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The Census

The Census is a ten-yearly compulsory survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in which all residents of England and Wales are required to take part. Information provided by census respondents is a valuable resource for exploring changes in our society, such as migration, age profiles and population trends.

The information collected from the census is known as microdata, or unit record information. It is also aggregated and made publicly available as tables. Samples of unit records with all identifiers removed are also available and used by researchers for statistical research and analysis purposes. It is also possible to commission a table of special interest. All of these different types of census products have to conform to confidentiality provisions set out in census legislation and access is dependent on meeting conditions to protect against disclosure.

Information about different census products and details of how to apply for access to these can be found in each individual product description (linked). For further information or advice, please contact the individual service using the contact details provided or alternatively, refer to the Access to ONS data service

If you need help or guidance about the best source of data to meet your research needs, please email: sars@ons.gsi.gov.uk or sars-helpdesk@manchester.ac.uk

For general queries about census data, please email: census.customerservices@ons.gsi.gov.uk