2021 Census: Flow Data

<p>The 2021 UK Census was the 23rd official census of the United Kingdom. The UK Census is generally conducted once every 10 years, and the 2021 censuses of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland took place on 21 March 2021. In Scotland, the decision was made to move the census to March 2022 because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (see SNs 9461 and 9462). The censuses were administered by the <a title="Office for National Statistics" href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/census" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Office for National Statistics</a> (ONS), the <a title="Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency" href="https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/census/2021-census" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency</a> (NISRA) and <a title="National Records of Scotland" href="https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/about/scotlands-census-2022-general-report/" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">National Records of Scotland</a> (NRS), respectively. </p><p>Census 2021 was the first census with a digital-first design, encouraging participants to respond online rather than on a paper questionnaire. Support was given to people who could not respond online, including paper questionnaires, telephone contact centres, field force support, and an extended collection period.</p><p>Topics covered in the 2021 UK Census included:</p><ul><li>demography and migration</li><li>ethnic group, national identity, language and religion</li><li>labour market and travel to work</li><li>housing</li><li>education</li><li>health, disability, and unpaid care</li><li>Welsh and other languages</li><li>UK armed forces veterans</li><li>sexual orientation and gender identity.</li></ul> Census flow data involve flows of individuals in the UK between origins and destinations. These flows are either the residential migrations of individuals from one place of usual residence to another, or of commuters making journeys from home to workplace or place of study.<br>
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These data are derived from the questions on the census form relating to usual place of residence one year ago, and the place of work for the respondent's main job. Flow data are currently available at a range of different spatial scales ranging from Output Areas to Local Authority Districts.<br>
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