Census

The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. It is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

2011 census results: first release

The first results from the 2011 Census were released on 16 July 2012, when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published headline statistics for each local authority in England and Wales. A summary of the results for Blackburn with Darwen is given below:

  • The population estimate for Blackburn with Darwen borough was 147,500. This is 5.4% higher than mid 2010 population estimate of 140,000 and 7.3% higher than 2001 census estimates of 137,470.
  • To view the population of Blackburn with Darwen borough by five-year age band and see how this compares to other areas of the country you can visit the ONS 2011 Census interactive web pages and select "Blackburn with Darwen" from the list of areas.
  • There were an estimated 57,400 occupied households in BwD, compared to 53,407 in 2001.
  • 93% of people in Blackburn with Darwen borough responded to the 2011 Census questionnaire compared to 94% nationally. This gives the results a good degree of accuracy.

Further details can be found in our first release report.

Details of the results for all local authorities can be found on the ONS 2011 Census interactive web pages.

Further releases of the 2011 Census results

Due to the volume of data the statistics are being released in stages, starting Monday 16 July 2012. The first release provided headline statistics for local authorities.

Future releases will include statistics on other census subjects such as ethnic group, health, housing, employment and transport, as well as results for areas within local authorities such as wards, output areas and super output areas.

First release: 16 July 2012

Example information: Age and sex, and occupied households estimates

Areas covered: England, Wales, Local Authorities

Second release: November 2012 – February 2013

These tables will be available at all geographical levels down to small neighbourhoods, but they will only tell us about one characteristic at a time

Example information: Usual resident population, health status, ethnic group, economic activity, hours worked

Areas covered: England, Wales, Local Authorities, wards, output areas, super output areas

Third release: March 2013 – June 2013

These will be the first tables to tell us about two characteristics at once

Example information: Sex and age by ethnic group, sex and age by economic activity, age by highest level of qualification

Areas covered: England, Wales, Local Authorities, wards, output areas, super output areas

Fourth release: July 2013 – October 2013

These will provide more detailed two-way breakdowns, but they will not be available for the smallest neighbourhoods

Example information: Themed topics such as equality, housing tenure, main language, and statistics that go into greater detail on the information published in the third release

Areas covered: England, Wales, Local Authorities, wards, middle layer super output areas

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have produced a 2011 Census Prospectus that describes in much greater detail which statistics they will be releasing and when they intend to publish them.

More detail on all aspects of the census can be found on the ONS 2011 Census web pages.

Documents