Census

Purple logo for the 2021 Census
Census 2021 Logo Purple

Every ten years the Government undertakes a census, which collects a wide range of information on population, health, ethnicity, lone parents, households, and the economic status of residents.

The Census is the largest single statistical exercise undertaken by government and remains the most important source of information on the size and nature of the population. For many years, the Census has been relied upon to underpin national and local decision making. The Census is widely acknowledged as playing a fundamental and unique role in the provision of comprehensive and robust population statistics.

These datasets can be explored using the Office for National Statistics(ONS) webmap below, the topic summaries below and the full datasets on NOMIS.

Phase 1 tools to explore the data:

Other Summaries: Census 2021 Population Protected Characteristics

Population Topic Summary

The resident population in County Durham increased by 1.7% (8,800 people) between 2011 and 2021, compared to a 6.6% increase across England.

  • The proportion of children aged 0 to 15 remained relatively unchanged in this period at around 88,000. Across England this group increased by 4.6%.
  • However, the working age population (aged 16 to 64) fell to 322,600, a fall of 3.1% (10,300 fall). Across England this group increased by 3.7%.
  • The number of residents of retirement age (65 and over) increased by 20.6% (19,000 increase) and this group now represents around 1 in 5 residents in the county (21.3%).
  • Around 2.5% of the resident population lived in communal establishments in 2021 (13,300 people), a similar proportion to that in 2011 and higher than the 1.7% nationally.

While the resident population in the county increased it is important to understand how this increase has occurred.  There are two components that contribute to population change, net natural change ( births minus deaths) and net migration.  Both components can be either positive or negative.

Between 2011 and 2021 there were an estimated 5,500 more deaths in County Durham than births (negative net natural change).  This means that the population increase during this period can be attributed to positive inward migration to the level of around 14,300 people moving into the county.  It is also likely that a proportion of this growth in due to the expansion of Durham University in recent years.

In addition, the changes to the broad age groups above, in particular the  decline in the working age population, is likely the result of relatively large numbers of residents born during the ‘baby boom’ period in the 1960’s, now ageing into retirement (becoming 65 and older) rather than because of net outward migration. This falling working age cohort could impact the growth of the County’s economy and the aspirations set out in the economic strategy and adds to the pressure of the large number of people currently economically inactive in the County, (26.6% of the population 2022).

The increasingly ageing population (aged 65 and over) will impact the need for social care services in the future.

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Households Topic Summary

The number of occupied household spaces in County Durham increased by around 11,000 between 2011 and 2021, an increase of 4.9% and lower than that seen across England (6.2% increase).

  • The number of single person households increased by 13.6% (9,500 extra households) compared to only a 5.8% increase nationally, while retired households increase by 16% rising to 57,900, again higher than the 14% increase nationally.
  • Single family households remained stable at around 146,600, with a similar picture seen across the North East and England. Multiple family households, while small in number, increased by 48.3% rising to 8,600 households in 2021.  This in much lower that the doubling seen across England where these household types increased by 110%.
  • Some household sizes also changed during this period with smaller households (1 or 2 people) increasing by around 8.7%, a higher increase than nationally (5.8%), while larger households (3 or more people) remained relatively stable.
  • The number of households that were experiencing at least one dimension of deprivation increased by 8.7% between 2011 and 2021 compared to 5.8% increase nationally.  However, the overall proportion of households that experienced deprivation remained lower than that seen across England at 44.5% compared to 48.4% nationally.  Use the ONS map above to explore this topic more closely.

The changes to the household types and composition detailed above can in part be attributed to the ageing population detailed in the population topic above, the COVID pandemic, changes to the economy and possible early indications of cost of living increases post pandemic.

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Accommodation Type Topic Summary

The following is based upon the number of occupied household spaces identified in the 2021 Census.

  • The was an increase of 13.2% in the number of households in detached properties in the county between 2011 and 2021, rising to 48,800, compared to 8.5% across England.
  • Households in semi-detached properties also increased by 7.9%, rising to 89,800. Across England there was an 7.1% increase.
  • Households in terraced properties fell by 2%, falling to 83,000, while across England there was little change.
  • These 3 property types account for 94.4% of all household properties types in the County compared with 77.4% nationally.
  • The following provides more detail around these property types:
    1. Detached: (48,800 households in these properties) 13.2% increase, 20.8% of all types,
    2. Semi-detached: (89,800 households in these properties) 7.92% increase, 38.2% of all types,
    3. Terraced: (83,000 households in these properties) 2% fall, 35.4% of all types,
    4. Purpose-built block of flats or tenement: (9,600 households in these properties) 5.1% increase, 4.1% of all types,
    5. Converted/Shared house or converted Commercial property: (3,200 households in these properties) 26.7% fall, 1.3% of all types,
    6. Caravan or other mobile or temporary structures: (400 households in these properties) 69.3% increase, 0.2% of all types.

