Recommendation for census in Scotland 2031
National Records of Scotland has recommended a mandatory questionnaire-based census planned for 2031.
The recommendation, on behalf of the Registrar General for Scotland, has been made to Scottish Ministers. The census would be underpinned by Scottish legislation and would meet the needs of data users by producing statistics which represent Scotland’s whole population.
Census data is vital for gathering a vast range of information about Scotland’s people which local and central government, the NHS and a range of other service providers and data users in the public, private and third sectors need.
As part of the plans, NRS has launched a consultation on topics to include in the census, which will run until autumn 2025. New topics for the last census in 2022 included UK Armed Forces Veterans and sexual orientation.
The recommendation is for the census in 2031 to be held at the same time as censuses in the rest of the UK. As with previous censuses NRS will work closely with other UK statistical bodies on the design and build of the census.
NRS Chief Executive Alison Byrne said:
“No other survey provides the richness and range of information that the census does, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on, and telling the story of Scotland’s people for generations to come.
“We look forward to hearing from data users across Scotland in the coming months. Their responses will help us to understand the best way to meet their needs as we plan for a 2031 Census.”
More than a billion statistics were published from Scotland’s 2022 Census. Topics included education, transport, religion, migration and national identity.
NRS is building on the lessons learned from the 2022 census. This includes how data already collected by the public sector, known as ‘administrative data’, can be used to ensure the statistics continue to represent 100% of the population, particularly in light of the wider trend of falling responses to surveys. Other lessons being taken forward include sharing contracts and expertise with other UK census bodies.
Scottish Government Ministers confirmed they have accepted in principle NRS’s recommendation to hold a census in Scotland in 2031, with further detailed plans to follow.