Australia's 2026 Census Tracks Above 95 Percent Response, ABS Says
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports close to 10.5 million household forms received and expects a national response rate above 95 percent.
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Australia's 2026 Census is on track for a national response rate above 95 percent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said, with close to 10.5 million household forms received and the highest online completion rate of any Australian Census.
- The ABS said it received close to 10.5 million Census household forms.
- The 2026 Census is forecast to exceed 95 percent national response, against 96.1 percent in 2021.
- Online completion is expected to exceed the ABS forecast of 85 percent, the highest for an Australian Census.
Response and online uptake
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the 2026 Census is on track for a national response rate above 95 percent, with close to 10.5 million household forms received. The agency compared this with 96.1 percent in 2021, a Census conducted during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Most households completed the Census online, and the ABS said the 2026 round is on track to exceed its forecast of 85 percent online completion, the highest of any Australian Census. Paper forms remained an option. Census General Manager Jenny Telford said more than three-quarters of submitted forms arrived on or before Census night, letting staff focus support on households that needed it.
Contact centre and data release
The ABS said participating was smooth for most people, and that its website and chatbot helped the Contact Centre handle about 455,000 calls and emails, fewer than in 2021 and 2016. Since late July, staff have been processing and quality assuring data.
Release will be phased. The first release, scheduled for June 2027, covers most topics including the new topic of sexual orientation and gender, and will include the final response rate. A second release in October 2027 covers a smaller set of topics including employment, with remaining data in early 2028. The ABS said data will undergo formal clearance, including review by independent experts.
When is the 2026 Census data scheduled for release?
The ABS scheduled the first release for June 2027, covering most topics including sexual orientation and gender and the final response rate. A second release in October 2027 covers employment; remaining data follows in early 2028.
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