Australia adds optional gender identity, sexual orientation questions to census
Australia has introduced optional questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in its 2026 census for the first time. The decision follows a government reversal after initial concerns about social divisiveness and pressure from LGBTQ+ advocates.
Why it matters
The inclusion of these questions marks a significant shift in national data collection, aligning Australia with other nations like the UK and Canada in recognizing diverse gender and sexual identities in official demographics.
Australians for the first time can reveal their sexual orientation and whether they identify as a different gender than the one recorded at birth — contentious debut questions in the latest census that occurs every five years.
The 66-question census, held on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) is the first under a center-left Labor Party government since 2011. The current Labor government backflipped to allow the questions after having dropped them temporarily two years ago as “divisive.” Both questions are open to members of households 16 years and older.
The answer options for sexual orientation are straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, don't know, prefer not to answer or a term of the respondent's choice that can be written in a designated blank space.
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