List of United Kingdom censuses explained

The census in the United Kingdom is decennial, that is, held every ten years, although there is provision in the Census Act 1920 for a census to take place at intervals of five years or more. There are actually three separate censuses in the United Kingdom – in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland – although they are often coordinated. From 1821 to 1911, the census included the whole of Ireland.

There have only been three occasions in Great Britain where the census has not been decennial: There was no census in 1941 due to the Second World War; a mini-census using a ten per cent sample of the population was conducted on 24 April 1966; and the planned Scottish 2021 census was delayed to 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] No census was held in Ireland in 1921, as a consequence of the Irish War of Independence; instead, Northern Ireland carried out a census in 1926, the first there for fifteen years.[2] No census was carried out in Northern Ireland in 1931, but one was carried out in 1937.[3]

Past censuses

Published censuses

The census records which have been published relate to the occupants of each household, as enumerated for the dates given below:

Unpublished censuses

Under the 100-year closure rule established after the 1911 census was taken, only summary results for censuses after 1939though with significant statistical detailare published in the months following the enumeration dates given below; the full information (individual household entries) in later censuses will not be released until the dates stated, a century after each later census was conducted.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Coronavirus: Census delayed by a year because of disease. BBC News. 17 July 2020.
  2. https://www.nisra.gov.uk/sites/nisra.gov.uk/files/publications/1926-census-preliminary-report.PDF
  3. https://www.nisra.gov.uk/sites/nisra.gov.uk/files/publications/1937-census-preliminary-report.PDF
  4. News: Census lost: Historic 1926 NI records may be destroyed. BBC News. 11 June 2013.
  5. http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=1931_Census 1931 Census
  6. Book: A Guide to Tracing Your Family History using the Census. 9781526755254. 30 August 2020. Pen and Sword Family History.
  7. Book: Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records: A Guide for Family Historians. 9781526780249. 30 November 2021. Pen and Sword Family History.
  8. Web site: National Records of Scotland. 31 May 2013.

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