Census 2021

Everyone will benefit from Census 2021

Households across Redditch were asked to take part in Census 2021 in spring of that year.

The census, run by the Office for National Statistics, is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every ten years since 1801, except for 1941.

Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central government to organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where billions of pounds of public funding is spent on services like transport, education and health – on cycle routes, schools and dental surgeries.

Information from the census is also important in helping lots of other people and organisations do their work.

Charities and voluntary organisations often use it as evidence to get funding. It helps businesses to understand their customers and, for example, decide where to open new shops. Plus, those doing research, like university students and people looking into their family history, use census data. It provides important information on population diversity, allowing organisations to know whether they are meeting their responsibilities and triggering action where necessary.

Census 2021 was the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones, or tablets.

“The census provides a unique snapshot of our communities,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at ONS, said. “It benefits everyone. Based on the information you give, it ensures millions of pounds are invested in emergency services, mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, roads, GP’s, and dentist’s services.”

Census day was on 21 March 2021, and included questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there was a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available during 2022, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information and advice on how to answer the questions, visit census.gov.uk.

Census Facts

At the time of the last census

• 84,214 people lived in Redditch
• 33,189 people were married or in a registered same-sex civil partnership
• 959 of you were nurses or midwives
• There were 57 people working in animal care and 19 people working in conservation/environment
• 6.2% of people (3,623) worked mainly at or from home while 2,966 of you walked to work and 617 used a bicycle
• There were 4,546 households with dependent children