Accessibility statement for ons.gov.uk

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to the www.ons.gov.uk website, which is run by the ONS. It was last reviewed in October 2026. The next review will take place in October 2027.

We are currently improving the ONS website by developing a new website platform and content management system. These were initially launched in 2026, ahead of the wider roll-out in 2027.

We want everyone who visits our website to have a positive experience, and easily find and use the information they need. To help you, we have made our website simple to understand and more user-friendly, so you can:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader, including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver

If you have a disability, AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use.

If you experience any difficulty in accessing our website or if you need any information in a different format, please visit our contact us page for more information about how to get in touch.

We know some parts of the ONS website are not fully accessible because:

• some tables do not have row headers and use merged cells
• the file names of some downloadable files may not be easy to read or understand
• some content embedded into web pages, such as data visualisations, may not be accessible
• the interactive pop-up polls we use to collect feedback on some pages are not fully accessible
• our web page content is accessible but some of our web pages give you the option to download an auto-generated PDF copy of the web page content, which is not fully accessible
• some of these auto-generated PDFs also include a manually appended PDF of data tables, which are not fully accessible
• some content on the website is available only in PDFs and these are not fully accessible
• some Excel documents may not be accessible and may be difficult to use with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard, because of the non-compliances and the exemptions listed in this statement.

The content listed in this section is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Tables

Some tables on the website do not have table row headers when needed, so you cannot navigate using the headers. This fails WCAG 2.2 level AA success criterion 1.3.1: info and relationships.

In September 2020, the table builder tool was updated to enforce a header row or column to address this issue. Any tables published after this date will not be affected by this issue. Content published before September 2020 may be affected if a table row header has not been set.

During the research and development of the new table builder for our new website platform, we identified that some existing tables on the website use merged cells. This can make the relationships between headings and data unclear to screen-reader users. This fails WCAG 2.2 level AA success criterion 1.3.1: info and relationships.

We are developing a more accessible table builder in our new content management system and more detailed guidance for our teams when creating tables. Any tables that are migrated to the new platform will be reviewed as part of the migration process.

File names

The file names of some downloadable files are computer generated and may not be easy to read or understand. This fails WCAG 2.2 level AA guidelines 3.1: readable and 3.2: predictable.

The original issue identified for custom dataset filter downloads was addressed in September 2020. Saved links to filter downloads created before September 2020 will remain unchanged until those files are retired.

There was also an issue identified for generated table data and time series download file names. This issue was resolved in August 2026 and all files now include human readable file names.

Embedding content

Many pages on the site include embedded data visualisation content. Embedded content is a window on a page that includes content published on a different web page. This content may not load correctly for some users using software without JavaScript support.

While not a failure under WCAG 2.2 level AA guidelines, this can make it difficult for some users to interact with this content.

In August 2026, we made some improvements to help address this issue. Our embedded content now includes a warning message for users who have JavaScript disabled. This makes it easier for people who are using assistive technologies to identify what content is missing from the page. Within the new content management system, we will be adding descriptions of what the embedded content contains for screen-reader users. We are also considering alternative solutions to embedding content for the future.

Data visualisations

We produce hundreds of data visualisations each year to aid with user understanding of our data and analysis. With the introduction of WCAG 2.2 guidelines and changes to success criterion 2.5.8 target size (minimum) within the AA level standard, some of our previously accessible data visualisations published since 23 September 2020 may not be fully accessible.

In December 2025, we completed an audit of the standard reusable templates that we use to create our data visualisations. We ensured that all templates met WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines and set up automated testing for future template updates. This means that some data visualisations published before this date, where they are using outdated versions of the templates, may not be fully accessible. Any data visualisations that are migrated to the new platform will be reviewed as part of the migration process.

Some of our data visualisations may not load or function correctly for users who have JavaScript disabled. This is particularly the case for our more advanced interactive tools, which use dynamic user interactions as a core function of the product. For example:

• Explore local statistics
• Build a custom area profile
• Census maps

In all instances, the underlying data are accessible through other formats, such as the accompanying dataset files and the surrounding commentary on the HTML web page.

