Small area data: Looking towards a 2021 census

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• RGS-IBG Small Area Data (.pdf)

The UK census produces detailed population data at a small geographical scale, and with high coverage. This provides a unique resource for understanding population characteristics and distributions in the UK.

In 2013, the ONS consulted on the future of population statistics. Proposals included survey-based approaches which would not support the same level of detail, and thus applications of the statistics which relied on small area data. The Society's response to the consultation advocated for the continued capture of small area data in the census.

As a further response, the Society worked with Professor David Martin of the University of Southampton to produce this selection of short case studies which demostrate the importance of small area data across a diverse range of applications.