澳大利亚将在2026年人口普查中首次询问16岁及以上民众的性取向，答案包括直性、同性恋、双性恋、泛性恋、无性恋等选项，此项为可选填写[1]。估计该国约3.6%的人口认同多元性取向[1]。
最新研究基于2011年人口普查数据追踪了此后12年间的生存情况，结果显示同性伴侣关系中的人群过早死亡率显著高于异性伴侣[1]。女性方面，异性伴侣关系中每1000人中有983人存活12年，而同性伴侣关系中仅979人存活；男性数据分别为971人和963人[1]。这一差异中约五分之一属于"超额死亡"[1]。
导致该差异的主要原因是外部死因，特别是自杀[1]。在同性关系中，女性自杀等外部死因占过早死亡的12%，男性为13%，而异性关系中女性仅占2%，男性为3%[1]。值得注意的是，即使在澳大利亚婚姻平等实现6年后，这一过早死亡风险仍未见下降[1]。通过人口普查收集性取向数据，将使研究人员能够全面理解不同性取向人群的健康差异，为政府制定更有针对性的卫生资源分配和自杀预防措施提供依据[1]。
Australia's population census in 2026 will include a new question about sexual orientation for the first time, asking respondents aged 16 and over how they describe their sexual identity, with options including heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual[1]. The question will be optional for participants[1].
This addition comes as new research reveals significant health disparities among Australians in same-sex relationships compared to those in opposite-sex partnerships. A study tracking 12-year survival outcomes from 2011 census data found that approximately 3.6% of Australia's population identifies with diverse sexual orientations[1]. Among women, 983 per 1,000 in opposite-sex relationships survived the 12-year period, compared to 979 per 1,000 in same-sex relationships; for men, the figures were 971 and 963 per 1,000 respectively[1]. About one-fifth of the excess deaths in same-sex relationships were attributed to external causes such as suicide[1]. Suicide and other external causes accounted for 12% of premature deaths among women in same-sex relationships versus only 2% for those in opposite-sex relationships, with corresponding figures of 13% and 3% for men[1].
The disparities persist even after the implementation of marriage equality six years prior, with no observed decline in premature mortality risk[1]. Researchers anticipate that the new census data will enable comprehensive understanding of health differences across sexual orientation groups, supporting governments in developing more targeted health resource allocation and suicide prevention initiatives[1]. Australia already has a national action plan addressing health and wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ populations[1].