This topic can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS.

Other summaries:

Central Heating Topic Summary

The following data applies to all occupied households spaces and the groups refer to those used in the 2011 Census.  Some categories from 2011 were split in 2021 and data around renewable energy was added.

  • The number of occupied households spaces with no central heating in County Durham is small and has fallen by 24.9% since 2011 from 1,900 to 1,400.  Compared to England the County has a lower proportion of occupied households spaces without central heating (0.6%) compared to England (1.5%),
  • Those with gas central heating have remained relatively the same with a small fall of 0.6%, falling to 189,800.  Proportionally, gas central heating remains the largest form of central heating in the County covering 80.8% of occupied households spaces, higher than across England at 75%:
    1. In 2021 this form of central heating was broken down in two further categories: ‘Mains Gas’ and ‘Tank/Bottled Gas’,
    2. Mains gas covered the majority of gas central heating systems (99.2%).
  • Electric (including storage heaters) central heating increased slightly by 3.1%, rising to 7,200 occupied spaces, and representing 3.1% of all occupied spaces. Across England the increase was 11.1% and 8.7% of occupied spaces use this form of central heating.
  • Those using oil central heating fell by 8.6% to 5,600 spaces covering 2,7% of all occupied spaces.
  • Those using solid fuel halved in number falling by 55.1% to 2,500, with similar falls seen across England as a whole.  Proportionally the County is still more reliant on this type of central heating (1.1%) than nationally with only 0.3% of spaces across England using solid fuel.
  • Renewable Energy (new for 2021) on its own, was used in around 500 occupied spaces in County Durham and it is estimated that around 1,100 use renewable energy in conjunction with another form of central heating.  Combined these cover 0.6% of occupied spaces compared to 1.5% nationally.

This topic can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS.

Tenure Topic Summary

The following is based upon the number of occupied household spaces identified in the 2021 Census.

  • The number of households that owned their accommodation remained relatively stable at around 146,800 households spaces, compared to a 2.8% increase nationally.  These spaces represent 62.5% of all occupied spaces in 2021 and was higher than the proportion across England (61.3%).
  • Socially rented spaces increased by 4.1% rising to 46,900 in 2021 in County Durham and represented 1 in 5 spaces (20%) in 2021 and higher than the 17.1% across England.
  • Privately rented spaces increased by 42.8% over the 10 year period in the County compared to 29% across England.  This area represents around 17.1% of all spaces in the County, (England 20.5%).
  • The number of households living rent free has fallen significantly from 2,800 to just 200, a fall of 93.1% and similar to the fall across England (89.7%).

This topic can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS.

Veterans Summary (New for Census 2021) Dashboard

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Topic Summary

These is a new datasets collected for the first in the 2021 Census and represent the resident population aged 16 and over.

Gender Identity

  • The majority of residents recorded their gender identity the same as was registered at birth and represented 95.1% of residents (412,600 residents), (England 93.5%).
  • 4.6% did not record an answer (19,800 residents).
  • Around 0.2% of the remaining respondents  recorded themselves as either ‘Trans Woman’, ‘Trans Man’ or ‘Other’, (England 0.3%).

This topic can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS.

Sexual Orientation

  • The majority of residents recorded their sexual orientation as ‘Straight or Heterosexual’ and represented 91.4% of residents (396,600 residents), (England 89.4%).
  • 5.8% did not record an answer (25,000 residents), (England 7.5%).
  • Around 6,100 residents recorded their sexual orientation as ‘Gay or Lesbian’, around 1.4% of residents, (England 1.5%).
  • Around 5,200 residents recorded their sexual orientation as ‘Bisexual’, around 1.2% of residents, (England 1.3%).
  • Around 1,100 residents recorded their sexual orientation as ‘Other’, around 0.2% of residents, (England 0.3%).

This topic can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS.

Ethnic Group Topic Summary

Historically, County Durham is less ethnically diverse than many other areas and England as a whole.  In 2001 only 1% of the county’s population were from ethnicities other than ‘white’.  This increased to 1.8% in 2011 and again has increased to 3.2% in 2021 (compared to 9%, 14.6% and 19% respectively across England).

