Census 2021 is the most comprehensive snapshot of England and Wales in a generation. Released in phases from 2022 onwards by the Office for National Statistics, it contains detailed data on age, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics at local authority and ward level.
For equality officers, it is one of the most powerful tools available for grounding EIAs in evidence about the specific community their council serves. Yet it is frequently either ignored or cited superficially. This piece sets out how to use it effectively.
What Census 2021 covers that previous censuses didn't
For the first time, Census 2021 included questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. These were voluntary questions, but achieved response rates high enough to produce statistically meaningful local authority level data. For EIAs involving housing, health services, or employment — areas where LGBT+ people face documented inequalities — this data is now available at a level of local specificity that was previously impossible.
The 2021 census also used updated ethnicity categories, providing more detailed breakdowns that better reflect the diversity of communities across England and Wales. The Asian or Asian British category, for example, now distinguishes more granularly between communities with significantly different socioeconomic profiles and service needs.
Using local data, not national averages
One of the most common weaknesses in EIAs is the use of national statistics when local data is available. Census 2021 provides data at local authority and — for many variables — at middle super output area (MSOA) and ward level. This means you can identify not just that your council area has a significant older population, but which wards have the highest concentrations of residents aged 75+.
Example: If your council is considering closing a leisure centre in a specific ward, Census 2021 data can tell you the proportion of residents in that ward with a limiting long-term illness or disability — giving you a much more specific evidence base than national disability prevalence figures.
Accessing the data
The ONS provides several routes to Census 2021 data. The Census 2021 data finder at census.gov.uk allows you to search by topic and geography. The Nomis service provides more granular access for analysts comfortable with data tables. For less data-confident users, the ONS publishes area profiles and topic summaries that present key findings in accessible formats.
OHID Fingertips — the Office for Health Inequalities and Disparities data platform — complements Census data with health outcome indicators at local authority level, including life expectancy, disease prevalence, and health behaviour data broken down by deprivation and, for some indicators, by ethnicity and other characteristics.
Combining Census data with research evidence
Census data tells you who lives in your area. Research evidence tells you what is known about the experiences and needs of those groups. Effective EIAs do both: they use local demographic data to identify which protected groups are present and in what numbers, and they draw on published research to understand the likely impact of the proposal on those groups.
Age UK's research on digital exclusion is more powerful when combined with Census data showing that 34% of your borough's residents are aged 65 or over. The Runnymede Trust's work on ethnic minority health outcomes is more compelling when you can show which specific communities are represented in the affected population.
What Census 2021 can't tell you
It is worth being clear about the limitations. Census data is a snapshot from March 2021 — some local population profiles will have shifted since then, particularly in areas of significant housing development or demographic change. It does not capture lived experience, qualitative data, or the specific views of residents about a particular proposal. And for some smaller protected groups, local sample sizes can be small enough that the data should be used with caution.
Good practice: Always cite the specific Census 2021 dataset, table reference, and geography level when using Census data in an EIA. This makes the evidence base transparent and auditable, and demonstrates the specificity of your analysis.
Used well, Census 2021 is a significant resource for equality officers. It makes the difference between an EIA that makes generic statements about protected groups and one that demonstrates genuine, locally grounded analysis — the kind that satisfies both the spirit of the PSED and scrutiny from courts, auditors, and the communities councils serve.
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