Australia Introduces Optional Gender, Sexual Orientation Questions in 2026 Census

Australians are being asked about their sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time in the country's 2026 census, with both questions made optional for respondents aged 16 and above. The five-yearly census, conducted on Tuesday, marks a significant change in how Australia collects demographic information and comes after the Labor government reversed an earlier decision to leave the questions out.

The 66-question census offers several options for sexual orientation, including straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, "don't know" and "prefer not to answer". Respondents can also enter another term of their choice. The gender identity question asks whether a person's current gender differs from the one recorded at birth, with options including man, woman, nonbinary, "prefer not to answer" and another term that respondents may specify.

The questions were not always certain to appear in this year's census. In 2024, the government decided against introducing changes to the 2021 census questions, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles saying the administration did not want to trigger divisive debates. However, the decision faced criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and some Labor lawmakers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later confirmed that a sexual orientation question would be included.

Also Read: Delhi-NCR Sustains Clean Air Streak as Rains Continue Nationwide

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which is responsible for framing the census questions, said consultations showed considerable public interest in collecting information on gender and sexual orientation. ABS Chief Statistician David Gruen said making the questions optional recognised that while some people considered the information important, others might not want to disclose it. Religion, another optional question, has been included in Australian censuses since 1911.

Demographer Liz Allen of Australian National University said Australia had lagged behind several comparable countries in collecting such information. Britain included similar questions in its 2021 census, followed by New Zealand in 2023 and Canada in 2026. Allen said the census could go further by asking about intersex people, referring to individuals born with biological sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.

The ABS expects about 85 per cent of Australians to complete the 2026 census online, compared with almost 80 per cent in 2021. Paper forms remain available on request, while field staff are assisting homeless people and residents of remote areas. Australians who fail to comply with a direction to complete the census can face a fine of up to 364 Australian dollars ($257) per day.

Also Read: Colombia Earthquake: 132 Dead, Over 1,600 Buildings Collapse as Toll Rises