2021 Australian census

Last updated

2021 Census
←  2016 10 August 2021 (2021-08-10)2026 →
General information
Country Australia
Topics
Census topics
  • Location
  • Sex and gender
  • Households and families
  • Indigenous Australians
  • Income and work
  • Unpaid work and care
  • Education and training
  • Disability and carers
  • Cultural diversity
  • Religion
Trial census27 October 2020
Authority Australian Bureau of Statistics
Website census.abs.gov.au
Results
Total population25,422,788 (Increase2.svg 8.6%)
Most populous ​state or territory New South Wales
Least populous ​state or territory Jervis Bay Territory

The 2021 Australian census, simply called the 2021 Census, was the eighteenth national Census of Population and Housing in Australia. The 2021 Census took place on 10 August 2021, and was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). [1] [2] It had a response rate of 96.1%, up from the 95.1% at the 2016 census. [3] The total population of the Commonwealth of Australia was counted as 25,422,788, an increase of 8.6 per cent or 2,020,896 people over the previous 2016 census. [4]

Contents

Results from the 2021 census were released to the public on 28 June 2022 from the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. A small amount of additional 2021 census data was released in October 2022 and in 2023. [5] Australia's next census is scheduled to take place in 2026.

The census was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic. It therefore provided a clear snapshot of how the pandemic impacted Australian society. [6]

Overview

In Australia, completing the census is compulsory for all people in Australia on census night, only excluding foreign diplomats and their families. [7] Census data is used to "help governments, businesses, not-for-profit and community organisations across the country make informed decisions", including helping governments to plan the provision of services. [2] [ better source needed ] An independent report from Lateral Economics found that for every $1 of investment on the census, $6 of benefits are created in the Australian economy. [8]

Since the 2001 Census, all households have the option of allowing their census data, including personal information such as names and addresses, to be stored by the National Archives of Australia (NAA) for 99 years. 99 years after Census Night, the NAA will release that data to the public in a Census Time Capsule. Censuses stored by the NAA cannot by accessed, amended, or retrieved by anyone, including courts and tribunal, until their release, the first of which will occur in 2100. [9]

The 2020 Census Test occurred on 27 October 2020 with around 100,000 households from Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, and Canberra, as well as communities in Karratha, Warrnambool, and Alice Springs Town Camps. [10]

Topics

Every census, the ABS makes a recommendation to the Australian Government on the topics to be included, based on the benefit that data would provide to Australia. Through the Census and Statistics Amendment (Statistical Information) Regulations 2020, the federal parliament approves topics that may be included. For the 2021 census, the ABS had been authorised to include questions relating to long-term health conditions [11] and service in the Australian Defence Force, [11] and would not continue asking questions about home internet access considering the rise of mobile devices. This represented the first significant change to census topics since 2006. [12]

Alongside these two new topics, the 2021 Census continued to ask questions related to: [12]

Consultations

Through late 2017, the ABS began discussions with major census data users on what was needed. From 3 April to 30 June 2018, a formal consultation process occurred on the online "ABS Consultation Hub", with the ABS receiving 450 submissions, 315 of which were published with consent. [13]

Collection

Since 2006, the ABS has allowed the census to be completed online, moving in 2016 to be digital-first. Like 2016, the 2021 Census was primarily collected online, with paper census forms being available on request for any household. In 2016, around a third of all households requested and completed their census using the paper form. [14]

Population and dwellings

The population counts for Australian states and territories were that New South Wales remains the most populous state, with 8,072,163 people counted, ahead of Victoria (6,503,491) and Queensland (5,156,138). The total population of Australian as counted in the 2021 census by state and external territories are: [4] [15] [16] [17] [18]

States and territories MaleFemaleTotal % change
Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales 3,984,1664,087,9958,072,163Increase2.svg 7.9%
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria 3,200,9633,302,5286,503,491Increase2.svg 9.7%
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland 2,540,4042,615,7365,156,138Increase2.svg 9.6%
Flag of Western Australia.svg Western Australia 1,322,8551,337,1712,660,026Increase2.svg 7.5%
Flag of South Australia.svg South Australia 878,592902,9241,781,516Increase2.svg 6.3%
Flag of Tasmania.svg Tasmania 273,765283,804557,571Increase2.svg 9.3%
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Australian Capital Territory 224,361230,140454,499Increase2.svg 14.4%
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory 117,526115,075232,605Increase2.svg 9.7%
External Territories
Flag of Christmas Island.svg Christmas Island 1,0066851,692Decrease2.svg 8.2%
Flag of Norfolk Island.svg Norfolk Island 1,0601,1302,188Increase2.svg 25.2%
Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.svg Cocos (Keeling) Islands 302292593Increase2.svg 9.0%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jervis Bay Territory 149158310Decrease2.svg 20.7%
Australia12,545,15412,877,63525,422,788Increase2.svg 8.7%

