On 21 March 2021, the most recent census took place in England and Wales in the middle of a global pandemic. The census is a giant snapshot of the whole nation taken every 10 years. It provides a detailed picture of the entire population, and it is unique in that it covers everyone at the same time and asks the same questions everywhere, making it easy to compare different areas (at a range of scales). The census not only collects data on households but also includes those living under one roof in organisations like care homes and boarding schools. It also includes British citizens who are abroad on temporary postings with the Armed Forces and includes people who are homeless.
The census data are vital since they allow both local and central government, health authorities and other organisations to target their resources in terms of housing, education, health and transport services. Table 1, above, provides a useful snapshot of census highlights from the 2021 census.
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