Australia to record sexuality and gender identity in national census for first time

Australia will include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in its 2026 national census for the first time, a development welcomed by LGBTQ+ advocates as a major advance in visibility and evidence-based policymaking.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirmed that the questions will appear in the next population and housing count, scheduled under the Labor government. The change follows years of discussion about how to properly recognise LGBTQ+ communities in official statistics.

People aged 16 and over will be invited to answer the new items, which will be optional. For sexual orientation, respondents will be able to select straight, gay, bisexual, don’t know, prefer not to answer, or write in their own term. Those whose gender differs from their assigned sex at birth will be able to record man, woman, non-binary, prefer not to answer, or another self-described identity, AP News reports.

LGBTQ+ organisations have long argued that high-quality national data is vital for planning services in areas such as healthcare, mental health, education and community support. Census results guide government decisions on funding, service locations and responses to inequality, making inclusion in the dataset a matter of practical rights as well as recognition.

ABS chief statistician David Gruen told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that collecting this information has strong importance for a segment of the population, while acknowledging that some people prefer privacy around questions of sexuality or gender. The optional nature of the questions is intended to balance those perspectives.

The decision comes after years of political and public debate about including identity data, with concerns raised about participation, privacy and social tension. The questions were proposed for the 2024 census but postponed, before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later confirmed they would be incorporated in 2026.

Demographer Liz Allen of the Australian National University told InDaily that the census change carries weight for LGBTQ+ people across the country, signalling that every person in Australia counts in national decision-making. Around 28 million people, including visitors and temporary visa holders, are expected to take part in the census, which is compulsory and carries fines for non-compliance.

As Australia strengthens official recognition of LGBTQ+ communities through data and policy, many individuals and allies also look for workplaces and networks that share these values. Signing up to myGwork offers a way to connect with employers and professionals who actively support LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality in everyday working life.

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