Council and democracy

How are results from the 2001 census published?

The information presented here is extracted from 2001 Census Definitions, Crown copyright 2004

Aggregated results from the 2001 census are provided in statistical tables for a range of geographies. For details of these geographic areas see the section "Which geographic areas are 2001 census results published for?".

The tables are grouped within broad categories as described below. For ease of reference, each table is given an identifier (such as CAS031) as well as a title indicating the topics covered by the table. For details of the topics covered in each table see the section "What subjects are are covered by the 2001 census results?"

In general, tables with the same identifier will have an identical layout, though there are some exceptions to this. Whilst great effort has been made to make the tables consistent for all parts of the UK, there are many tables which are produced for one part of the UK but not for others. This can reflect a difference in data collected; in the perceived needs of users; or the policies adopted by the Census organisations.

The sets of tables are described below:

1) Key Statistics.

Key Statistic Tables, identified by ‘KS’ preceding the table number, provide a summary of Census results for a particular topic, such as Tenure, and allow comparison of results for different areas within a single table. These tables are produced for all areas for which results are produced as standard, from Output Areas through the range of administrative and other geographies. Some Key Statistics tables have slightly different specifications in different parts of the UK.

2) Standard Tables.

Standard Tables provide detailed results for selected areas: namely wards and higher administrative areas and health administration areas (all parts of the UK) and postcode sectors (Scotland only). There are two types of Standard Table:

‘S’ Tables. These tables, identified by an ‘S’ preceding the table number, provide a cross-tabulation of two or more Census variables, such as age and sex. Tables are numbered S001 to S068 (available for all parts of GB, with the majority also available in Northern Ireland); S101 to S161 (England and Wales only); S201 to S248 (Scotland only) and S301 to S411A (Northern Ireland only). (The description ‘Standard Table’ is sometimes used to refer to these ‘S’ tables only.)

Theme Tables. These tables, identified by a ‘T’ preceding the table number, bring together a range of results on a particular population, such as dependent children. Unlike the ‘S’ tables, the numbering of the Theme Tables does not indicate the part of the UK for which the table is produced.

3) Census Area Statistics.

Census Area Statistics provide the most detailed results possible for smaller areas. They are generally produced for the same areas as the Key Statistics. There are three types of Census Area Statistics table. (The description ‘CAS table’ is often used to describe the full set of Census Area Statistics including CAS Theme Tables and Univariate Tables.)

CAS Tables. These tables, identified by ‘CAS’ preceding the table number, provide a cross-tabulation of two or more Census variables, such as age and sex. Tables are numbered CAS001 to CAS068 (available for all parts of GB, with the majority also available in Northern Ireland); CAS101 to CAS147 (England and Wales only); CAS203 to CAS248 (Scotland only) and CAS301 to CAS385 (Northern Ireland only). CAS tables are usually ‘collapsed’ versions of the corresponding ‘S’ table – thus S001 will provide more detailed results on the same topics contained in CAS001.

CAS Theme Tables. These tables, identified by ‘CAST’ preceding the table number, bring together a range of results on a particular population, such as dependent children. Unlike the ‘CAS’ tables, the numbering of the Theme Tables does not indicate the part of the UK for which the table is produced. CAST tables are not available in Northern Ireland.

Univariate Tables. Univariate Tables, identified by ‘UV’ preceding the table number, are designed to provide as much detail about a single topic, such as Country of Birth. Unlike the ‘CAS’ tables, the numbering of the Univariate Tables does not indicate the part of the UK for which the table is produced.

4) Origin-Destination Statistics.

The Origin-Destination matrices provide information on flows of migrants or people travelling to work or, in Scotland, study from one specific geographical area to another. These flows can relate to migration (‘SMS’ tables), identified by 'W' preceding the table number, workplace (‘SWS’ tables), identified by 'MG' preceding the table number, or travel to place of work or study for Scotland (‘TVS’ tables), identified by 'TV' preceding the table number. In addition to overall counts of the flows between areas, the tables provide disaggregations by various topics, such as age and ethnicity. Each table can be thought of as a cell within a matrix of geographical areas.

5) Profiles.

The sets of tables described above are supplemented by a small number of profiles, designed to bring together key results for a certain type of area:

Parish profile (England and Wales only). Parish profiles are designed to provide condensed summary results on a particular topic and are available for small parishes (with at least 50 people and 20 households) for which the Key Statistics are not produced. There are four parish profiles and they are identified by ‘PP’ preceding the table number.

Parliamentary constituency profile. The Parliamentary Constituency profile (PC01) is produced for all UK Parliamentary constituencies and is designed to provide easily comparable headline statistics for areas across the UK.

Postcode sector profile (England and Wales only). The postcode sector profiles provide summary results of particular interest to users of postcode information. There are three postcode sector profiles, identified by ‘PSP’ preceding the table number.

Welsh language profile (Wales only). The Welsh Language Profile WLP01 is produced for all community council areas in Wales and is designed to provide summary results of particular interest to users of Census information on skills in Welsh.

Scottish profiles. Five profiles produced for Scotland relate to Population, Households, Health, Education and Employment. These appear on the SCROL website and, tables CP1 to CP5, in the Reference Volume.

Northern Ireland profiles. Seven profiles produced for Northern Ireland on the following topics: Demographics, Households, Cultural, Health and Care, Education, Economic Activity and Employment.

6) Armed Forces Tables (England and Wales only).

Tables AF01 to AF04 provide information on members of the Armed Forces. These tables are produced for local authorities and higher administrative areas only.

7) Head counts (England and Wales only).

A simple count of all people, males, females and the number of households is provided under the identifier HC01 for all parishes in England and communities in Wales. Similar information is also provided for unit postcodes.

8) First releases (England and Wales only).

Results from the 2001 Census in England and Wales were first released in September 2002 in a set of simple tables of age by sex identified as P1 to P7 (and WP1 to WP4 in tables for Wales only). As small changes were made to the Census output database between the first release and the publication of the main results users are advised to use table S001 in preference to these tables.

9) Commissioned tables.

Each of the Census organisations produces commissioned tables to meet requirements not met by the sets of tables described above. These tables, once produced, are given a unique identifier and are made freely available to other users.

Most commissioned tables produced for England and Wales will be identified by a ‘C’ preceding the table number while those in Northern Ireland are preceded by ‘EXT’. Tables produced as part of the ONS’ multi-source topic report project are identified by ‘M’ preceding the table number. Tables produced by the UK Census organisations to meet Eurostat requirements have been identified by ‘ES’ preceding the table number. Tables for Scotland are numbered and held according to the Customer Services order number.

Lists of commissioned tables produced by each of the census organisations are available on their respective websites.