'Other' gender added to ABS categories

A new category has been added to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) surveys with an `other' gender and sex option included for the first time.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the ABS said that new standard for compiling data will also allow for people to specify their sex or gender in their own words.

In addition to the male and female label the ABS said the `other' label was being used because a more descriptive term had not been "widely agreed" in the general community yet.