Census Resources for the 2020s

New historical census sources and advances in record linking technology are allowing economic historians to become big data genealogists.

In this talk hosted by the London School of Economics, James Feigenbaum shows how the ability to link individuals over time, and between databases, means that new avenues for research have opened up, thus allowing us to track intergenerational mobility, assimilation, discrimination and the returns to education.

The new Output Area Classification (OAC), produced in partnership with the Office for National Statistics by the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC), is available here.

CDRC provides the classification data in CSV, Shapefile and Geopackage formats. Supporting materials include pen portraits, local authority maps and summaries, and a technical document detailing the input variables and distribution statistics.

The classification is available under an Open Government Licence, allowing for free an unhindered reuse with attribution to ONS and CDRC (an Economic and Social Research Council Investment, grant reference ES/L011840/1).

Maps of the OAC Supergroups, Groups and Subgroups are available on CDRC’s Mapmaker platform here. Maps are provided using 2022 ONS Built-Up Areas and the 2023 Ordnance Survey Vector Map District geographies.

The Royal Geographical Society have published this paper by by J. Wyszomierski, P. A. Longley, A.D. Singleton, C. Gale and O. O’Brien,  in The Geographical Journal.

This paper sets out the methodology and results of a neighbourhood geodemographic classification using small area 2021 Census statistics for England and Wales. It also describes how the classification may be extended to Northern Ireland and Scotland when data for both are published. An interactive mapping website is available to view the classification and to compare it with equivalent data for 2011.

Estimated unemployment rates were, at the time of the 2021 Census, up to 17.2 per cent for some groups and as low as 2.9 per cent for others, depending on ethnicity and disability status.

ONS’s interactive analysis of the 2021 Census data seeks to examine how unemployment rates vary at the intersection of ethnicity and disability. The analysis shows that disabled adults were more likely to be unemployed that non-disabled adults, but disabled adults who identified as “White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British" were less likely to be unemployed than non-disabled adults from 13 other ethnic groups.

ONS has published bespoke analysis on Jewish populations using 2021 Census 2021 data. This provides information and datasets about people who identified as Jewish in England and Wales and includes information on topics such as:

• different ways people identified as Jewish (religion only, ethnic group only and both religion and ethnic group)


• changes in the way people identified as Jewish between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses


• age and sex breakdowns


• main language


• household size and overcrowding

ONS has published bespoke analysis on people who identified as Sikh using 2021 Census data. Topics include:

• Sikh identity through the religion and ethnic group questions


• housing


• health


• education


• cultural identity

ONS has also updated its Ethnicity, national identity, language and religion data and analysis webpage with a list of 2021 Census 2021 data, tools and analysis of people who identified as Sikh using the religion question (this covers 99.7 per cent of all people who identified as Sikh).

Other bespoke analysis publications that have been published cover:

• Somali populations


• Gypsy or Irish Traveller populations


• Roma populations

ONS has published bespoke analysis on Cornish identity using 2021 Census data. 

This article includes statistics about Cornish identity in England and Wales, covering topics such as:

• age 


• health 


• employment and occupation 


• housing and accommodation characteristics 

ONS has published further analysis on people of different sexual orientations from 2021 in England and Wales. Topics include:

• disability


• health status


• ethnic group


• religion


• employment


• education


• legal partnership status


• family status

See how people with certain characteristics compare to the population as a whole, using Census 2021 data by using ONS’s brand-new tool, Create a population group profile at https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/populationprofiles/

Select your group's characteristics from a wide range of options, such as age, main language, or disability status. The tool will show you how many people are in this group and details about them from census, including levels of health, education, and employment.

You can print the profile you make, or download the data for your selection.

ONS drives to make census statistics available in innovative ways has seen a suite of exciting new products released this year. With customisable maps and datasets, ONS has broken new ground for official statistics. In the latest development, Jen Woolford explains how census data is being put to even greater work by improving statistical insight on the most pressing social challenges of the day.

