You asked
I was looking on the web for population numbers, and came across an FOI request to yourselves that was from 2011, and was collated by postcode.
Is it possible that I could request details of population numbers, by postcode, in Kent, and if possible, can it show the years that the data is available for?
I'm interested to see what the increase/decrease is.
We said
You have made a Freedom of Information Request for population numbers by postcode in Kent.
The information you have requested has been published on the Nomis website as part of the outputs from the 2011 Census. The required details on ‘Postcode Headcounts and Household Estimates’ can be accessed via the attached link:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/postcode_headcounts_and_household_estimates
The population estimates refer to the usual resident population on census day 27th March 2011. A usual resident is anyone, who on census day, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more, or had a permanent address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months. Please note steps have been taken by the Office for National Statistics to protect the confidentiality of personal information.
ONS produces annual estimates of the usually resident population by sex and age across local areas of England and Wales. Whilst not containing population estimates by postcode, the latest information on the population by detailed geographic area can be obtained from the 2013 Small Area Population Estimates reference tables which are available on the ONS website.
I have extracted a spreadsheet of population estimates for mid-2012 and mid-2013 by lower layer super output areas (LSOA) in Kent including for Medway Unitary Authority. This is attached as an Excel spreadsheet. Whilst a statistical geography, LSOAs can be linked to other geographies such as travel to work areas, built-up area sub-divisions etc. Lookups are available on the ONS GeoPortal website.
If you do need any help in finding population statistics please do get in touch with the Population Estimates Unit at pop.info@ons.gov.uk. If you require further information from the 2011 Census this may be accessed from the Nomis website or by contacting the Census Customer Services Team at census.customerservices@ons.gov.uk. It is not necessary to make a Freedom of Information Request.