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Everything you need to know about the 2026 Census
Once every five years, the Census gives Australia something no other dataset can: a complete, local-level picture of who we are, how our communities are changing, and what they'll need next.
It's one of the most valuable resources we have for making Informed Decisions when planning services, allocating scarce resources and advocating for the needs of our community.
This page has everything you need to use the rich insights from the 2026 Census with confidence.
11 August
The Census is collected on August 11th 2026
Mid 2027
The ABS releases data in stages, not all at once, with the first results expected around June 2027.
Geography matters
The 2026 data uses updated ASGS geographic boundaries, which affects how areas compare over time.
We're independent experts (not the ABS)
Informed Decisions is independent of the ABS. We turn the results into local area profiles and forecasts communities use to plan and advocate for services and infrastructure.
Key dates and releases
Tips and analysis from our experts
For over 30 years we've helped people uncover the stories that really matter about how our communities are changing, and help them present those stories with confidence. Our lead demographer, Glenn Capuano, spent 10 years at the Australian Bureau of Statistics before joining Informed Decisions, and personally answers many of the Census questions on this page.
Glenn Capuano
Lead Demographer – Customer Success and Support
Jacquie Norton
Senior Social Researcher
Rob Hall
Chief Economist
Crystal McDonald
Housing Expert – Customer Success and Support
Daniel Evans
Head of Customer and Commercial (Government)
Nenad Petrovic
Head of Consulting
Oliver Bowering
Senior Forecast Consultant
Johnny Barnard
Principal Consultant
Got a question about the 2026 Census? Put it to our experts.
For 30 years, our experts have helped people use Census data with confidence.
So ask us anything. Add as many questions as you like, and we’ll put them to our team and send you the answers.
We’ll share the answers publicly too, so anyone else wondering the same thing can find them.
Frequently asked questions
Using the data
What's new in 2026
Getting the data
Methodology
Place-specific questions
Beyond the Census
See the full story of your place
The Census is one part of the picture. We use it alongside our curated and proprietary datasets on community views, economic data, housing and development to help you understand your place in full and tell its story with confidence.
2026 CENSUS UPDATES
Get notified when new Census data drops
The 2026 Census will be released in stages. Subscribe and we’ll let you know the moment each new dataset lands, and when it’s live in Informed Decisions tools.