Navigating numbers: Census (PowerPoint slideshow)

Explore census data and understand its significance in understanding population dynamics.

1. 2 Contents About the census Census methodology ONS tools

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3. 4 A census in the UK is a count of all people and households A census can be contrasted with sampling in which information is obtained only from a subset of a population.

4. 5 What is the census? The census has been undertaken by the Office for National Statistics every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The census asks questions about you, your household and your home. In doing so, it helps to build a detailed snapshot of our society. Information from the census helps the government and local authorities to plan and fund local services, such as education, doctors' surgeries and roads.

5. 6 Census topics Census 2021 covered: demography including age and sex education ethnic group, national identity, language and religion health, disability and unpaid care housing international migration travel to work and labour market UK armed forces veterans

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7. 8 Creation & development The census is the most complete source of information about the population that we have. Every household in England and Wales completes the census at the same time and answers the same core questions. This makes it easy to compare different parts of the country. In 2021, the census was completed digitally, with 88.9% of households responding online. However, no census is perfect, and some people are inevitably missed. The ONS uses complex statistical techniques to adjust the census counts for those people missed by the census. The census involves a lot of planning , research and testing . The ONS researches and develops both methods and quality assurance in consultation with academics, statisticians, demographers and users of census data.

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9. 10 Census maps ‘Census maps’ is an interactive tool that can be used to explore Census 2021 data across England and Wales for different topics down to neighbourhood level. Datasets used in the map are available within the topic summaries for: demography and migration UK armed forces veterans ethnic group, national identity, language and religion Welsh language in Wales labour market and travel to work housing sexual orientation and gender identity education health, disability and unpaid care

10. 11 Build a custom area profile Create your own profile for a local area in England and Wales using Census 2021 data. You can: find an area by name or postcode draw your own area on a map 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 in CSV format add your profile to a website