Overview

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an Output Area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced. For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as Output Areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

England and Wales

Data for both England and Wales.  

Countries

Data for either the whole of England or Wales. 

Regions

Data for the nine regions in England, and Wales as a whole.

NHS England regions

Each NHS region is responsible for planning local services to provide health and care.

Local health boards

Local health boards in Wales are responsible for planning and delivering NHS services in their areas.

Integrated care boards

Integrated care boards in England are responsible for developing plans to meet the health needs of the population, they manage the NHS budget and arrange the provision of health services in the area.

Sub integrated care board locations

Sub integrated care board locations have replaced clinical commissioning groups and are NHS organisations that plan the delivery of NHS services in England.

2023 Upper tier local authorities

Upper tier local authorities provide a range of local services. In 2023 there were 153 upper tier local authorities in England made up of 63 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts, 33 London boroughs (including City of London) and 21 counties. In Wales there were 22 upper tier local authorities, made up of 22 unitary authorities.

2023 Lower tier local authorities

Lower tier local authorities provide a range of local services. In 2023 there were 296 lower tier local authorities in England made up of 164 non-metropolitan districts, 63 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts and 33 London boroughs (including City of London). In Wales there were 22 local authorities made up of 22 unitary authorities.

Upper tier local authorities

Upper tier local authorities provide a range of local services. There are 152 upper tier local authorities in England made up of 59 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts, 33 London boroughs (including City of London) and 24 counties. In Wales there are 22 upper tier local authorities, made up of 22 unitary authorities.

Lower tier local authorities

Lower tier local authorities provide a range of local services. There are 309 lower tier local authorities in England made up of 181 non-metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts and 33 London boroughs (including City of London). In Wales there are 22 local authorities made up of 22 unitary authorities.

Post-2019 Westminster Parliamentary constituencies

Areas that will be used to elect members of parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons for the next general election. The boundaries for these areas are provisional and subject to confirmation, and will replace the constituency boundaries present for the 2019 General Election. Once elected, each MP will represent their constituency in the House of Commons.

Westminster Parliamentary constituencies

Areas used to elect a member of parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. Once elected, the MP will represent their constituency in the House of Commons.  

Electoral wards and divisions

Areas used to elect local authority councillors.

The data are for wards as at May 2022, apart from two instances.

We treat the City of London and the Isles of Scilly local authorities as single wards, not made up of multiple wards.

We have also split the data for Hunmanby and Sherburn ward into Hunmanby and Sherburn (part Ryedale) and Hunmanby and Sherburn (part Scarborough). This is to reflect that the ward is split between two local authorities, Ryedale and Scarborough.

Parishes

In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. This geographical designation represents the lowest tier of local government. Wales was also divided into civil parishes until 1974, when they were replaced by communities. These are similar to English parishes in the way they operate.

Senedd electoral regions

There are five Senedd electoral regions each made up of between seven and nine Senedd constituencies.

Senedd constituencies

Areas used to elect a member of the Senedd (MS). The Senedd, previously known as the National Assembly for Wales, is the devolved Welsh parliament. There are 40 constituencies.  

Middle layer Super Output Areas

Middle layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) are made up of groups of Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs), usually four or five. They comprise between 2,000 and 6,000 households and have a usually resident population between 5,000 and 15,000 persons.

Lower layer Super Output Areas

Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) are made up of groups of Output Areas (OAs), usually four or five. They comprise between 400 and 1,200 households and have a usually resident population between 1,000 and 3,000 persons.  

Output Areas

The lowest level of geographical area for census statistics. Each Output Area is made up of between 40 and 250 households and a usually resident population of between 100 and 625 persons. 

Local enterprise partnerships

Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are voluntary partnerships between local authorities and local private sector businesses to help determine local economic priorities, drive economic growth and job creation.

National Parks

There are 10 national parks in England and 3 in Wales. Each national park is managed by its own national park authority, a special-purpose local authority.

Migrant country one year ago

The country where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Migrant region one year ago

The region where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Migrant UTLA one year ago

The upper tier local authority area (UTLA) where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Migrant LTLA one year ago

The lower tier local authority area (LTLA) where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Migrant MSOA one year ago

The middle Super Output Area (MSOA) where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Migrant LSOA one year ago

The lower Super Output Area (LSOA) where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Output area of migrant origin

The Output area (OA) where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021.

Migrant country one year ago (10 categories) (detailed)

The country where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021 (detailed classification).

Migrant country one year ago (60 categories) (detailed)

The country where a migrant was usually resident one year before Census Day, 21st March 2021 (detailed classification).

Changes between 2011 Census and Census 2021 geographies

Find out what changes have been made to geographies used in Census 2021 results.