We have also introduced additional automated accessibility checks for our templates as part of the publishing process. We ensure that every member of the Data Visualisation team undergoes accessibility training to ensure accessibility is embedded into our design practices.

We will be exploring other options for publishing data visualisations in an accessible way as part of the ongoing website transformation work, as we develop and roll out our new systems.

If you need assistance locating any data on the website, you can reach out by email or telephone using the contact information on our General and statistical enquiries web page.

Interactive pop-up polls

The interactive pop-up polls we use to collect feedback on some pages of the ONS website are not fully accessible. These are provided by a third party. We use these polls to gather valuable user feedback that helps us to improve the website and its content.

We have identified the following accessibility issues in line with WCAG 2.2 level AA guidelines and success criteria:

• the button to expand and collapse the poll does not have a corresponding accessible name; this fails 1.3.1: info and relationships, and 4.1.2: name, role, value
• the expandable functionality of the pop-up poll and its elements is not indicated; this fails 1.3.1: info and relationships, and 4.1.2: name, role, value
• the incorrect role is applied to the poll component; this fails 4.1.2: name, role, value
• the error handling for the pop-up does not identify the error to the user or provide instructions or suggestions for a way to correct it; this fails 3.3.1: error identification and 3.3.2: labels or instructions
• although users can access all elements when interacting with the poll using keyboard-only commands, user focus is taken to the top of the page once a question within the poll has been answered; this fails 2.4.3: focus order
• the rating scale information in the questions is not accessible for screen reader users; this fails 1.3.1: info and relationships, 1.3.2: meaningful sequence and 3.3.2: labels or instructions
• the skip button within the pop-up poll does not clearly describe its purpose; this fails 2.4.6: headings and labels
• users cannot change the text spacing to improve their reading experience; this fails 1.4.12: text spacing

If you want to give us feedback about the website without using pop-up polls, please email us at sharedcustomercontactcentre@ons.gov.uk.

Data links on the UK National Summary Data Page

Our UK National Summary Data Page (NSDP) contains data published in the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) format, which is defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to comply with the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) Plus.

Currently, the many links on our NSDP use the same text for each entry and are presented in a table format. This makes it difficult for users with assistive technologies, like screen readers, to identify the purpose of each link and its corresponding dataset. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criteria:

• 1.3.1: info and relationships
• 2.4.4: link purpose (in context)
• 2.4.9: link purpose (link only)

We are currently developing a new way to present SDMX datasets that both meets accessibility requirements and our obligations to the IMF.

Disproportionate burden

Historical data visualisations

Our website contains thousands of data visualisations to aid with understanding of our data and commentary. There are many historical data visualisations on the site published between 23 September 2018 and 23 September 2020 that may not be compliant with WCAG 2.2 level AA standards.

Most of these data visualisations are in previous and superseded versions of publications on the website and have very low use and engagement. Many of these will soon be removed from the site as part of our ongoing web and content transformation project.

We have looked at the resources required to make all historical data visualisations on the website accessible compared with their use and believe that this would be a disproportionate burden.

We previously ensured that any data visualisations which equated to 95% of page views for the 12 months before 23 September 2020 were made accessible. In all instances where we include a data visualisation, the information can be accessed through the surrounding commentary or the accompanying datasets alongside the publication.

We will be exploring other options for publishing data visualisations in an accessible way as part of the ongoing website transformation work, as we develop and roll out our new systems.

Content published in PDF only

Our website contains some historical content that is PDF only. The accessibility regulations do not require us to make PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 accessible, if they are not essential to providing our services.

We aim to ensure any PDFs published after 23 September 2020 that are essential for providing our services meet WCAG 2.2 level AA guidelines. This means that some PDF-only content published before this date may not be fully accessible.

We have looked at the resources needed to make all historical PDF-only content on the website accessible compared with their use and relevance. We believe that this would be a disproportionate burden.

