2021 Australian census

2021 Australian census
Name	2021 Australian census
Country	Australia
Date	10 August 2021
Population	25,422,788
Percent change	+8.6%
Region type	State/Territory
Most populous	New South Wales
Least populous	Jervis Bay Territory
Previous census	2016 Australian census
Next census	2026 Australian census

2021 Australian census. The eighteenth national population census was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 10 August 2021. It recorded a resident population of 25,422,788, an increase from the 2016 Australian census. The data provides a detailed snapshot of the nation's people, informing critical decisions for government, business, and community services across States and territories of Australia.

Background and purpose

The census is mandated by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 and occurs every five years. Planning for this iteration was overseen by the Australian Bureau of Statistics under the leadership of the Australian Statistician. Its core purpose is to count every person and household in Australia, including external territories like Norfolk Island. The collected data is essential for determining the distribution of electoral divisions and guiding funding for essential services such as those provided by Medicare, Centrelink, and state-level departments. The information also supports major infrastructure projects and policy development by entities like the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Data collection and methodology

For the first time, the primary mode of collection was digital, with approximately 78% of households submitting their forms online via the Census Digital Service. Paper forms remained available upon request. The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted an extensive advertising campaign featuring personalities like Danny Katz to promote participation. Field operations involved a temporary workforce deployed across all States and territories of Australia, from Sydney to Perth. The methodology included post-census surveys to measure coverage and adjustments for individuals in remote Indigenous communities, following protocols developed with organizations like the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

Key findings and demographics

The census counted 25,422,788 people, with New South Wales remaining the most populous state. Melbourne narrowly remained the second-largest city after Sydney. The data revealed increasing diversity, with over 27.6% of the population born overseas, with significant increases in arrivals from India and Nepal. For the first time, the number of people identifying with ancestries from Asia exceeded those from Europe. The religious question saw "No religion" become the most common response at 38.9%, while Islam and Hinduism showed substantial growth. The count of people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders increased to 812,728.

Changes from previous censuses

New questions were introduced on long-term health conditions and Australian Defence Force service. The ancestry question was expanded, and the sex question was updated with new non-binary response options, a change following advocacy from groups like Equality Australia. The online collection system was significantly enhanced following technical difficulties experienced during the 2016 Australian census. The processing of data incorporated more advanced techniques from Data Science to improve accuracy and timeliness. Questions on topics like Korean ancestry provided more granular data on specific communities.

Release and availability of data

The first data release occurred on 28 June 2022, providing key population counts for States and territories of Australia. More detailed datasets on topics like income, employment, and education were progressively released through the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. Data was made available in various formats, including through tools like TableBuilder and DataLab, used by researchers at institutions like the Australian National University. Customised data packs were also supplied to local governments, such as the City of Melbourne, and organisations like the Brotherhood of St Laurence for community planning.

Response and controversies

The overall response rate was high, though some areas, including parts of South Western Sydney, reported lower compliance. A significant controversy involved the decision by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to retain names and addresses for four years longer than previous cycles, for linkage with other datasets like the Multi-Agency Data Integration Project. This raised concerns from privacy advocates including the Australian Privacy Foundation. Some community leaders, such as those within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, criticised the declining religious affiliation figures. The census night coincided with lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, which presented unique operational challenges for field staff.

Category:Censuses in Australia Category:2021 in Australia Category:2021 censuses