, Cabinet Secretary for
Finance and Welsh Language: Following the UK Statistics Authority's
recommendation that a census should be conducted in 2031, the
UK government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics
(ONS) to undertake the next census in Wales and England. The
census is one of the most significant data collection exercises
undertaken in the UK, informing decisions about public services,
funding allocations, and long‑term planning.
As part of preparations for Census 2031, the ONS will carry out a
large-scale census test in spring 2027 across Wales and England.
The ONS has today announced the test
areas, and Cardiff and Monmouthshire have been selected in
Wales.
The census test in 2027 will allow the ONS to trial different
operational and data collection approaches ahead of the full
census in 2031. Around 120,000 households across six local
authority areas, including Cardiff and Monmouthshire, will be
invited to complete a questionnaire, with most responding online
but with alternative options available where needed.
The test will assess a range of methods, including:
- ways to encourage higher response rates
- new technical capabilities for contact centres
- simplified online authentication
- doorstep and telephone completion routes
- use of alternative data sources to help identify vacant
properties
- approaches for collecting data from students in halls of
residence and residents in care homes
These trials will help determine which methods are most effective
and ensure that the full census operation in 2031 runs
efficiently, inclusively, to a high standard and responds
positively to the particular linguistic and social
characteristics of Wales.
Although participation in the census test is voluntary, I
strongly encourage all households who are invited to take part to
do so. By participating, residents will play an important role in
helping to ensure that the systems for Census 2031 are
well‑designed and effective. A successful census in 2031 depends
on robust testing, and the insight gained from Welsh communities
will help ensure that the needs and characteristics of Wales are
accurately reflected.
The Welsh Government will continue to work closely with the ONS
as it prepares for both the census test in 2027, a census
rehearsal in 2029 and the full census in 2031.