ONS has published bespoke analysis on Gypsy or Irish Traveller populations using 2021 Census data. Topics include: 

• age and geographic breakdown


• housing and accommodation characteristics


• health and unpaid care


• employment and occupation


• education


• cultural characteristics


• household characteristics

Office for National Statistics (ONS) published an article on alternative population bases using 2021 Census data.  Comparisons are made between the local authority out of term and workday populations compared with their usually resident populations.

The article provides analysis on the workday population compared to the usually resident population at local authority level by characteristics such as: 

• age and sex age


• ethnic group


• health


• industry


• hours worked


• main language

the 2021 Census took place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a period of unparalleled and rapid change; this will have affected where people worked and studied. Care should be taken, therefore, in using these data for planning and policy purposes.

ONS has published analysis on older people living in care homes using 2021 Census 2021 data. The article provides an overview of the care home population aged 65 years and over in England and Wales, compared with 2011, and covers characteristics such as:

• sex


• age


• health


• disability


• ethnic group


• care homes with and without nursing

Comparisons are also made between the proportion of older residents living in care homes by region and local authority.

ONS has published bespoke analysis on Somali populations using 2021 Census data, This release provides an analysis article and data about Somali populations in England and Wales, and includes information on topics such as: 

• age


• health


• employment and occupation


• housing and accommodation characteristics

ONS has published an article detailing children living in households without their parents but with other relatives. using information from the 2021 Census in England and Wales. The main points of analysis are:

• Children living in kinship care are defined as people aged 17 years and under on Census Day, who lived in households without a parent present, but with relatives aged 18 years or over.


• Of all children aged 0 to 17 years living in households of five people or fewer, 1.1 per cent were living in kinship care (121,000 children).


• Most children living in kinship care (59.2 per cent) live with at least one grandparent, so the characteristics of potential kinship carers reflect that it is an older population.


• The analysis explores characteristics of children in kinship care, and their households, such age, ethnic group, religion, country of birth, health and disability, employment status of kinship carers and household deprivation.

For more than a year now ONS has been publishing statistics, articles, interactive maps, tools to enable users to create their own datasets and much more from 2021 Census. Each time ONS has been providing greater detail to provide an even richer picture of England and Wales’ population. In Jen Woolford’s latest Blog she explains how the latest findings give new insights into smaller population groups.

ONS has published the fifth and final release of a series of detailed articles on the topic of international migration that it has been producing using data from the 2021 Census.

The analysis in this article provides an overview of a range of social characteristics of residents of England and Wales in 2021 who were born outside the UK and have migrated to the UK at some point in the past. This group includes residents who were British at birth, but born abroad, as well as those who were born abroad then migrated to the UK and subsequently obtained a UK passport. It includes information on their country of birth, age, sex, housing, family, language, health, qualifications, religion, national identity and ethnicity.

ONS has published an article that provides an overview of the characteristics of people who moved a year prior to both the 2021 and 2011 Censuses, with detailed migration datasets showing regional and local authority inflows and outflows.

ONS has published the fourth of a series of detailed articles  on the topic of international migration that it is are producing using data from the 2021 Census.

The analysis in this article looks at multiple passports held from the Census 2021 data, allowing us to look at the characteristics of UK dual citizens. It includes information on passports held, country of birth and national identity, as well as other characteristics of the dual citizen population.

ONS has now corrected an error in this article https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/36dd266

This affects the third main point in the article which should read:

• The proportion of UK-EU passports held increased by five times for UK-born residents and threefold for non-UK-born residents since 2011; UK-Irish passports also saw a sixfold increase for UK-born residents.

Social Grade is the 'common currency' social classification (the 'ABC1' system) used by the advertising industry and employed throughout marketing and market research. This page provides details of the new approximation to Social Grade available in the outputs from the 2021 Census.

Discover the hotspots where second addresses are used as holiday homes across England and Wales, according to the results of the 2021 Census. 

More than 1 in 10 addresses were used as holiday homes in some areas of England and Wales. Many of these locations with particularly high concentrations of holiday homes were in coastal areas, or near national parks. 

Explore these places, how many people use them and where they travel from in the ONS interactive article at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/morethan1in10addressesusedasholidayhomesinsomeareasofenglandandwales/2023-06-20

Census 2021 captures information about the UK armed forces veterans in England and Wales for the first time in census history. Today we release data about the types of homes and communal establishments veterans lived in and who with, on census day. This insight helps deliver promises made through the Armed Forces Covenant.