Auto-generated PDFs

Many pages on the ONS website allow users to download an auto-generated PDF version of the HTML web page, using the “Download as PDF” link. The system that generates these PDFs is unable to generate accessible PDFs, meaning that none of these PDFs are accessible.

We have looked at the resources needed to replace the PDF generation implementation with one that can produce accessible PDFs and regenerate the existing PDFs. When balanced against the low usage of these PDFs and the fact that the same content is available accessibly through the HTML web page, we believe that making them accessible would be a disproportionate burden.

Data table PDFs added to auto-generated PDFs

Many of our web pages give you the option to download a supplementary PDF copy of the HTML web page content. These PDFs are designed for printing and are supplementary to the fully accessible HTML page.

Some of these PDFs contain additional data tables at the end of the PDF that are not presented on the web page. These data tables are not fully accessible; however, they are not intended as the primary method for accessing this information. In all instances, the related data can be accessed in an accessible format through the “View all data used in this bulletin or article” link on the web page and by accessing the relevant accompanying datasets.

We have looked at the resources needed to make the existing data tables within these auto-generated PDFs accessible. We believe that making them accessible would be a disproportionate burden.

We are currently developing a new website platform and content management system. We will no longer generate PDFs of our HTML web content or publish appended data table PDFs in this new system, so this issue will be resolved for future publications once migrated. Existing PDFs will not be migrated to the new platform and will be removed from the site when we close our legacy system.

Excel documents

Our website contains many Excel documents, including historical and previous versions of datasets. These may contain data tables that are difficult to use with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

We have been making improvements to the accessibility of our Excel files since September 2020 to bring them in line with the Government Analysis Function’s accessibility guidance on releasing statistics in spreadsheets, focusing on our regular and high-profile releases, and latest editions of data. We have also been engaging with stakeholders and our main user groups, where necessary, to understand how any changes to our dataset files and structures would affect their processes.

We have looked at the resources needed to make all historical and previous versions of Excel documents on the website accessible. We believe that making them accessible would be a disproportionate burden.

We will be looking at further improvements to the accessibility of our Excel files in future to align with the Government Analysis Function’s guidance, as part of our ongoing web and content transformation programme.

PDFs and other documents published before 23 September 2018

The accessibility regulations do not require us to make PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 accessible if they are not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to make the PDFs on the Beyond Census 2011 reports and publications web page accessible, as the newest document was published in January 2015, when the Beyond 2011 project closed.

We are working to resolve the issues identified in this accessibility statement.

We are currently developing a new website platform and content management system, which were initially launched in 2026, ahead of their wider roll-out. We are working closely with the Digital Accessibility Centre to ensure they are accessible.

We are also working with others across the ONS to make accessibility central to the way we create content and documents, so they can be used by everyone.

This statement was prepared on 19 September 2020. It was last reviewed and updated in October 2026.

The site’s accessibility compliance was last fully tested in March 2024 following a test completed by the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC). The DAC carried out manual testing with people with a range of disabilities on desktop, mobile and tablet devices. The testing consisted of a series of tasks where they got to use the majority of page and content types on the ONS website.

We completed an internal review of our accessibility compliance in October 2026, leading to some small updates to this statement to reflect our compliance with WCAG 2.2 level AA guidelines.

Since spring 2024, we have been developing our new website platform and content management system. We have been working with the DAC to ensure the systems meet the latest WCAG guidelines ahead of their initial launch in 2026 and wider roll-out.

We are working to meet accessibility standards across our website. If you experience any difficulty in accessing our website, please visit our contact us page for more information about how to get in touch.

If you need information from the ONS website in a different format, please contact us and tell us:

• the web address (URL) of the content
• your name and email address
• the format you would like the information provided in

We will reply within five working days to let you know when we will be able to provide the information. We will consider each request but may not be able to provide an alternative accessible format on every occasion.

Any personal data provided as part of the request will be stored in line with our privacy notice.

If you cannot view the maps on our office locations page, please call or email us for directions.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the “accessibility regulations”).

If you are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).