  • Those Durham residents identifying as Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh increased by 61.3% rising to 7,800 people in 2021. Across England this group increased by 31%.
  • Those Durham residents identifying as Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African more than doubled, increasing by 148% and rising to 1,700 people in 2021. Across England this group increased by 29%.
  • Those Durham residents identifying as being from Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups increased by 60% rising to around 5,000 people in 2021. Across England this group increased by 39.9%.
  • Those Durham residents identifying as being from ‘Other’ ethnic groups more than doubled, increasing by 152% and rising to around 2,100 people in 2021. Across England this group increased by 124%.

It is important to note that while these percentage increases across the County seem large they should be viewed in the context of the much smaller number of residents they represent.

Around 43.5% of County Durham residents from other ethnic backgrounds live in and around Durham City.

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Proficiency in English

As detailed in the Ethnicity section above, County Durham is not ethnically diverse and this is reflected in the number of households with adults who speak English and where residents main language is English in the county.

  • Only 1.3% of households in County Durham have no adults who speak English, compare to 2.5% across the North East and 6.4% nationally,
  • Around 1.9% of residents aged 3 and over reported that their first language was not English. Again this is lower than the North East (3.5%) and England (9.2%).

Around 25% of households in and around Durham City had no adults that spoke English.

Around 36% of County Durham residents the reported English was not their first language, live in and around the Durham City area.

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Migration and Country of Birth Topic Summary

As mentioned in the population topic above, population growth in County Durham between 2011 and 2021 was though positive net inward migration from other parts of the UK and world.  This inward migration is also reflected in the various migration datasets from the Census.

  • While the number of people recording their country of birth as the UK remained stable at around 499,000 those born in other European countries increased by 39.3% (lower than the 70.2% increase across England) rising to 10,500 people and those from Asian countries increase by 59.6% (higher than the 28.2% increase across England) rising to 7,300 people.  There were also increases from other countries across the world, although these were smaller in number.
  • The number of people born outside of the UK, who have been residents of County Durham for 5 or more years increased from 10,600 to 15,900, an increase of 49.7% compared to 41.4% across England as a whole.
  • The number of people with a residency of 2 years or less also increased by 42.1% rising to 4,200.  This is likely mainly due to the expansion of Durham University as the majority of these people live in and around Durham City centre,
  • Top countries of births in 2021 for County Durham residents were:
      1. Germany 2,238 (2011: 2,133),
      2. Poland 2,199 (2011: 1,740),
      3. China 1,617 (2011: 742),
      4. India 1,319 (2011: 906).

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Health, Disability and Unpaid Care Topic Summary

General Health

Data from the 2011 and 2021 suggests that overall, the general health of residents has improved, with 92.5% of the County’s population reporting that they were in ‘Good to fair’ health in 2021, slightly up from 91.8% in 2011.  (England: 2021: 94.8%; 2011: 94.5%).

  • The number of residents who reported they were in ‘Very Good Health’ increased by 6,900, an increase of 3.2%.  However across England this group increased by 9.5%.
  • The number of residents who reported they were in ‘Good Health’ increased by 5,400, an increase of 3.2%.  However across England this group increased by 5%.
  • The number of residents who reported they were in ‘Fair Health’ fell by 800, a fall of 0.9%.  However across England this group increased by 2.8%.
  • The number of residents who reported they were in ‘Bad Health’ fell by 2,400, a fall of 7.4%.  However across England this group fell by only 0.1%.
  • The number of residents who reported they were in ‘Very Bad Health’ fell by 300 to 42,600 residents, a fall of 3.5%.  However across England this group increase slightly by  0.3%.

Disability

This data relates to those residents who reported whether their day to day activities were limited due illness or disability.  As with general health above, the data suggests that there has been some improvement in County Durham with the proportion of residents whose activities were not limited or only limited a little in crease slightly to 89.3% in 2021 from 87.7% in 2011.  (England: 2021: 92.7%; 2011: 91.7%).

  • The number of residents who reported that their day to day activities were limited a lot fell by 6,900, a fall of 10.9%.  However across England this group fell by 6%.
  • The number of residents who reported that their day to day activities were limited a little increased by 5,400, an increase of 9.2%.  However across England this group increased by 13.9%.
  • The number of residents who reported that their day to day activities were not limited increased by 10,300, an increase of 2.6%.  However across England this group increased by 7%.