This article builds on the high-level Census 2021 estimates for UK Armed Forces veterans published on 10 November 2022, and Characteristics of UK armed forces veterans, England and Wales: Census 2021 published in February 2023.

Have you ever wondered how many people do your job? Try ONS’s personalised article based on 2021 Census data, covering more than 400 occupations (see https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/howmanypeopledomyjob/2023-05-31)

It tell you about the people who had your job in March 2021, their ages, disability status, the percentage of full-time or part-time workers, and how many men and women were in this kind of role.

An accompanying feature article 'the occupations most dependent on older and younger workers' gives the overall trends (see https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/theoccupationsmostdependentonolderandyoungerworkers/latest)

In this, the third in a series of detailed articles on the topic of international migration that ONS are producing using data from 2021 Census the focus is on the movement of international students. The analysis in the article is based on a specific definition of an international student, which has been designed to identify as closely as possible non-UK nationals who moved to England and Wales for the purpose of full-time study in higher education. It includes information on the country of birth, economic activity and industry, as well as other characteristics of the international student population.

The main findings include:

• There were 373,600 non-UK-born, non-UK passport holding international students in England and Wales at the time of Census 2021.


• India (11.6%), China (11.2%), Romania (9.5%) and Nigeria (5.3%) were the top four individual countries of birth of international students.


• A third of the international student population was in London (33.9%).


• One in three international students were in employment; Eastern European countries had the highest proportions in employment alongside studying (Romania, 73.9%; Bulgaria, 62.3%; Poland, 56.7%, and Lithuania, 56.0%).


• International students’ residence type varied by age, with most students aged 18 to 25 years living in communal establishments (36.4%) or an all-student household (28.7%), while most students aged 26 years and over lived in single or multiple family households (59.0%).


• Of the international students whose preferred main language was not English (239,000, 64.0%), 59.3% and 35.5% reported being able to speak English very well and well respectively.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) has undertaken many years of planning and development ahead of delivering census operations for Scotland in 2022. When it became clear that return rates from census collection were not as high as anticipated, NRS worked swiftly to improve returns and is reviewing and revising its statistical methods, on the advice of international census experts, so it can produce the best possible estimates of the population of Scotland. The UKSA’s regulatory arm, the Office for Statistics Regulation’s assessment team recognises the concerted efforts and commitment of NRS at an especially pressured time.

The results from the 2021 Census show there are more people than ever before aged 65 years and over in the population. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of people aged 65 years and over in 2021 living in England and Wales including legal partnership status, living arrangements, ethnicity, religion, health, disability, caring status and changes since 2011.

The main findings include:

• The population aged 65 years and over was more ethnically diverse in 2021 than in 2011, with a decrease from 95.5% to 93.6% in the percentage identifying in the high level White ethnic group and increases in the proportions identifying in all other high level ethnic groups.


• While the population aged 65 years and over living in England and Wales is predominantly Christian, the proportion with no religious affiliation has doubled since 2011, reaching 17.5% in 2021.


• In 2021 there were almost 1.2 million unpaid carers aged 65 years and over in England and Wales, just over 1 in 10 of the older population, with almost half of these providing more than 50 hours of unpaid care a week.


• Men and women aged 65 years and over living in England and Wales in 2021 were more likely to be divorced and less likely to be widowed than in 2011, in line with increases in life expectancy.


• In 2021, 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, 36.3% of older women down from 39.2% in 2011 and 22.7% of older men up from 21.8%.


• Across older age groups, both men and women living in a couple were more likely to be in very good or good health than those not living in a couple, regardless of whether those not living in a couple lived with other people.

Long gone are the days when census statistics were published in huge printed reports. Now ONS is making the latest census information as easy as possible to use online so everyone can navigate the breadth and depth of census information and find reliable answers to their questions.  In this blog Jen Woolford sets out the variety of ways in which people will be able to access the census statistics they need in the coming months. 

