Australia’s 2026 Census receives nearly 10.5 million household forms

The ABS says the Census is on track for a national response rate above 95 per cent. Online completion is expected to exceed the forecast of 85 per cent. The first data release and final response rate are scheduled for June 2027.

issue.red Published 15 Oct 2026, 03:20 1 min read

Editorial collage on Australia’s Census with an archival Sydney city photograph — Editorial collage with an archival Sydney photograph by Bernard Spragg, dated 18 June 2004 in its EXIF metadata, CC0. The photograph does not show the 2026 Census.

Australia’s 2026 Census has received close to 10.5 million household forms, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on 14 October. The ABS expects a national response rate above 95 per cent, but the final rate will be published with the first data release.

Record digital participation expected

Most households completed their forms online, while paper forms remained important for others. The ABS says online completion is on track to exceed its forecast of 85 per cent. These figures concern participation and collection methods; they are not a new population total.

Results begin in June 2027

Processing and quality assurance are already under way. The first release is scheduled for June 2027, followed by a second release covering topics including employment in October 2027. Remaining information is expected in early 2028. The ABS says independent experts will review the data before release.

Original source

ABS: collection update and release timetable.

Archive photograph: Bernard Spragg, EXIF date 18 June 2004, photo source, CC0. Sydney provides a locality illustration; it is not a photograph of Census collection.

Sources

Australians come together to complete the 2026 Census — Australian Bureau of Statistics