Scotland's Census: Shaping Our Future

The online questionnaire closed on 20 April. You must return a paper questionnaire now to avoid the risk of a fine up to £1,000.

Frequently asked questions

Choose a category of questions to view below...

Top FAQs How to fill in your questionnaire Census questions Help and support Privacy and confidentiality Background to the census Follow-up surveys Other census queries

Top FAQs

 

Top1. When should I return my census by?

We ask people to fill in their census questionnaire to reflect their circumstances on 27 March 2011to return it to us as soon as possible.

If you were away on 27 March 2011please fill in the questionnaire to reflect what your household circumstances would have been at your usual address on 27 March and return it as soon as possible.

Top2. When will I receive my census questionnaire?

Your will receive your census questionnaire any time between 7 March 2011and Census Day.

Top3. What if my entire household was away from home on 27 March 2011?

If you were away please fill in the questionnaire to reflect what your circumstances would have been at your usual address on 27 March 2011and return it as soon as possible.

Top4. I haven't received my census questionnaire or can I have a replacement?

You can request a questionnaire from this website or by calling our helpline.

Top5. What is the census?

The census counts everyone in Scotland once every ten years. It is the country's biggest statistics gathering exercise. Anonymised (with all personal details removed) census results are a snapshot of the number and characteristics of people on census day. The figures are the only reliable measure of the entire population and they help shape everyone’s future as the basis for effective public services for the next decade. Find out more in our About the census section.

Top6. When is census day?

For the 2011 Census we ask that people tell us what their circumstances were on Sunday 27 March 2011.

Top 7. Who runs the census?

The census is organised by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), headed by the Registrar General, and overseen by professional statisticians. GROS works with the census offices for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to conduct the census on the same day and to provide comparable census results.

The census is held every 10 years and 2011 marks 150 years of GROS’s responsibility for it.

Top 8. What is census information used for?

Governments, local authorities, business, academics and many other organisations use the anonymised (with personal information removed) census results to plan ahead and meet Scotland's needs. It reflects our requirements as a nation, city, town or village, or as a group of people within each area. The results mean public services are properly planned and funded. The census results will matter to you, your children and your grandchildren.

Top9. Is it safe, secure and confidential?

Yes. Personal census information is kept strictly confidential. Secure arrangements to protect personal details are the foundation for Scotland’s Census.

Everyone working with personal census details is security checked and must sign an undertaking that they will protect the privacy of information. Data Protection legislation and census confidentiality legislation allows for anyone who discloses personal census details to be prosecuted. Personal details are kept confidential for 100 years after each census, when they are then released.

Top10. Where can I get extra help to answer a question on the census questionnaire?

Please see our Help with questions section.

Top11. What can I do if I am having trouble accessing the online questionnaire site?

There could be a number of reasons why you many be unable to connect to the online questionnaire site, many of which could be a result of settings on your computer.

An error message such as "The browser could not display the webpage at questionnaire.scotlandscensus.gov.uk." may indicate an issue with your ISP or internet connection.

We are unable to offer general technical support, however we can offer some advice - first of all please try the link below or copy and paste it into your browser.

https://questionnaire.scotlandscensus.gov.uk.

There are a number of things you could check which may help:

If this is not successful then this issue may relate to your network. Please contact your network administrator to:

Alternatively please try accessing the start page directly https://questionnaire.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/2011/lang_en/start

If you are still having problems accessing the online questionnaire and if an alternative computer is available, you may wish to try using that instead.

Top12. Why can I no longer complete my census questionnaire online?

The option to fill in your questionnaire online was available between 7 March 2011and 20 April 2011. During these six weeks more than 400,000 questionnaires were returned online with the vast majority of these submitted on or around census weekend. To continue to keep the online questionnaire open, when the vast majority of people have already returned their census questionnaires, would not have offered taxpayers value for money. Anyone who still needs to return their census can complete a paper questionnaire. Replacement questionnaires are available from the Helpline on 0300 123 1702.

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