See also Jen Woolfords’s follow-up blog (4 April) on latest 2021 Census products at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/352da32

An exciting new phase of ONS’s 2021 Census outputs lifts the lid on the depth of census data with the launch of a flexible table builder, also known as the ‘create a custom dataset’ tool.  For the first time, this will allow users to look for interactions between census topics which are important to them and build their own datasets. 

See also https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/3516c11 and the release of subsequent flexible data sets on sexual orientation and gender identity (4 April) at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/352d824

Wales on Census Day. It includes information on their country of birth, economic activity and industry, as well as other characteristics. 

The main findings from the analysis include:

• There were 136,000 non-UK-born short-term residents recorded by Census 2021; 45% were men and 55% were women, while a third (33%) were aged between 20 and 24 years.


• Compared with the 2011 Census, the proportion of EU-born short-term residents fell from 35% to 25% in 2021, while the proportion of non-EU-born residents rose from 65% to 75%.


• Almost a third of non-UK-born short-term residents lived in London (29%), while Westminster (and City of London) (1.4%), and Cardiff (0.6%) were the English and Welsh local authorities with the highest percentage of non-UK-born short-term residents in their total population.


• China was the most common country of birth for non-UK-born short-term residents (21%) followed by India (10%) and Romania (5%); in 2011, India, China and United States were the most common, while Romania was not present in the top 10.


• Of non-UK-born short-term residents, 42% were economically inactive students, with 45% of this population born in China.

Life outcomes vary a lot between ethnic groups. Using the England and Wales 2021 Census data, this article look at variations in health, disability, overcrowding and home ownership, as well as levels of education and employment. Some of the findings show that

• Professional occupations were most common for people who identified as “Indian” and “Chinese” (these are people who selected “Indian” or “Chinese” within “Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh”).


• Social rented housing was more common for people within “Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African” groups.


• Self-reported health is worse for people who said they were “Gypsy or Irish Traveller” (within the “White” ethnic category).

Recent analysis of the 2021 Census data looks at people living in the local authorities of England and Wales who are in and out of work, covering employment, unemployment and economic inactivity.

It shows on Census Day, 21 March 2021, that 57.2% of usual residents aged 16 years and over were in employment. The local authority with the lowest percentage of employment was East Lindsey (45.8%) while Wandsworth had the highest percentage (69.6%).

Around 3 in 100 (3.4%) usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales were unemployed, and by local authority this ranged from 6.3% in Newham (London) to 0.9% in the Isles of Scilly, and 1.7% in South Lakeland.

Coastal local authorities including East Lindsey (51.3%), North Norfolk (51.1%) and Tendring (50.3%) had some of the highest proportions of usual residents aged 16 years and over who were economically inactive, whereas some local authorities in London, including Wandsworth (26.4%), Lambeth (26.7%), and the City of London (29.1%) had the lowest percentages; nationally, 39.4% were economically inactive.

ONS has released change over time data on its Census maps.

Census maps is an interactive tool to explore 2021 Census data across England and Wales for different topics down to a neighbourhood level.

Users can now see how areas have changed between the censuses in 2011 and 2021, by selecting 'Mode' and 'Change since 2011'.

The map will switch to display the change from 2011, usually as a percentage point (pp) change. A percentage point change is the difference between percentages. For example, if the chosen group of people or households made up 10.2% of the population in 2011 and 9.1% in 2021, this would be shown as a decrease of -1.1pp.

Users can explore local areas by searching or zooming in on Census maps, down to a neighbourhood level. The tool is embeddable for use in other websites.

ONS has explored the 2021 Census data to create to produce a feature article focusing on geographic differences in general health, disability, and unpaid care across England and Wales.

High rates of bad health, disability, and unpaid care indicate a greater level of health and social care need and could indicate that interventions are needed in these areas, such as increased service provision.

The narrative takes the reader on a visual tour highlighting changes since 2011 and differences between areas. You can then find the full story for your local area using an interactive map.

ONS has published an article on Families in England and Wales using data from the 2021 Census. It details changes since 2011 and the geography of family types: lone parent; multi-generational; same-sex couple; multi-family households; and children with a second parental address.

