Mnemonic: uk_armed_forces
Applicability: Person
Type: Standard variable
Definition
Identifies people who have previously served in the UK armed forces. This includes those who have served for at least one day in armed forces, either regular or reserves, or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.
Classification
Total number of categories: 5
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Previously served in the UK regular armed forces |
| 2 | Previously served in UK reserve armed forces |
| 3 | Previously served in both regular and reserve UK armed forces |
| 4 | Has not previously served in any UK armed forces |
| -8 | Does not apply* |
*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.
Quality information
Take care when comparing characteristics of UK armed forces veterans and non-veterans, as veterans are mainly male and older. Not adjusting for this fact can lead to misinterpretation, as variables such as health strongly relate to age and sex.
Read more in our UK armed forces veterans quality information for Census 2021 methodology.
Question asked
Have you previously served in the UK Armed Forces?
- Yes, previously served in Regular Armed Forces
- Yes, previously served in Reserve Armed Forces
- Or no
The question was new for Census 2021 and there is no comparability with the 2011 Census.
Background
Read about how we developed and tested the questions for Census 2021.
Why we ask the question
The answer helps communities by providing the information that will help better support those who have served in the UK armed forces but have now left. Local and central government, businesses and charitable organisations will use this information to meet their commitments made under the Armed Forces Covenant. This is a promise by the nation making sure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are not disadvantaged.
This is the first time the census in England and Wales has asked this question.
Comparability with the 2011 Census
Not comparable
This variable is new for Census 2021 and there is no comparability with the 2011 Census.
What does not comparable mean?
A variable that is not comparable means that it cannot be compared with a variable from the 2011 Census.
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland comparisons
Not comparable
This variable is not comparable as the data is not available for all countries.
What does not comparable mean?
A variable that is not comparable means that it cannot be compared for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Find out more about variables produced for Census 2021 in Northern Ireland and Census 2022 in Scotland.
Census 2021 data that uses this variable
We use variables from Census 2021 data to show findings in different ways.
You can:
- get the UK armed forces veteran indicator dataset
- view UK armed forces veteran indicator data on a map
Alternatively, you can also create a custom dataset.