Census 2021

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are publishing the data from Census 2021 between June 2022 and the end of 2023. The results show communities across all local authorities how our local population has changed in the last decade. For information on the proposed publication schedule, see Publication timescale.

Available publications

A full list of the publications released by ONS can be accessed at Census 2021 publications.

We also provide a signpost to main data sets and bulletins issued by the ONS (Office for National Statistics), and reports and data sets created by the Performance and Business Intelligence team at Calderdale Council and other organisations. These can be found at Census 2021 dataset.

What is Census 2021?

Census 2021 was taken on 21 March 2021. It is a survey run every ten years by the ONS. It gives us the most accurate estimate of all people and households in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate censuses). It is used to shape public services in Calderdale.

“The census gives us the richest possible picture of society across England and Wales and is hugely important to inform decisions about all of our public services, from education to health care, and across the private sector.

“The results from this census will give us a crucial baseline from which to monitor and manage change as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Deputy National Statistician Pete Benton.

Publication timescale

The latest publication timescale released by ONS is:

Phase one: summer 2022 to early 2023

• 28 June 2022: Census 2021 first results
  Population and household estimates at local authority level rounded to the nearest 100, statistical bulletins, a report on the quality and methods used, and a couple of interactive tools. Full information is available at First results from Census 2021 in England and Wales.

• 2 November 2022 to 30 January 2023: topic summaries (mainly univariate data) and area profiles
  A series of topic summaries released over three months: Demography and migration | UK armed forces veterans | Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion | Welsh language | Labour market and travel to work | Housing | Sexual orientation and gender identity | Education | Health, disability and unpaid care

  Each topic summary includes datasets and area profiles. The area profiles allow viewing data for a particular area, and compare it against national data.

• 30 January 2023: Ward data
  Data at ward level has been added to each topic summary.

Phase two: winter 2022 to early 2023

• Multivariate data for the usual resident population base
  This data will allow users to combine variables and explore relationships in the data. There will be standard datasets available to view and download on the Nomis website. ONS will host datasets with the ability to select several different variables to create your own results (subject to the data being safe to share and meeting ONS’s publication criteria). Full details can be found at Multivariate data.
• Census 2021 analysis programme
  A detailed three year analysis programme will begin in this phase. ONS have grouped the analysis by topic:
  • Ageing;
  • Demography;
  • Education;
  • Equalities;
  • Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion;
  • Health, disability and unpaid care;
  • Housing;
  • International migration;
  • Labour market;
  • Sexual orientation and gender identity;
  • Travel to work and other geographical analysis;
  • UK armed forces veterans;

  Full details can be found at Analysis programme.

• Short term resident population data
  This includes those not born in the UK and intend to stay in the UK for less than 12 months as at March 2021. Most of the Alternative and small population data is being released in Phase three. Following user feedback, this dataset is being released as part of Phase two. Full details can be found at Alternative and small populations.

Phase three: from spring 2023

• Alternative population bases
  Different geographical locations where individuals could have been counted, for example workplace, workday and out of term populations. Full details can be found at Alternative and small populations.
• Small populations
  Populations defined by their cultural background. These include characteristics such as ethnic group, country of birth, religion or national identity. Full details can be found at Alternative and small populations.
• Detailed migration data
  This covers people or households who moved within the UK or from another country to the UK during the year before the census. Full details can be found at Detailed migration.
• Origin destination data or ‘flow’ data
  The movement of people from one location to another, such as migration flow data, workplace flow data, second address flow data and student flow data. This will be classified as public, safeguarded or secure. Full details can be found at Origin destination.
• Microdata samples
  Anonymised record samples for individuals and households which include some associated census characteristics. This will be classified as public, safeguarded or secure. Full details can be found at Microdata.

UK data: from summer 2023

The censuses of England, Wales and Northern Ireland took place on 21 March 2021. The census for Scotland took place on 20 March 2022 and will not be published before March 2023. More information can be found at UK census data.

Further links

For the latest information see Census 2021.

Find out about the process behind collecting and delivering the census results:

• The making of Census 2021 (video).
• The making of Census 2021 (video, British sign language version).
• Administrative data used in Census 2021: the administrative data sources used in the statistical design for Census 2021, including coverage, accuracy and timeliness.
• Your confidentiality: how the ONS keep your census information secure.
• Story of the Census.