When looking across these two datasets general health and disability seems to have improved across County Durham, however the County still lags behind England which has seen larger improvements between 2011 and 2021 than the County.

Unpaid Care

Comparisons between 2011 and 2021 can be made with adjustments to the age ranges used.  The 2011 dataset provided data for all residents in the County, whereas the 2021 dataset if for those residents aged 5 years and over.  However, using these adjustments it is possible to see that the proportion of the County’s resident population providing unpaid care fell between 2011 and 2021 from 12.4% to 10.6%.  However this still means that around 52,700 residents were providing unpaid care in County Durham in 2021. (England: 8.8%).

  • In 2021 10.6% of residents aged 5 and over (around 52,700 people) provided some form of unpaid care, compared to 8.8% across England.  This is a fall from 12.4% (60,100 residents) in 2021:
    1. Nearly 445,000 residents (89.4% of the resident population aged 5 and over) provided no unpaid care compared to 93.5% in 2011, (England 91.2%),
    2. Nearly 22,500 residents (4.5% of the resident population aged 5 and over) provided up to 19 hours of unpaid care compared to 7.1% in 2011, (England 4.3%),
    3. Nearly 12,000 residents (2.4% of the resident population aged 5 and over) provided 20 to 49 hours of unpaid care compared to 1.8% in 2011, (England 1.8%),
    4. Over 18,000 residents (3.7% of the resident population aged 5 and over) provided 50 hours or more of unpaid care compared to 3.5% in 2011. (England 2.6%),

These topics can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS:

Religion Topic Summary

County Durham is traditionally a ‘Christian’ County.  However, between 2011 and 2021 the number of residents who identified their religion as ‘Christian’ fell by 22.9%, falling to 285,200 residents while the number of residents recording as having no religion increased by 88% rising to 201,700 people.

  • While the number of Christians in the county has fallen by 22.9% they still represent the largest group within the county covering 56.2% of residents.
  • Those recording having no religion represented 39.7% of residents an increase of 88%.
  • Around 26,700 residents responded as not having any religion in 2021 and this was a fall of 12% from 2011.
  • Of the other main religious groups:
    1. Buddhist (1,300 residents): 28.9% increase,
    2. Hindu (1,100 residents): 63.1% increase,
    3. Jewish (300 residents): 37.5% increase,
    4. Muslim (2,900 residents): 51.1% increase,
    5. Sikh (800 residents): 37.8% increase,
    6. ‘Other’ (2,200 residents): 44.1% increase.

It is important to note that while these percentage increases across the County in the other religious groups above seem large they should be viewed in the context of the much smaller number of residents they represent.

Around 31% of residents from other non-Christian religions live in and around Durham City.

This topic can be explored in further detail using the ONS interactive map above.

Economic Status Topic Summary

The following refers to the resident population aged 16 and over.

As detailed in the population section above, there has been a fall in the number of working age people (aged 16 to 64) since 2011.  While the fall in this group will in part contribute to the changes detailed here on our residents economic status in 2021 there is also evidence that there has been a fall in economic participation in the economy by residents.

Economically Active

  • The number of residents who were estimated to be economically active fell by 5.1% between 2011 and 2021, falling to around 235,500 residents.  In addition, the proportion of those aged 16 and over who were economically active fell from 58.3% to 54.3%, suggesting fewer residents being economically active in 2021.
  • Similarly, those residents economically active and in employment fell by 2.9%, falling to 222,200 residents with the proportion of the 16+ population falling from 47.7% to 44.4%.
  • Those residents economically active but unemployed (including full-time students) fell by 31% falling to 13,300 residents.  The proportion this group represented fall from 4.5% to 3.1%.

Economically Inactive

  • The number of residents who were estimated to be economically inactive increased by 12% between 2011 and 2021, rising to around 1985,500 residents.  In addition, the proportion of those aged 16 and over who were economically inactive increased from 41.7% to 45.7%, suggesting fewer residents being economically active in 2021,
    1. Those identified as ‘retired’ increased by 6.9% rising to 111,200 residents representing 25.6% of the 16+ population and an increase from 24.5% in 2011.
    2. Those identified as ‘students’ increased by 17.7% rising to 28,200 residents representing 6.5% of the 16+ population and an increase from 5.6% in 2011.
    3. Those identified as ‘looking after family or home’ increased by 32.5% rising to 19,000 residents representing 4.4% of the 16+ population and an increase from 3.4% in 2011.
    4. Those identified as ‘long term sick or disabled’ increased by 4% rising to 26,600 residents representing 6.1% of the 16+ population and an increase from 6% in 2011.

