SQL: SELECT distinct t.term_id,t.name FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON tt.term_id = t.term_id INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id JOIN wp_posts p ON tr.object_id=p.id AND p.post_status='publish' WHERE `tt`.taxonomy='category'