Find statistics from Australian censuses from 1788 to present
Censuses count and describe the population of a particular area.
Census data is useful for researching places, people’s lives, and socioeconomic factors over time, or at a point in time.
You can find information which which illuminates Australia's social history, or gives context to a person's life.
The data collected by each census varies, but usually includes data about:
This data can usually be compared by geographic area. Sometimes complex sets of data can be cross-referenced.
All of the following questions can be answering using information from censuses:
Information about individuals is available from some early census records.
The information collected varies from census to census. Generally you will find information about numbers of residents in different areas, and statistics about the occupations, ages, ethnic backgrounds and marital status of these people as groups, organised by area.
Information about specific individuals can be found in some early census data collected before 1901.
More recent censuses have also collected data on issues of interest, such as the number of people who volunteer, or have access to a computer. Earlier censuses collected more basic information.
More recent census results have been cross-referenced, enabling you to compare complex factors, for example gross family income (weekly) by landlord type by family composition for the Melbourne Local Government Area (2006).
The first national census was held in 1911. Subsequent censuses were held in 1921, 1933, 1947, 1954, 1961, and every five years from then on.
However, the earliest collection of information about Australia's residents occurred in 1788, well before the first national census. The states and colonies regularly collected data in censuses or musters up until the first national census.
The Library provides access to information from all national censuses. We also hold data from some earlier censuses recorded by the states or colonies. Click the tabs at the top of this page for further information about our holdings.
See How to research for more advice on what information is available, and how to find it.
You will not find information about individuals, unless you are looking at very early censuses or musters created before 1901. From 1901 to 1996 it was Australian Government policy to destroy all census returns after statistical analysis was completed.
For genealogists, this means using substitute sources such as postal and telephone directories, rate books and electoral rolls, to find out more about where someone was living. We have published a list of substitute sources for pre-1911 information.
You may not find information that gives details about people grouped by the suburb they live in. Information may only be collated across larger geographic areas. The more recent the census data is, the more likely it is that you will be able to access data relating to the populations of individual suburbs.
You will not find information about businesses - the census often records where people live, their occupations and where they work, but it does not record how many businesses exist in a particular area. An alternate source for current information is the online Yellow Pages directory, where you can find out how many businesses of a particular type are listed in a particular suburb. For historic business data, try business or postal directories, and the publications of professional associations.
Information and statistics about Aboriginal people may be inaccurate - see Aboriginal Australians in this guide for more information.
