Learning from the past (archive material)
An overriding aim of Improving Migration and Population Statistics (IMPS) is to avoid the large difference which occurred in 2001 between the intercensal estimates and the Census. Those differences occurred in part because of problems with the Census and in part because of problems with the population estimates. The work carried out during 2003 and 2004 focused on the potential problems with the Census. These results are available in the download section on the right of this page.
Since 2005, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has focused on improving migration and population estimates. Some recommendations for improvements to population statistics were outlined in the review: A demographic statistics service for the 21st century. In addition, limitations which need addressing were identified by the 2001 Census and subsequent analysis including the local authority studies.
In 2006 the National Statistician launched the Interdepartmental Task Force on International Migration Statistics. This document is available in the download section on the right of this page.
