Census 2001

What is the census?

The census is a ten yearly survey of the population of Great Britain. The information is used by central and local government, health authorities and other organisations to plan services and target resources.

The 2001 census was taken on 29 April 2001. Detailed results were published on 13 February 2003. These statistics cover the full range of census topics.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) plans and undertakes the census. Further details of how the census was undertaken and the results that will be available can be obtained from:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001

Below you will find an analysis of the results for Stoke-on-Trent comparing it to other areas and where possible showing how it has changed since the previous census.

Comparison with past census results

Comparison between censuses should be made with caution. This is due to several reasons:

• The 1991 census missed parts of the population that were in transit or without a fixed address. For example old people moving into care or between institutions, younger people notably students working at one address and with a different home address. The implications of the so-called Poll Tax may have also made some people reluctant to have their details recorded.
• Several of the questions in 2001 had new or revised categories, for example mixed race in the question about ethnicity.
• New questions were added in 2001 and several old questions dropped.

Response rate

Nationally the response rate to the census was 94%. This was less than the 1991 Census (96%). The Office for National Statistics used information from the people who collected the forms to identify a further 4% of the population.

Interviews with 320,000 people across all local authority areas helped identify the missing information. By combining the results from all sources the ONS has been able to derive estimates representing 100% of the population.

The response rate for all local authorities in England and Wales by age group and sex can be viewed at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/annexb.asp.

Generally the 20-24 year age group is least likely to respond, and males are slightly less likely to respond than females. However, the single most important factor is location with urban locations generally having lower response rates that rural locations.

• The response rate in Inner London was 78% compared with 94% in non-metropolitan cities and 96% in other non-metropolitan areas.
• Locally Stoke-on-Trent returned a 94% response rate, comparable with both the national and regional average.
• The neighbouring, less urban, authorities of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands returned rates of 97% and 99% respectively.

For further information please telephone 01782 232347 or 01782 232695.