1966 Australian census

First Australian national population census From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

CountryCommonwealth of Australia
AuthorityBureau of Census and Statistics
Websiteabs.gov.au (1966)
Total population11,550,462[1] (Increase 9.9%)
Quick facts Seventh commonwealth census, General information ...
Seventh commonwealth census
← 1961
30 June 1966; 60 years ago (1966-06-30)
1971 →
General information
CountryCommonwealth of Australia
AuthorityBureau of Census and Statistics
Websiteabs.gov.au (1966)
Results
Total population11,550,462[1] (Increase 9.9%)
Most populous state or territoryNew South Wales (4,233,822)
Least populous state or territoryNorthern Territory (37,433)
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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]

More information States and territories, Males ...
States and territories[8]MalesFemalesTotal% change
since 1961
New South Wales2,124,4622,109,3604,233,822Increase 8.1%
Victoria1,613,9041,605,6223,219,526Increase 9.8%
Queensland843,897819,7881,663,685Increase 9.6%
Western Australia426,691409,982836,673Increase 12.0%
South Australia548,530543,3451,091,875Increase 12.2%
Tasmania187,390184,045371,435Increase 6.0%
Australian Capital Territory49,97746,03696,013Increase 63.2%
Northern Territory[a]21,50815,92537,433Increase 33.3%
Australia Australia5,816,3595,734,10311,550,462Increase 9.9%
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Age

More information Age, Number ...
Age1966[9]
Number
    0–4 years1,143,144
    5–9 years1,162,896
    10–14 years1,086,448
    15–19 years1,048,226
    20–24 years853,941
    25–29 years746,065
    30–34 years687,354
    35–39 years764,562
    40–44 years773,751
    45–49 years677,672
    50–54 years641,634
    55–59 years543,016
    60–64 years435,349
    65–69 years356,396
    70–74 years275,971
    75–79 years196,387
    80–84 years102,864
    85–89 years41,621
    90–94 years10,976
    95–99 years2005
     100 and over184
     Total11,550,462
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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]

More information Race, Population ...
Race[11] Population Percent (%)
European[note 1]11,453,37598.74
Non-European[note 2]
     Afghan890.00
     Arab, Persian13210.01
     Asiatic Jew2430.00
     Asiatic26360.02
     African6010.00
     Australian Aboriginal[note 3]80,2070.69
     Chinese26,7230.23
     Sinhalese, Burgher, Tamil1,6790.01
     Egyptian4250.00
     Fijian2570.00
     Filipino7650.00
     Indian, Pakistani4,4110.03
     Indonesian, Javanese, Timorese, etc.8180.00
     Japanese3,5730.03
     Malay1,7490.01
     Māori8620.00
     Negro1020.00
     Pacific Islander3,0050.02
     Papuan, New Guinean5020.00
     Siamese, Thailander5620.00
     Syrian, Lebanese, New Guinean4,8550.04
     Torres Strait Islander5,4030.04
     Other and indefinite5230.00
     Mixed blood[note 4]4,8120.04
     Total non-European[note 5]146,1231.26
Grand total11,599,498100.0
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Religion

Population by religious affiliation according to the 1966 census results.

More information Religion, Number ...
Religion[12]1966 census
NumberPercent (%)
Christian10,205,03888.35
    Church of England3,877,47333.57
    Presbyterians1,043,5709.03
    Methodists1,124,3109.73
    Baptist165,4871.43
    Congregational76,5880.66
    Lutheran177,3241.53
    Church of Christ102,5450.88
    Orthodox255,4932.21
    Brethren15,5160.13
    Salvation Army56,5010.48
    Seventh-day Adventist37,6170.32
     Protestant (undefined)105,2230.91
    Roman Catholic1,103,9699.56
     Catholic1,932,16116.73
     Other (including Christian undefined)131,2611.14
Non-Christian76,3830.66
    Hebrew63,2710.54
     Others13,1120.11
Indefinite36,0500.31
No religion94,0910.81
No reply1,138,9009.86
Grand total11,550,462100.0
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The Northern Territory since 1911 used the Australian National Flag (the Blue Ensign) and did not adopt its own flag until 1978.
  1. [1]
    Persons of over 50 per cent European race.
  2. [2]
    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.
  3. [3]
    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"."CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30 JUNE 1966 THE ABORIGINAL POPULATION OF AUSTRALIA" (PDF). COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  4. [4]
    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.
  5. [5]
    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.

References

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