Australian Jewish groups urge community to write 'Jewish' on 2026 census despite no option box

Australian Jewish organizations are actively encouraging community members to manually write "Jewish" or "Judaism" on the national census form for August 11, 2026. This initiative stems from the absence of a specific checkbox for Judaism on the census, a situation that has persisted since the Australian Bureau of Statistics introduced a multiple-choice religious section in 1991.

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We know that Jewish identity is ethnic and cultural as well as religious. However, inserting the word ‘Jewish’ or ‘Judaism’ in answer to the question on religion is the simplest and most recognizable way to identify as Jewish in the Census.

The 2026 Census form lists explicit tick-box options including No religion, Catholic, Anglican, Islam, Hinduism, Uniting Church, Buddhism, Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox, and Baptist. Judaism, which represents approximately 0.4% of Australia's population, is not among these categories. Community members are instructed to tick the "Other" box and then write in their religious affiliation.

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is extremely secure

Daniel Aghion KC, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, emphasized the importance of accurate data. He acknowledged potential concerns about self-identification amid rising antisemitism but reassured the community about the census's security. He stressed that census data directly influences government resource allocation across vital areas, including education, welfare, and aged care, making accurate representation essential for the Jewish community's planning and service provision.

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It is very much in the interests of the Jewish community that the census questionnaire is completed with full accuracy. Census data affects Government’s allocation of resources to assist the Australian community in a host of vital areas. The Jewish community also depends on the Census for accurate planning information for services in fields such as education, welfare and aged care.

Robert Gregory, president of the Australian Jewish Association, expressed disappointment over the lack of a dedicated box. He argued that its absence could discourage individuals from identifying as Jewish, potentially leading to a significant undercount of the community's size. Gregory pointed out the inclusion of a non-binary sex option, despite representing a small demographic, as a point of comparison.

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The organizers say the Jewish population is too small to warrant its own category, but the absence of a dedicated box is likely to discourage even more people from identifying as Jewish. The reality is that the Australian Census is likely to significantly undercount the size of the Jewish community.