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.

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.

Topics Key topics in 1966 included: 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. Persons count based on place of usual residence on Census night.

States and territories Males Females Total % change since 1961 New South Wales 8.1% Victoria 9.8% Queensland 9.6% Western Australia 12.0% South Australia 12.2% Tasmania 6.0% Australian Capital Territory 63.2% Northern Territory 33.3% Australia 9.9%

Age Age 1966 Number     0–4 years 1,143,144     5–9 years 1,162,896     10–14 years 1,086,448     15–19 years 1,048,226     20–24 years 853,941     25–29 years 746,065     30–34 years 687,354     35–39 years 764,562     40–44 years 773,751     45–49 years 677,672     50–54 years 641,634     55–59 years 543,016     60–64 years 435,349     65–69 years 356,396     70–74 years 275,971     75–79 years 196,387    80–84 years 102,864     85–89 years 41,621     90–94 years 10,976     95–99 years 2005      100 and over 184      Total 11,550,462

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.

Race Population Percent (%) European 11,453,375 98.74 Non-European      Afghan 89 0.00      Arab, Persian 13210.01      Asiatic Jew 243 0.00      Asiatic 2636 0.02      African 601 0.00      Australian Aboriginal80,207 0.69      Chinese 26,723 0.23      Sinhalese, Burgher, Tamil 1,679 0.01      Egyptian 425 0.00      Fijian257 0.00      Filipino 765 0.00      Indian, Pakistani 4,411 0.03      Indonesian, Javanese, Timorese, etc. 818 0.00      Japanese 3,573 0.03      Malay 1,749 0.01      Māori 862 0.00      Negro 102 0.00      Pacific Islander 3,005 0.02      Papuan, New Guinean 502 0.00      Siamese, Thailander 562 0.00      Syrian, Lebanese, New Guinean 4,855 0.04      Torres Strait Islander 5,403 0.04      Other and indefinite 523 0.00      Mixed blood 4,812 0.04      Total non-European 146,123 1.26 Grand total 11,599,498 100.0

Religion Population by religious affiliation according to the 1966 census results. Religion 1966 census Number Percent (%) Christian 10,205,038 88.35     Church of England 3,877,473 33.57     Presbyterians 1,043,570 9.03     Methodists 1,124,310 9.73     Baptist 165,487 1.43     Congregational 76,588 0.66     Lutheran 177,324 1.53     Church of Christ 102,545 0.88     Orthodox 255,493 2.21     Brethren 15,516 0.13     Salvation Army 56,501 0.48     Seventh-day Adventist 37,617 0.32      Protestant (undefined) 105,223 0.91     Roman Catholic 1,103,969 9.56      Catholic1,932,161 16.73      Other (including Christian undefined) 131,261 1.14Non-Christian 76,383 0.66     Hebrew 63,271 0.54     Others 13,112 0.11 Indefinite 36,050 0.31 No religion 94,091 0.81 No reply 1,138,900 9.86 Grand total 11,550,462 100.0

See also 2026 Australian census 2021 Australian census 2016 Australian census 1911 Australian census Census in Australia

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