Country of birth

Country of birth of Australian residents at 2021 census Australian Residents by Country of Birth 2021 Census.svg
Country of birth of Australian residents at 2021 census

Of all residents over two-thirds (72.4% or 18,235,690) were born in Australia. Over a quarter of the population (27.6% or 7,502,450 persons) said they were born overseas. After Australia, England is the most common birthplace with 927,490 people. [a] [19] India became the third-largest country of birth, surpassing China and New Zealand. [11]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Australian Bureau of Statistics source lists England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separately although they are all part of the United Kingdom. These should not be combined as they are not combined in the source.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Australia</span>

The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,537,700 as of 30 November 2024. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country. Its population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards, and is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale</span> Local government area in Western Australia

The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale is a local government area in the outer southeastern metropolitan area of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and has an area of 905 square kilometres (349 sq mi) and a population of 32,173 as at the 2021 Census. Despite being named after two towns in the area, neither Serpentine nor Jarrahdale function as either the Shire's largest settlement (Byford) or the seat of government (Mundijong).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Mount Isa</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

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Foreign-born people are those born outside of their country of residence. Foreign born are often non-citizens, but many are naturalized citizens of the country in which they live, and others are citizens by descent, typically through a parent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodbridge, Tasmania</span> Locality in Tasmania, Australia

Woodbridge is a semi-rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Kingborough in the Hobart LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 26 kilometres (16 mi) south of the town of Kingston. The 2021 Census recorded a population of 547 for the state suburb of Woodbridge, with the median age being 54. There are 180 families living in Woodbridge, with a mean of 1.8 children per household. It is located 38 kilometres (24 mi) south of the state capital, Hobart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Census in Australia</span> National census of Australia, held every five years

The Census in Australia, officially the Census of Population and Housing, is the national census in Australia that occurs every five years. The census collects key demographic, social and economic data from all people in Australia on census night, including overseas visitors and residents of Australian external territories, only excluding foreign diplomats. The census is the largest and most significant statistical event in Australia and is run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Every person must complete the census, although some personal questions are not compulsory. The penalty for failing to complete the census after being directed to by the Australian Statistician is one federal penalty unit, or A$220. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 and Census and Statistics Act 1905 authorise the ABS to collect, store, and share anonymised data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Bureau of Statistics</span> Australian statistics and census agency

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is an Australian Government agency that collects and analyses statistics on economic, population, environmental, and social issues to advise the Australian Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Sydney</span>

Sydney is Australia's most populous city, and is also the most populous city in Oceania. In the 2021 census, 5,231,147 persons declared themselves as residents of the Sydney Statistical Division–about one-fifth (20.58%) of Australia's total population. With a population density of 2037 people per square kilometre, the urban core has population density five times that of the greater region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Harvey</span> Local government area in Western Australia

The Shire of Harvey is a local government area of Western Australia. Harvey is located in the state's South West region, approximately 140 km south of Perth, and includes some of Bunbury's northern suburbs. The shire covers an area of 1,728 km² and had a population of approximately 26,500 as at the 2016 Census. Around 12% of the population are of Southern or Eastern European origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Northam</span> Local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Koorda</span> Local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia

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References

  1. ↑ "2021 Census questions and date announced". Australian Bureau of Statistics . 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. 1 2 "2021 Census overview". Australian Bureau of Statistics . Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Snapshot of Australia". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Population: Census Information on sex and age". Australian Bureau of Statistics . 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "2021 Census product release guide". Australian Bureau of Statistics . Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Motherwell, Sarah (27 June 2022). "What we're going to learn about Australia from the 2021 census results". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Advice on the Australian Bureau of Statistics Population and Housing Census 2021". Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Valuing the Australian Census" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Statistics . Lateral Economics. 27 August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Census Time Capsule". Australian Bureau of Statistics . 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Welcome to the 2020 Census Test". Australian Bureau of Statistics . Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 Silva, Angelica; McElroy, Nicholas (28 June 2022). "Australia's 2021 Census data shows we're a very different country from five years ago. Here are some highlights you may have missed". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Review of 2021 Census topics". Australian Bureau of Statistics . Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Review of 2021 Census Topics". ABS Consultation Hub. 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Sourcing the 2021 Census Digital Service". Australian Bureau of Statistics . 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Christmas Island 2021 Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "Norfolk Island 2021 Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Cocos Islands 2021 Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Jervis Bay 2021 Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Cultural diversity: Census Information on country of birth, year of arrival, ancestry, language and religion". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
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