An accompanying article (at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/3596f18)

covers new analysis on the rising numbers of adults living with their parents. The article itself can be downloaded at https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/adultchildrenlivingwiththeirparents

ONS group Census 2021 data together based on who or what the information is about, for example, people or households.

They make population types from these groups or subsets of them. For example, people who are usually resident in England or Wales make up the population type usual residents. 

Read about the measurements they used for Census 2021 data.

Build a custom area profile allows you to get data by different area types, for example your neighbourhood, ward, parish, local authority district or parliamentary constituency. And if it does not have the geography you want, you can draw your own on a map.

With the tool, you can choose different topics from Census 2021 data, save the area you have drawn to use again, export your area profile as an image or spreadsheet (CSV) or add your profile to a website.

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at health, disability, and unpaid care. There is a bulletin for each of these topics.

This release includes univariate data (one variable only) down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible. It also includes data for ward-level geographies for a number of topic summary datasets. Further ward data will be published on 30 January. Multivariate data (more than one variable) will be released later this year.

This data answers questions such as:

• how many people in England and Wales described their general health as “Very good” or “Good”?


• which areas had the highest numbers of people with “Bad” and “Very bad” health?


• how many people were identified as disabled?


• how many unpaid carers were there in England and Wales?


• how did age-standardised health outcomes compare across England and Wales from 2011?

ONS has updated its local 2021 Census articles, telling you the story of how where you live changed in 10 years. Every one of the 331 local area reports now includes a section on housing tenure, health, disability and unpaid care. You can also find out about the change in population size, average (median) age, ethnic groups, religion, national identity and work.

This is the first of a series of detailed articles on the topic of international migration that ONS is producing using data from the 2021 Census. The article provides analyses of the migrant population of England and Wales and how it has changed, looking at the characteristics of country of birth and passports held. It also includes analyses of economic activity and industry of employment of the non-UK-born population, as well as the characteristics of those who arrived in recent years. 

ONS has added ward-level data to the 2021 Census topic summaries. Ward-level data are data provided at geographies as low as electoral ward boundaries and are data available as separate datasets within the topic summary release. Please note that ward data are not available for the sexual orientation and gender identity topic summary. 

ONS has published an article on the changing picture of living arrangements in England and Wales. This is the first of a series of detailed articles on the topic of legal partnership status, families and people with a second address that ONS are producing using data from the 2021 Census.

The article provides an overview of people’s living arrangements. It includes analysis on: their legal partnership status; non-dependent children; people living alone; people with second addresses; and, whether people had moved in the year prior to the census.

ONS has used 2021 Census data to explore how the qualification levels of resident workers and jobseekers differ between local authorities in England and Wales. How qualified an area’s workforce is can indicate the quality of locally available jobs, whether they require higher levels of education and whether they are higher-paid. Areas with good educational attainment, opportunities and job markets are likely to have a richer local economy. Users can explore the highest and lowest ranked areas in the ONS map, and see the areas where the workforce has similar mixes of qualification levels.

This article comments on the changing picture of marriage and civil partnership status in England and Wales. It provides an overview of adults' legal partnership status, including: changes over time; where groups of each legal partnership status live; education; ethnicity; and, religion.

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at education. This includes univariate data (one variable only) down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible. Multivariate data will be released in early 2023.

The results include data about people who have obtained academic, vocational or professional qualifications, as well as the number of schoolchildren and full-time students, answering questions such as:

• how many people aged 16 years or older held higher education qualifications?


• how many schoolchildren and full-time students were there in England and Wales in 2021?


• which region was the most highly qualified in England and Wales?

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at sexual orientation and gender identity. This includes univariate data (one variable only) down to Middle Super Output Area (MSOA), where possible. Multivariate data will be released in early 2023.

The results include data about the self-reported sexual orientation of people in England and Wales, answering questions such as:

• how many people chose to answer the question on sexual orientation?


• how does sexual orientation vary across England and Wales?

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at housing. This includes univariate data down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible.

