The religion question in the Australian Census is fundamentally flawed. The question – “What is the person’s religion?” – assumes everyone has a religion. This presumptuous wording, along with a tendency for people to respond based on upbringing or culture rather than their current relationship with religion, leads to inaccurate responses that understate the number of non-religious people in Australia.
The Census uses this flawed question because religious lobbyists demanded it, corrupting ABS processes and compromising the integrity of the data.
A recent survey commissioned by the campaign shows that the undercount of the non-religious is more than 10 percentage points. Read about the survey here.
At the 2026 Census, to be held on 11 August, we’re encouraging you to help bring greater integrity to Australia’s Census data by reflecting your authentic self when answering the religion question.
Three reasons to reconsider your response:
Stand up for who you are today – be counted based on your current beliefs, not what you were in the past or what others may think you ought to be.
Ensure that all Australians are fairly represented and that religious organisations no longer receive special privileges based on inaccurate data.
Say what’s true for you and don’t be swayed by the biased wording of the religion question on the Census or by religious organisations who don’t represent your views.
As part of our campaign, we’re featuring the personal stories of Australians who have moved away from religion and now mark ‘No religion’ on the Census.
See what others are saying about their journey — and don’t forget to share yours, too.
We respect your privacy: your email address will not be sold or given to any third party.
In the years leading up to the 2026 Census, religious organisations pressured the ABS and the Albanese government not to change the religion question because they benefit from inaccurate results. The biased wording of the question leads many to answer based on their upbringing or lapsed beliefs rather than their current status.
The Census is run every five years to provide the Australian community with data that is accurate and current. But the religion question fails this test. Governments at all levels, public institutions and others use census data to form policies and make decisions about the use of public funding and the representation of community voices. Achieving more accurate data on religion will deliver greater fairness for all Australians.
Do you live in a household where you feel unsafe expressing feelings about your religious or non-religious beliefs in the Census?
It is your fundamental right to answer the religion question as you wish, instead of having someone else determine your response for you.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides a way for you to mark ‘No Religion’ privately and confidentially.
