Area type

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.

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.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. However, you can choose to filter areas by:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Households of multiple occupancy (HMO)

A dwelling where unrelated tenants rent their home from a private landlord is a HMO, if both of the following apply:

* at least three unrelated individuals live there, forming more than one household

* toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared with other tenants

A small HMO is shared by 3 or 4 unrelated tenants. A large HMO is shared by 5 or more unrelated tenants.

Occupancy rating for bedrooms

Whether a household's accommodation is overcrowded, ideally occupied or under-occupied. This is calculated by comparing the number of bedrooms the household requires to the number of available bedrooms.

The number of bedrooms the household requires is calculated according to the Bedroom Standard, where the following should have their own bedroom:

1. adult couple

2. any remaining adult (aged 21 years or over)

3. two males (aged 10 to 20 years)

4. one male (aged 10 to 20 years) and one male (aged 9 years or under), if there are an odd number of males aged 10-20

5. one male aged 10-20 if there are no males aged 0-9 to pair with him.

6. repeat steps 3-5 for females

7. two children (aged 9 years or under) regardless of sex

8. any remaining child (aged 9 years or under)

An occupancy rating of:

* -1 or less implies that a household’s accommodation has fewer bedrooms than required (overcrowded)

* +1 or more implies that a household’s accommodation has more bedrooms than required (under-occupied)

* 0 suggests that a household’s accommodation has an ideal number of bedrooms