The release includes three bulletins on housing, communal establishments and second addresses. These provide information from Census 2021 about:

• How many households owned their accommodation compared with those who rent


• How many households used renewable energy for their central heating across England and Wales


• Whether or not more households have use of a car or van than in 2011


• How many people were staying in communal establishments on Census Day


• How many people were staying in care homes


• What were the most common types of second addresses

At the time of the 2021 Census, England and Wales was in the middle of a period of lockdown due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It was also a time when swathes of the workforce were on furlough, while many others were working from home. The census results on the labour market and travel to work are reflective of this period of unparalleled and rapid change, as ONS’s Jon Wroth-Smith explains.

Find out how life changed for people living in different local authority areas in England and Wales. Read about changes in median age, working hours, ethnic group, religion and more, with a whole article dedicated to each individual local authority area. Each article is tailored to show your area's census story so far. See

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/howyourareahaschangedin10yearscensus2021/2022-11-08

ONS has also released census data on employment and industry and has published an article on how industries have changed at a local level between censuses. Take a look at emerging digital and creative jobs and what is happening to traditional sectors. See

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/howindustrieshavechangedatalocallevelbetweencensuses/2022-12-08

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at labour market and travel to work. This includes univariate data down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible.

The results include data about the number of people in work and what they do for work, answering questions such as:

• how many people were employed on Census Day?


• what was the most common occupation in England and Wales?


• which industry in England and Wales did most people work in?

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at Welsh language. This includes univariate data on Welsh language skills (speaking, reading, writing, understanding) down to Output Area (OA) level and data on Welsh language speaking skills, by age, down to local authority level.

You can read the National Statistician’s blog on understanding the 2021 Census data on the Welsh language at 

https://digitalanddata.blog.gov.wales/2022/12/06/chief-statisticians-update-understanding-census-2021-data-about-the-welsh-language/

See how well you know the population of your local authority area with ONS’s interactive quiz, using data from the 2021 Census 2021.

Can you estimate how many people live in your local authority area? Could you guess what percentage of people near you identify with a particular religion or ethnic group? The answers may surprise you when you test how well you know your area.

Have a go, see how you do, and share score/ See: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/playthecensus2021quizhowwelldoyouknowyourarea/2022-12-02

ONS has published an article relating to its methods for assessing the benefits for users of the data derived from the 2021 Census in England and Wales. See https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/methodsforassessingthebenefitsofcensus2021englandandwales

ONS has published the next phase of the 2021 Census topic summaries for England and Wales looking at ethnic group, national identity, language and religion
See https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/33a6c2a

These include univariate data down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible, covering

• which ethnic groups people identified with? 


• the main language people use? 


• how well people, who do not have English as a main language, could speak English?


• how people describe their national identity?


• which religious groups people identified with? 

As in previous topic summary releases, ONS have produced a number of statistical bulletins explaining the data, showing charts, tables and supporting information including statistical methods and quality measures.? You can view these at:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/33a6d77

The data, as well as the recent statistics on UK armed forces veterans, have been updated on Census maps. See https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/censusmaps/2022-11-02

Detailed information about variables, definitions, and classifications to help when using Census 2021 data can be found in the 2021 Census dictionary.  See https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/census2021dictionary

ONS confirms that the 2021 Census labour market and travel to work topic summary will be published on 8 December 2022. This will include univariate data (one variable only) down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible. 

ONS confirms that the 2021 Census topic summary on Welsh language skills will be published on 6 December 2022. This will include univariate data on Welsh language skills (speaking, reading, writing, understanding) down to Output Area (OA) level and data on Welsh language speaking skills, by age, down to local authority level.

The first 2021 Census insights into UK armed forces veterans have been published and the UK wide veterans’ survey is now live. The data show the numbers of veterans for all geographical areas down to Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) level.

The Census 2021 results about UK armed forces veterans include data about people who have previously served in the regular forces, reserve forces or both. Further information on other characteristics of veterans such as health, education and employment will follow in our releases next year.

ONS confirms that the 2021 Census 2021 ethnic group, national identity, language, and religion topic summary will be published on 29 November 2022.This will include univariate data (one variable only) down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible.

ONS has published the next phase of 2021 Census outputs for England and Wales looking at topics including migration, country of birth and household size and people’s living arrangements. In this phase ONS is publishing statistics below Local Authority level for the first time. This includes univariate data (one variable only) down to Output Area (OA) level, where possible. There are also statistical bulletins providing text, charts and tables and supporting information including statistical methods and quality measures.

