2001 Census based local authority population studies
On 8 July 2004 ONS released the findings of a series of local authority population studies, designed to improve population estimates in areas that proved hardest to count in the 2001 Census and to review the census-based figures. More detailed reports on the findings were published on 9 September 2004.
These studies have concluded that the One Number Census (ONC) worked well in most areas, but did not adjust fully for under-enumeration in a small number of extreme cases. The results from this analysis confirm the census-based figures in all but 15 areas and show that, for 15 local authorities across England and Wales, revisions should be made to the mid-year population estimates for 2001, which are based on the results of the 2001 Census.
Details of this analysis, together with the estimates of census under-estimation for the 15 local authorities can be found on the ONS website HERE.
The estimates contained within this document are neither the amount by which the population estimates were revised, nor a revision of the results of the 2001 Census. ONS has no plans to revise the results of the 2001 Census. These results were added to the census population only for the purposes of revising the mid-year population estimates, which are based on the census results.
The revised mid-year population estimates released on 9 September 2004, incorporated the census results, the new estimates of census under-count, and other adjustments made to population estimates during 2003/04.
The results of the 2001 Census remain a rich and uniquely valuable source of information, and patterns within the data continue to reflect patterns within the population. The census results should continue to be used for analysis, but where estimates of the 2001 population are required, in total or by age and sex, the mid-year population estimates should be used.
More information on the mid-year population estimates is available HERE.
This article was originally released on 15 July 2004 and revised on 9 September 2004.
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