1966 Australian census explained

The 1966 Australian census was the seventh national population census held in Australia and was conducted by the Bureau of Census and Statistics. The day used for the census, was taken on 30 June 1966. The total population of the Commonwealth of Australia was counted as 11,550,462 – an increase of 1,042,276 people or 9.92% over the 1961 census.^{[2] [3]}

Census results were released under statistician J. P. O'Neill in a series of three publications beginning in April 1967 with a summary of the population.^[4]

Topics

Key topics in 1966 included:^[5]

• Age
• Marital status
• Birthplace
• Religion
• Race/Origin
• education (highest level of schooling)
• Occupation
• Industry
• Housing details (dwelling type, material, and motor vehicles.)
• Location

Population and dwellings

The population counts for Australian states and territories were that New South Wales remains the most populous state, with 4,233,822 people counted, ahead of Victoria (3,219,526) and Queensland (1,663,685).Australian Capital Territory (ACT) experienced the largest average annual growth rate of any state or territory over the past five years, with an average annual increase of 10.29% while Tasmania had the smallest growth at 1.18% since the 1961 census.^[6] Persons count based on place of usual residence on Census night.^[7]

States and territories[8]		Males	Females	Total	% change since 1961
					8.1%
					9.8%
					9.6%
					12.0%
					12.2%
					6.0%
					63.2%
					33.3%
Australia					9.9%

Age

Single characteristics

Race

At the seventh Australian census in 1966 the population was self-enumeration. In the official sense, the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, which collected demographic data, defined the term "European" to "cover those ethnic or racial groups (e.g. Caucasian, Slavonic, Celtic, Latin) which have their origins in the countries of Europe while terms such as "Afghan", "Filipino", etc. cover those ethnic groups normally to be found in the countries of Afghanistan and the Philippines, etc.". The 1966 census enumeration of Aboriginals (full-blood) progressively made significant effort for those in contact and out of contact with population centres.^[10]

See also

• 2026 Australian census
• 2021 Australian census
• 2016 Australian census
• 1911 Australian census
• Census in Australia

Notes and References

1. Web site: CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PART 1. GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION. 1973. ausstats.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
2. Web site: Census of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1966. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1970 . 24 February 2026.
3. Web site: CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PART 1. GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION. 1973. ausstats.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
4. Web site: 1966 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING PUBLICATIONS issued by the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. ausstats.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
5. Web site: CENSUS, 30th JUNE, 1966 HOUSEHOLDER'S SCHEDULE. 26 February 2026.
6. Web site: Volume I - POPULATION - Single Characteristics - Part 1 Age. 2017. censusdata.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
7. Web site: CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PART 1. GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION. 1973. 10. ausstats.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
8. Web site: Volume I - POPULATION - Single Characteristics - Part 1 Age. 2017. censusdata.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
9. Web site: Volume I - POPULATION - Single Characteristics - Part 1 Age. 2017. censusdata.abs.gov.au. 24 February 2026.
10. Web site: CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA VOLUME 1 POPULATION: SINGLE CHARACTERISTICS PART 11. RACE. 11. COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS. 1971. 25 February 2026.
11. Web site: CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 30 JUNE 1966 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA VOLUME 1 POPULATION: SINGLE CHARACTERISTICS PART 11. RACE. COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS. 1971. 25 February 2026.
12. Persons of over 50 per cent European race.
13. Persons of more than 50 per cent of the race specified, or of 50 per cent of the race specified and 50 per cent European.
14. The figures in this bulletin relate to those persons who described them-selves in the 1966 Census as being 50 per cent or more Aboriginal or simply as "Aboriginal".Web site: CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30 JUNE 1966 THE ABORIGINAL POPULATION OF AUSTRALIA. COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS. 26 February 2026.
15. Persons of three or more races where no race represents more than 50 per cent or persons of two non-European races each of which represents 50 per cent.
16. Persons of more than 50 per cent of the race specified, or of 50 per cent of the race specified and 50 per cent European.