New interactive maps will help users find out what people's lives were like across England and Wales in response to the 2021 Census. They allow users to see the data not just at the local authority area level, but at the local neighbourhood as well (go to https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKONS/bulletins/3358af7)

ONS has published an article relating to its assessment of the benefits of the 2021 Census in England and Wales.

The Census Benefits Assessment Project will seek to assess and understand the benefits of the 2021 Census data for users. In preparation for the census, an engagement exercise was undertaken with stakeholders from central government, local government and the private sector to identify and quantify forecasted benefits of census data to users. The forecast benefits to users were approximately £5.5bn.

Following the successful enumeration phase of the census in March 2021, ONS plans to re-engage with stakeholders to check how they are using the data to understand if the forecast benefits have been realised. ONS will also look to see if any new benefits have been identified in order toto estimate the final benefit of the 2021 Census data to users.

ONS released the first results from 2021 Census in England and Wales on 28 June 2022  The release presents five datasets containing population and household estimates for England and for Wales, rounded to the nearest 100, at local authority level. These are: 

• usual resident population by sex 


• usual resident population by 5-year age group 


• usual resident population by sex and 5-year age group 


• usual resident population density 


• number of households

Use ONS’s interactive article to see how the population size has changed in your local authority area and how it compares with others in England and Wales (see

https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censuspopulationchange/)

And in the ONS 2021 Census population map game you can move across England and Wales by correctly guessing whether the number of people living in an area is higher or lower than others (see https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/playthecensus2021populationmapgame/2022-06-28)

As a precursor to the release of the first release of the 2021 Census 2021 results on 28 June, ONS has published The Story of the Census. Largely distilled from CGGer Ian White’s yet unpublished Census and Sensitivity: A History of the UK Census, this article looks back at the history of the census, from the very first one in 1801, when the government was worried about famine and needed to know many people to feed, right up to our digital-first census last year. 

ONS have published part two of their response to the feedback they received during the Census 2021 outputs consultation that took place in summer 2021.  In the consultation, they asked users for feedback on their proposals for the content design and release of Census 2021 data and analysis for England and Wales.   

In this second and final report, they focus on feedback about their phase two, phase three and beyond 2023 proposals. In response to this feedback, they also discuss which proposals they are changing or considering further.

On 12 January 2022, the Centre for Ageing and Demography at the ONS has released 2020-based interim national population projections, Past and projected period and cohort life tables and a blog to accompany the projections release.

The census is one of the most important sources of data and statistics that can help answer some of the most pressing questions facing society today. The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has now published its assessment of Census 2021 highlighting the successful collection operation and what still needs to be done for the results to gain National Statistics accreditation.  

The Census 2021 collection operation was a fantastic success with more than 97% of households in England and Wales completing their questionnaire to make sure they are represented when it comes to provision for local services. But just as big a challenge is turning the information you have provided into statistics we can all use. Ed Dunn (Deputy Director at the ONS and Head of Census Data Transformation Division) explains what is happening now and when the results will be available.

Between January and May this year, we released the 1961 Census Small Area Statistics (SAS). The Census Historical Research team has been exploring the data by comparing it with the 2011 Census. This has allowed us to see just how much society has changed in the intervening 50 years. We’re pleased to let you know that the result of this investigation is now available. We've included some interactive maps so that you can explore the data for local areas.

On 13 July 2021, the Office for National Statistics launched a public consultation outlining our proposals for the content design and shape of the release plans for Census 2021 outputs.

ONS invited views on their proposed Census 2021 Output Geography Policy, and their plans for geography products and services. The consultation took place from 5 November 2020 to 18 December 2020 and the response is published above.

ONS invited views on their initial proposed design of 2021 Census outputs and the dissemination channels for England and Wales.

The consultation covered all aspects of 2021 Census outputs. This included their plans for a flexible dissemination system to access the majority of census data, and the approach for statistical disclosure control for 2021 Census outputs. They also informed users of the plans for specialist products (including microdata and origin-destination products), geography and the use of administrative data to improve and supplement outputs.

