Australia’s 2026 Census has sparked confusion among some China-born residents after China was not included as a tick-box option in the country-of-birth question.
The Census form lists seven countries Australia, England, India, New Zealand, the Philippines, Vietnam and South Africa — along with an “Other (specify)” option. However, China, one of Australia’s largest migrant communities, is not included as a specific country-of-birth option.
Almost 550,000 people born in China were recorded in Australia in the 2021 Census, making China one of Australia’s largest countries of birth. For the 2026 Census, people born in China are asked to select “Other (specify)” and enter China manually.
The omission has prompted criticism from some China-born respondents, with some questioning why China was not included while Vietnam was given a dedicated option. Several people said they had submitted complaints or negative feedback to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
However, the ABS has confirmed the omission is intentional and is not a mistake. The agency said the current format has been used since 1991 and is designed to encourage people to provide specific answers, including China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, which are collected and reported separately.
The ABS said the Census response options are designed around questionnaire best practice and data accuracy, with an “Other (specify)” option available when a person’s answer is not listed.
The agency has encouraged everyone completing the Census to provide the answer that best represents them.