This topic can be explored using the full datasets on NOMIS.

Distance to and Method of Travel to Work Topic Summary

The following refers to the resident population aged 16 and over in employment.  ONS have produced a summary around these topics and the reasons for changes within them: ONS Travel to Work and Methods.

Distance to Work

Across all travel distances there were falls in the number of residents traveling for work with a corresponding increase in the number of residents working from home, which more than doubles rising to 53,000 residents from 21,100 in 2011 (an increase of 152.2%).  This group accounted for 23.9% of all working residents in 2021 (2011: 9.2%).  This is mainly due to the effects of the COVID pandemic.

In addition, the number of people working mainly at an offshore installation, in no fixed place, or outside the UK doubled, increasing by 111.8%, rising to 32,000 people.  This group accounted for 14.4% of all working residents in 2021 (2011: 6.6%).

This topic can be explored using the full dataset on NOMIS.

Method of Travel to Work

As detailed above with the changes in the distance people were traveling to work, a similar picture can be seen in the methods of getting to work people were using in 2021 with falls across all methods seen between 2011 and 2021:

    1. Underground, metro, light rail, tram (98 residents): 70.4% fall,
    2. Train (730 residents): 62.5% fall,
    3. Bus, minibus or coach (7,500 residents): 46.4% fall,
    4. Taxi (1,400 residents): 7% fall,
    5. Motorcycle, scooter or moped (600 residents): 44.9% fall,
    6. Driving a car or van (127,500): 17.3% fall,
    7. Passenger in a car or van (11,800 residents): 33.3% fall,
    8. Bicycle (1,600 residents) 28.4% fall,
    9. On foot (15,700 residents): 34% fall.

This topic can be explored using the full dataset on NOMIS.

Industry of Employment Topic Summary

The following refers to the resident population aged 16 and over in employment.

As detailed in the population topic above the fall in the working age population has, in part, caused a fall in the number of people in employment in 2021.  There has been a fall of around 2.5%, with the number of people in employment falling to 222,200.

Industries are defined by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code that represents their current industry or business.  The SIC code is assigned based on the information provided about a firm or organisation’s main activity.

  • The largest industry of employment in 2021 was the ‘Human health and social work activities’ industry which accounted for 15.2% of all employment, closely followed by the ‘Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ industry with 14.7%.  However, only the ‘Human health and social work activities’ industry grew between 2011 and 2021, growth of 5.9%.
  • The largest growth was seen in the ‘Information and communication’ industry which grew by 18.1%, employing around 5,400 people in 2021.
  • The following summarises the changes by industry:
    1. Agriculture, Forestry and fishing: (2,300 residents) 9.7% increase,
    2. Mining and quarrying: (800 residents) 12,1% fall,
    3. Manufacturing: (24,600 residents) 19.1% fall,
    4. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply: (1,800 residents) 24% fall,
    5. Water supply; Sewerage, Waste management and Remediation activities: (2,200 residents) 1.8% fall,
    6. Construction: (20,100 residents) 6.7% increase,
    7. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles: (32,600 residents) 2% fall,
    8. Transport and storage: (10,200 residents) 0.4% fall,
    9. Accommodation and food service activities: (10,100 residents) 17.6% fall,
    10. Information and communication: (5,400 residents) 18.1% increase,
    11. Financial and insurance activities: (3,900 residents) 22.5% fall,
    12. Real estate activities: (3,000 residents) 10.3% increase,
    13. Professional, scientific and technical activities: (8,800 residents) 0.2% increase,
    14. Administrative and support service activities: (9,700 residents) 6.1% increase,
    15. Public administration and defence; compulsory social security: (20,100 residents) 1.8% increase,
    16. Education: (24,100 residents) 1.1% increase,
    17. Human health and social work activities: (33,800 residents) 5.9% increase,
    18. Other Industries: (9,000 residents) 8.9% fall.

This topic can be explored using the full dataset on NOMIS.

Occupation Topic Summary

The following refers to the resident population aged 16 and over in employment.

As detailed in the population topic above the fall in the working age population has, in part, contributed to a fall of around 2.9%, with the number of people by occupation, falling to 222,200.

