are checkboxes for common terms, but there is also a free-text box where you can write your own term.
NEW QUESTION: Gender identity
The Census will ask ‘What is the person’s gender?’ Options include man, woman, non-binary, or another term. You can also select “prefer not to answer.”
This is where trans and gender diverse people will be counted. If you’re trans, you will be counted if your answer to the gender question is different from your answer to the sex recorded at birth question, or you use a trans-related term to answer the gender question.
UPDATED QUESTION: Sex recorded at birth
This is an update to the existing ‘sex’ question, which now asks about your ‘sex recorded at birth’, which is separate from your gender identity. If you are not comfortable answering this question, you can select ‘another term’.
Is My Information Private?
Yes – all personal information provided in the Census is confidential. The ABS is legally required to keep your data secure under the Privacy Act and the secrecy provisions of the Census and Statistics Act. This means that they won’t release personal information in a way that is likely to identify an individual.
How were these new questions developed?
The updated questions were developed in line with the ABS’s 2020 Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation. Their design was shaped through extensive public consultation and engagement with community stakeholders, including advice from an ABS LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee, and refined through iterative field and cognitive testing across diverse population groups and regions to ensure clarity, acceptability and data quality.
Why Does This Matter?
LGBTQ+ people and their families will finally be included in national statistics, helping to reduce misrepresentation and data gaps. This information will be used to support policy development and improve services, and to make sure funding goes where it’s needed most, both at the local and national level.
Being counted helps paint a clearer picture of the Australian population – who we are, and how we’re changing. The more people who answer, the stronger the picture.
The 2026 Census is happening on Tuesday 11 August 2026. Results including LGBTQ+ data are expected to be released from mid-2027. For more information visit abs.gov.au/census.