Censuses provide population numbers, household or family size and composition, and information on sex and age distribution. They often include other demographic, economic, and health-related topics as well.

The 1996 Australia Census Day was August 6, 1996. It covered employment, occupations, housing characteristics, housing costs, and birth place of household memebers and their parents. This census was the first time that individuals could report both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.