Occupations classifies what people aged 16 years and over do as their main job. Their job title or details of activities they do in their job and any supervisory or management responsibilities form this classification. This information is used to code responses to an occupation using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020.

  • Higher quality jobs provided around 39% of all employment in County Durham in 2021, compared to 34% in 2011 and 46.4% nationally.  These cover Managers, directors and senior officials, Professional/Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
  • Professional occupations was the largest area providing employment in 2021 with 16.7% of all employment in 2021, up from 14.5% in 2011.  In 2021 an estimated 37,200 residents were employment in the area, an increase of 11% from 2011.
  • Around 23,100 residents recorded their occupation as in the ‘Caring, leisure and other service occupations’ sector and this provides 10.4% of employment and has changed little since 2011.
  • The following summarises the changes in occupation:
    1. Managers, directors and senior officials: (22,500 residents) 11% increase,
    2. Professional occupations: (37,200 residents) 12.1% increase,
    3. Associate professional and technical occupations: (26,900 residents) 10.4% increase,
    4. Administrative and secretarial occupations: (21,200 residents) 18.1% increase,
    5. Skilled trades occupations: (26,100 residents) 9.9% fall,
    6. Caring, leisure and other service occupations: (23,100 residents) 1.6% fall,
    7. Sales and customer service occupations: (19,400 residents) 7.9% fall,
    8. Process, plant and machine operatives: (20,600 residents) 11.9% fall,
    9. Elementary occupations: (25,200 residents) 10.7% fall.

This topic can be explored using the full dataset on NOMIS.

Highest Level of Qualification Topic Summary

The following refers to the resident population aged 16 and over.

  • The number of County Durham residents with no qualification fell between 2011 and 2021 by 22.4%, falling to 117,000 residents.  Across England this group only fell by 13.9%.  This group now represents 20.9% of residents aged 16 and over (2011 27.5%).
  • There have been increases in the number of residents with apprentice and higher level qualifications:
    1. Residents with apprentice level qualifications increase by 52.9%, rising to 27,100 people with similar increases seen in England,
    2. Residents with ‘Level 3’ qualifications (2 or more ‘A’ levels or equivalent) increased by 49.1%, rising to 86,400 people with similar increases seen in England,
    3. Residents with ‘Level 4’ qualifications (Degree level or equivalent or above) increased by 27.1%, rising to 116,000 people with similar increases seen in England.
  • Residents with these higher level qualifications now represent 52.9% of all residents, up from 39.2% in 2011.
  • Those with Level 1 and level 2 qualifications fell by 27.5% and 9.1% respectively.

These changes in the lower and higher level qualifications suggest increasing aspirations amongst County Durham residents and the recognition that better qualifications can lead to better paid and better quality work.

This topic can be explored using the full dataset on NOMIS.

First Release of Census 2021 Data

The first outputs from Census 2021 were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 28th June 2022. These first results included population and household estimates for England and Wales as at Census day (21 March 2021) and by local authority. All data is rounded to 100.  The following infographic provides an overview of this release.  Further detail can be accessed from the ‘2021 Census Reports‘ link above.

Phased Release of Census 2021 Data

Phase 1

ONS will release topic summaries include sets of data, or datasets, most of which include data from a single variable. A variable is a particular characteristic of a person or household, for example, religion or accommodation type.  The timetable for these releases is:

  1. Demography and migration – 2nd November 2022 (Released)
  2. UK armed forces veterans – 10th November 2022 (Released)
  3. Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion – 29th November 2022 (Released)
  4. Labour market and travel to work – 8th December 2022 (Released)
  5. Housing – 5th January 2023 (Released)
  6. Sexual orientation and gender identity – 6th January 2023 (Released)
  7. Education – 10th January 2023 (Released)
  8. Health, disability, and unpaid care – 19th January 2023 (provisional)

Phase 2: From early 2023

Multivariate data will allow you to combine variables and explore relationships between the data, collected from Census 2021 on the usual resident population of England and Wales. We are introducing new functionality for Census 2021 data that will allow you to make your own datasets, as well as view and download ready-made datasets. Get more information about the new functionality and our plans to release multivariate data.

The short-term resident population includes those who were not born in the UK and who intended to stay in the UK for less than 12 months, as of March 2021. Following user feedback, we have moved the release of this alternative population into phase two.

Phase 3: from spring 2023

Data on special populations, small populations, detailed migration data and origin-destination datasets will be released.

Further information is available on the ONS Census 2021 Release Plans page.