How administrative data can help tell the story of our local areas and the people that live there
Choose a local authority to find out more about the people living there using admin-based statistics in England and Wales
About these case studies
These case studies were created to support the consultation on the future of population and migration statistics in England and Wales, launching on 29 June 2023. The aim of the consultation is to gather feedback on how far the proposed population and migration statistical system meets user needs. Responses to the consultation will inform a recommendation by the National Statistician on the future of population and migration statistics. To showcase our evidence in support of the proposed system, the following case studies have been developed to demonstrate what statistics based on administrative data can tell us about local areas across England and Wales.
The case studies are supported by a technical topic guide describing the background methodology, as well as more detailed technical information behind data sources for interested users.
Our Population and migration statistics transformation in England and Wales, research overview: 2023 describes how our research meets core user needs, and how our methods are flexible to adapt to changes in user needs and the data landscape.
About the data
Five local authorities (LAs), as well as an England and Wales summary were selected to demonstrate what we can learn about our local areas through administrative data. The following five local authorities form part of our 14 LA population and migration pilot studies:
For more information on the pilot studies, see our Dynamic population model for local authority case studies in England and Wales: 2011 to 2022 article.
We have used these local authorities as examples, to showcase how admin-based statistics could be used in future to describe local areas. Next steps include working with users to understand how we can improve these statistics.
Where possible, we have included comparisons with Census 2021 estimates to show how our admin-based estimates perform against our census-based estimates.
Some statistics in these case studies are not official and should not be used for decision-making. They are estimates based on new methodologies that are different from those currently used to produce official statistics. These outputs must not be reproduced without this warning.
Population and migration
Admin-based population estimates (experimental statistics)
Population and migration statistics transformation, Lower layer Super Output Area population difference, England and Wales
Dataset | Released on 27 June 2023
Comparison between admin-based population estimates and Census 2021 estimates by Lower layer Super Output Area in England and Wales.
ONS working paper series no 31 - Estimating population by time of day
Methodology | Released 30 May 2023
A case study into producing daytime population statistics for 14 local authorities using an experimental method.
Estimation of travel to work matrices
Blog | Released 23 June 2023
Using aggregate spatial modelling approaches, the Data Science Campus has produced an alternative estimation of the travel.
Population sub-groups and characteristics
Population by ethnicity
Population and migration statistics transformation, ethnicity, England and Wales
Dataset | Released on 27 June 2023
Comparison between admin-based ethnicity statistics and Census 2021 estimates for five ethnic groups broken down by local authority in England and Wales.
Admin-based income statistics, England and Wales: tax year ending 2018
Article | Released 20 December 2022
Experimental gross and net, individual and occupied address income statistics for small areas using administrative data from Pay As You Earn, Self Assessment and benefit systems.
Developing subnational multivariate income by ethnicity statistics from administrative data, England and Wales: tax year ending 2018
Article | 20 February 2023
Update on feasibility research producing income by ethnic group statistics for England and Wales from administrative data.
Housing characteristics and living arrangements
Occupied addresses
Population and migration statistics transformation, occupied addresses, England and Wales
Dataset | Released on 27 June 2023
Comparison between admin-based occupied address dataset and Census 2021 household estimates by local authority in England and Wales.
Housing
Population and migration statistics transformation, housing, England and Wales
Dataset | Released on 27 June 2023
Comparison between admin-based housing characteristics data for all addresses and occupied addresses, and Census 2021 estimates by local authority in England and Wales.
Housing by ethnicity
Population and migration statistics transformation, housing by ethnicity, England and Wales
Dataset | Released on 27 June 2023
Comparisons between admin-based housing by ethnicity data for individuals and Census 2021 estimates by local authority in England and Wales.
Communal Establishments
Population and migration statistics transformation, communal establishments, England and Wales
Dataset | Released on 27 June 2023
Comparison between admin-based communal establishment statistics by type of communal establishment, and Census 2021 estimates by local authority in England and Wales.
Related links
Population and migration statistics transformation in England and Wales, population characteristics update: 2023
Article | Released 26 June 2023
Assessment of our progress towards producing admin-based estimates of population characteristics.
Population and migration statistics transformation in England and Wales, progress update: 2023
Article | Released 26 June 2023
A summary of our research on the future of population and migration statistics in England and Wales, underpinning our consultation on the proposed new system.
Population and migration statistics transformation in England and Wales, technical topic guide: 2023
Methodology | Released 26 June 2023
Supplementary information on research using administrative data for the future of population and migration statistics.