The 2011 Census took place on Sunday 27 March 2011. Every household was sent a 2011 Census questionnaire to complete and return. A census takes place every ten years to find out about the people who live in the UK so we can plan for the future. In England and Wales the 2011 Census was organised and carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Local authorities, such as Dudley Council, worked with ONS to support the census.
The 2011 Census has now been completed – Thank you for taking part
Census questionnaires were sent out in March 2011, and during April and early May census field workers visited households who had not returned their census questionnaire to give help and advice where needed. In the following months census staff visited a sample of households to check the quality of the census results. This field work phase has now been completed.
The Office for National Statistics will now process and analyse all of the returned census questionnaires and turn them into statistics for every part of England and Wales. The first census results are due to be published in 2012.
Thank you to everyone who completed their 2011 Census questionnaire and contributed to a successful census in our borough.
What is the census?
The 2011 Census is all about numbers. It asked people about subjects such as work, health, ethnic background, education, language and marital status. The responses will help build a picture of today’s society. The information the census collects is used in many different ways, for example, census statistics are often used by councils’ to shape services for local people.
The importance of taking part
Like all local authorities in England and Wales, Dudley Council relies on census population figures to get the government funding needed for public services. How much our borough receives is directly related to the number of people who live in our area and what kinds of services they need. So responding to the census questionnaire can make a very real difference to people’s lives. The census needs to include everyone, everywhere to ensure our borough receives the right funding to deliver the services people require – and that’s why everyone has to take part.
Confidential and secure
Everything you tell the census is in strictest confidence and will only be used to produce statistics. ONS will not share your personal information with any other government department or organisation.
For more information see the other census related pages in this section.
