Census 2021

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Households across Southwark will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.

Introducing the Census When it's coming

The census 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 decade since 1801 - with the exception of 1941.

Census 2021 will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing you to complete the questionnaire on your computers, phones or tablets.

A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed. This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes.

That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.

Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be 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 within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information, visit the Census website.

The census is out by the ONS (Office of National Statistics). At the time of the last census (2011):

  • 288,283 people lived in Southwark
  • 128,471 residents said they were single
  • Nigeria was the top country of birth other than UK. Spanish was the most common main language other than English or Welsh, spoken by 6,429 of you
  • 917 people said they were Jedi Knights
  • there were 2,208 chefs, 2,082 solicitors, 486 caretakers and 313 clergy
  • nearly a third of you - 47,710 - got the train, underground, tram, light rail or metro to work, while just over 38,000 people got the bus, coach and minibus

Page last updated: 12 March 2021

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