Clarification - reports published regarding ancestry and ethnicity questions and the 2026 Census
Released: 06/05/2024
The Census provides a rich and detailed picture of the ethnic and cultural diversity of Australian society. This picture is created using a multi-dimensional approach, with the ABS asking questions on 9 topics relating to ethnicity and cultural diversity. For each person, the Census collects information on:
- Country of birth
- The country of birth of their parents
- Religion
- Whether they are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin
- Whether they use a language other than English at home (and if so, which language they speak)
- English language proficiency (for those who use a language other than English at home)
- Ancestry
- Australian citizenship
- Year of arrival in Australia (if born overseas).
The ABS has conducted a significant public consultation and testing program for the 2026 Census. Based on this program, the ABS plans to recommend that all topics on ethnic and cultural diversity asked in the 2021 Census (listed above) are included again in the 2026 Census. The ABS is also testing an expansion of the ancestry question to collect up to four ancestries for each person. This will better reflect the increasingly diverse backgrounds of many Australians.
The ABS has not asked a question about ethnic identity data in previous Censuses, contrary to recent inaccurate reporting.
The ABS did test the inclusion of an additional question on ‘ethnic identity’ for the 2026 Census but found that the inclusion of an ‘ethnic identity’ question alongside an ancestry question created confusion. Multiple concepts around ethnic identity were tested, including “ethnic group/s”, “cultural background”, “ethnic and cultural heritage” and “the culture you belong to”.
Testing found the public is unlikely to have a consistent understanding of what ethnic identity is, or to have consistent views on the difference between ethnic identity and ancestry. The ABS has decided to prioritise the expansion of the ancestry topic rather than to recommend the introduction of a question on ethnic identity.
Further information on the topic review process can be found in 2026 Census topic review: Phase two directions.
Information from the 2021 Census on Australia’s Cultural Diversity is showcased in Cultural diversity: Census, 2021.