Overview
Origin-destination data are sometimes known as "flow" data. These data describe the movement of people from one location to another.
This information can help local and central government plan and fund infrastructure for healthcare, education, transport and housing based on population need. Census information can also be used on migration and commuting patterns to look at population movement trends. They can also be used to observe how and if population characteristics, such as age, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status are changing.
Origin-destination data products
We plan to release four different categories of origin-destination data in a combination of data visualisation products and data tables.
Migration flow data
Migration flow data show national and international migration during the year before Census Day. These data were called special migration statistics for the 2011 Census.
Workplace flow data
Workplace flow data show travel to work and method of transport the week before Census Day. These data were called special workplace statistics for the 2011 Census.
Second address flow data
Second address flow data show the location of second addresses in relation to an individual's usual residence or workplace. These data were called special address statistics for the 2011 Census.
Student flow data
Student flow data show migration patterns of individuals living at student addresses one year before Census Day. These data were called special student statistics for the 2011 Census.
Accessing Census 2021 origin-destination data
The origin-destination data will be classified in three ways:
public
safeguarded
secure
We will place the most detailed origin-destination data, classified as secure, in the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS). These data will only be available to approved or accredited researchers. If you are an approved or accredited researcher, find out how you can access secure research data and what tables you can view.
We are still considering where to place public and safeguarded tables.
Safeguarded data will only be available to data analysts, under certain terms and conditions. The UK Data Service is likely to hold safeguarded data in line with previous censuses.
Release plans
We plan to publish public origin-destination data within two years of census. Following the public releases, we then plan to publish our more complex safeguarded and secure origin-destination data. We will provide more information on the Census 2021 outputs release plans page in early 2022.
Changes to UK origin-destination outputs
England, Wales and Northern Ireland held their censuses in March 2021 and Scotland will hold its census in March 2022. This makes it unlikely that we can combine the data to produce a single reliable set of UK origin-destination outputs. Instead, we will make combined origin-destination outputs available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The National Records of Scotland will publish data for Scotland separately.
Second address flow data will still only be available for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland do not collect this information.
New considerations for Census 2021
We are in a period of significant economic and societal change. This change is not only because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It is also a result of Brexit and a variety of other political initiatives. These factors have impacted different groups in different ways.
The impacts for origin-destination outputs may include:
fewer people entering the country in the year prior to Census Day, as a result of international travel restrictions and smaller numbers of people migrating internally
fewer people commuting to work, with the method of transport also affected because of advice to avoid public transport and work at home where possible
students potentially leaving their term-time address to live at home while studying remotely
travel restrictions on international students, however, EU students may have migrated to the UK when possible, to gain EU settlement status
individuals with a second address potentially deciding to make their second address their usual address
Working with others
We are working with a range of internal and external individuals and organisations as part of our origin-destination working group to design, create, store and disseminate Census 2021 origin-destination products. We aim to produce Census 2021 origin-destination products in timely manner that meet our users' needs as far as possible.
Internal members include topic experts on:
migration
travel to work
demography and census transformation
population estimates
statistical disclosure control
External members include:
National Records of Scotland (NRS)
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
Welsh Government
Department for Transport
UK Data Service
local authorities
academia and commercial research, including transport planning
More information
If you have any questions about Census 2021 origin-destination products or are interested in joining our working group, please email census.outputs@ons.gov.uk.