Census to go ahead in 2031

UK – The UK government has given the green light to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to carry out a census for England and Wales in 2031.

Census abstract image

The government’s decision comes after a recommendation from the UK Statistics Authority last month, following a consultation, to carry out a census of England and Wales supported by administrative data and new technologies.

Among the recommendations from the UK Statistics Authority was to use a statistical system for population and migration that combines data collection through a questionnaire-based census of the population with increased value from administrative data.

The ONS last carried out a census of England and Wales in 2021. The future of the census had been called into question recently, with New Zealand recently announcing it would cease its twice-a-decade census, replacing it with a focus on administrative data and statistics.

Following the government’s decision to give the go ahead to the next census, the ONS has set up a Census Taskforce, which has begun scoping plans for 2031 and will launch a public consultation in the autumn. 

ONS said the consultation will gather views on which topics that users need from a system of population statistics and will inform the development of the 2031 census questionnaire.

Acting national statistician Emma Rourke said: “We welcome the government’s decision to commission a census in 2031 and thank it for its response. The ONS ran a highly successful census in 2021, at a pivotal time for the country and we will build on that for 2031. 

“It has been clear from consultation and engagement that the census remains of enormous value for informing the most important decisions facing our country.  

“We will work closely with the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as Welsh government, to ensure there are coherent population statistics across the UK.”

Censuses in Scotland and Northern Ireland are carried out by National Records of Scotland (NRS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) respectively.

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