Population estimates are widely used and highly valued. They inform important government decisions and policies at national and local levels, and provide the denominator for key statistics, including economic indicators such as GDP per head. Here, Mary Gregory explains how and why the ONS is working to give users clearer, better information about the population in their area.
Read more on Keeping pace with population change
Once a decade, the census provides us with the unique opportunity to ask questions of the whole population of England and Wales. The information gathered from this monumental exercise is vital for the functioning of our society. But planning for a census is many years in the making. As Jason Zawadzki explains, first and foremost we need to ensure the topics we ask about reflect the needs of our users and meet the wider needs of society.
Read more on Making sure Census 2031 reflects modern society
Work by the Government Statistical Service (GSS) harmonisation team to develop new standards for sex and also for gender identity data collection is underway with a series of listening events beginning next month. Emma Rourke explains the aims for these events and how the insights gathered will support the growing evidence base for data collection on these topics.
Read more on Gathering insights for harmonised standards on sex and gender identity
Ever wondered how statistics can be twisted to fit a certain narrative? Numbers don’t lie, but they can certainly be…
Read more on The Truth Behind the Numbers: Spotting Statistical Misuse
We are launching a new phase of work towards developing harmonised standards for sex and gender identity data collection. Here…
Read more on Developing harmonised standards for sex and gender identity