Australia Counts LGBTQ+ Citizens in Census for First Time

For the first time in Australian history, Roxie Swart can answer census questions that reflect who they truly are.

Australia's 2026 census now includes optional questions about gender identity and sexual orientation for everyone aged 16 and over. The change means transgender and non-binary Australians like Swart, a Canberra resident, will finally be counted in official population data.

"Trans people have always been here," Swart said. "We deserve to be counted as part of society."

The new questions ask "What is the person's gender?" and "How does the person describe their sexual orientation?" More than 28 million Australians across 10 million households will participate in this year's census.

For LGBTQ+ advocates who fought for years to make this happen, the moment carries deep meaning. Heather Corkhill, legal director of Equality Australia, called it powerful.

"For some, there was a real sense of discrimination and exclusion," Corkhill said. Now that's changing.

The Ripple Effect

The new questions go beyond symbolism to address real gaps in care and resources. Without accurate population data, LGBTQ+ Australians have faced invisible barriers to healthcare, housing assistance, and community support.

"We see gaps in access to healthcare, health disparities, poverty levels, housing and homelessness disparities," Corkhill explained. "But what we don't have is a full picture across Australia, and that's what we will definitely get through this census."

The updated census also includes better language for rainbow families. Corkhill previously had to list a father for her daughter despite having two mothers, a frustrating experience now resolved.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics considered adding a question about intersex status but decided to wait after testing showed people didn't understand the terminology well enough. Equality Australia is committed to working with intersex communities to ensure they're included in the next survey.

The census expanded in other inclusive ways too. Australians can now report up to four ancestries instead of two, better reflecting multicultural families. Australian National University demographer Liz Allen called it "the most progressive census we've had yet in Australia."

Swart summed up what the change means for everyday life: "It's disappointing when you have to fill in forms that don't capture who you are."

Not anymore.