They consulted with users to:

obtain feedback on the proposed design and method of dissemination for 2021 Census data
help them prioritise our future research and development of 2021 Census outputs
inform the order in which they release products after 2021 Census
understand user requirements for a variety of census products

The UK Statistics Authority has made its recommendations on the content and conduct of the 2021 Census. The census is planned to take place on 21 March 2021. A White Paper was published on Friday 14 December 2018.

National Records of Scotland are planning to carry out a census in March 2022. This website provides the design and plans for the operation.

This article overviews research into the use of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) data for estimating the number of rooms in the 2021 Census, and for measuring overcrowding.

National Records for Scotland (NRS) continues its planning for Scotland’s next Census which has now been postponed until 2022 as a result of the COVID pandemic. It will build on the success of the census in 2011 and will be designed and managed in Scotland, to best meet the needs of its users. It will be conducted primarily online, while offering support and alternative routes of completion where required. It will aim to make best use of technology, digital services and other existing data to support the census process. For the latest news and updates visit the 2022 Census website linked above.

Information on the planning for the 2021 Census in Northern Ireland, including the consultation programme, latest news and events, can be found at the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) census website linked above. In particular, NISRA has recently published two assessment reports relating to the 2021 Census: 2021 Census Quality Assurance Strategy https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/2021-census-quality-assurance-strategy This report (21 January 2021) outlines the quality assurance work that will be undertaken by NISRA to ensure that the outputs released from the 2021 Census are robust, reliable and meet the needs of users. NISRA report for Phase 2 of Census 2021 National Statistics assessment https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/nisra-report-phase-2-census-2021-national-statistics-assessment This report (28 January 20212) provides an update on NISRA’s progress to gain National Statistics accreditation, as part of Phase 2 of the Census 2021 National Statistics assessment.

ONS has published (28 January 2021) a report following the announcement of Scotland's Census move to 2022 and is a statement of agreement between the National Statistician and the Registrars General for Scotland and Northern Ireland, aiming to enhance the extent of harmonisation that takes place across the UK Censuses in 2021 and 2022.

ONS has published (January 2021) the final report in its series of question development reports for the 2021 Census. There are reports available on a range of topics.

The ONS has published (2 October 2020) its end-to-end statistical design to ensure 2021 Census results are of high quality and are fit for purpose

ONS has published (2 October 2020) the potential impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the operational plans for the 2021 Census and the design changes and contingency plans made in response.

ONS has published (1 February 2021) two reports updating users on its progress towards the production of 2021 Census outputs:

National Statistics accreditation for the 2021 Census (January 2021 update) www.ons.gov.uk/census/nationalstatisticsaccreditation
The report provides a response to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) findings and further evidence of how ONS is complying with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Conduct of the Censuses in the UK: November 2020 progress update www.ons.gov.uk/census/legislationandpolicy
The report provides progress on the statement of agreement between the National Statistician and the Registrars General for Scotland and Northern Ireland on the conduct of the 2021 censuses in the UK.

ONS is forming a User Group for 2021/22 UK Census Data to best understand user needs and to gather ongoing feedback on its output plans, and particularly in recognition that the provision of UK census data will be more challenging than ever in light of the different census years within the UK. The User Group will be run predominantly by correspondence.

In summer 2021, ONS ran a public consultation on their?proposals for the content design and release of Census 2021 data and analysis, for England and Wales.

312 individuals and organisations took part, including MRS (See our response here). Respondents shared their views on the proposals to release census data in a phased approach and the analysis they plan to conduct to draw insights from that data. The consultation covered all phases of the Census 2021 outputs release schedule, including:

• Phase one: population estimates cross tabulated by age and sex, household estimates, and other univariate data published as part of topic summaries or area profiles


• Phase two: multivariate data for the usual resident, household, and communal establishment population bases


• Phase three: alternative population bases, small populations, origin-destination and microdata


• Beyond 2023: UK data, and more complex analysis

ONS have published part one of their response to the consultation feedback. In it, they share about the feedback respondents gave about the phase one proposals. In response to this feedback, they also discuss which proposals they are changing or considering further.