Upcoming population revisions
Changes to the official population number for your area around the release of Census data can cause confusion. Here is how it will change, why, and when.
March 2026 · Out now
ERP at 30 June 2025
The figure showing on your Community Profile today. A calculation based on the 2021 Census plus four years.
2021 Census-based11 August 2026
Census night
The Census is taken. Your published population number does not change.
Today
March 2027
ERP at 30 June 2026
The usual annual update. A calculation based on the 2021 Census plus five years. It does not use the 2026 Census at all.
2021 Census-basedMid 2027
2026 Census counts
Usual residence counts from the 2026 Census. These are Census counts, not the official population.
2026 Census countsAround July 2027
Rebased ERP at 30 June 2026
The second version of the same date, now calculated from the 2026 Census. This is the one to plan around.
2026 Census-basedAround July 2027
ERP for 2022 to 2025 rebased
Figures for 2022 to 2025 are also rebased in the same release, so recent trends in your historical population data may change.
2026 Census-basedMarch 2028
ERP at 30 June 2027
The normal annual cycle resumes, now calculated from the 2026 Census.
2026 Census-basedDuring 2028
Final figures for 2022 to 2026
Minor tweaks, after which these years never change again.
2026 Census-basedLocal Government Area and SA2 figures are published around the end of March each year, for the previous 30 June. Dates from March 2027 are the expected ABS schedule and may shift. Source: ABS Regional Population.