Population

Revolutionising administrative data: a look into the future of population and migration statistics

Crowds of people walking through a busy street

Census 2021 has delivered a wealth of insight over recent months and will soon embark on an innovative new ‘open source’ phase. In addition, the Office for National Statistics is evolving to deliver more frequent, timely and relevant population statistics to better meet user needs. Underpinned by a suite of research and evidence, this year will see a call for views on our ambitious work. Here, Jen Woolford explains what’s coming in 2023. 

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How many people have had COVID-19? The challenge of reinfections

Since the appearance of Omicron variants in December 2021, the number of people being reinfected with COVID-19 has increased markedly. As Leanne Massie explains, this affects our ability to estimate the total number of people who have had COVID-19 at least once.

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How do we measure expected and excess deaths?

Close up image of death certificate

There has been widespread interest in the number of excess deaths across the UK. That is, the difference between the actual number of deaths observed and the number that was expected. But how do you calculate the expected number of deaths? Sarah Caul explains a new cross-UK initiative to take stock of how we calculate expected, and excess, deaths.  

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What matters most to people in the UK and has that changed over time?

A group of people looking happy, they have their arms around each other and are in a park type setting with sunlight behind them

Since 2011, the ONS has been measuring ‘National Well-being’ to evaluate how we are doing as a nation. National Well-being includes the things that people have told us matter most to them, across the environment, society and economy. Here Liz McKeown looks at our GDP & Beyond work, focusing on responses to our recent online survey reviewing how we measure National Well-being. 

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Going local – delivering data for our communities

A map graphic of a community

Statistics for local levels of geography are essential to understand the issues affecting communities as well as helping all levels of government measure the progress of their policies. Emma Hickman explains how the ONS is rising to meet the challenge of delivering these detailed data.  

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