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Population and census statistics

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Population and Household Statistics Quality Report

This report covers the general principles and processes leading up to the production of our statistics.

Wales's Population A Demographic Overview 2010

The report brings together information on the demography of Wales for the period 1971 to 2009.

Population and migration

A list of statistical outputs and their intended publication dates.

There is a high level of interest in population and migration data for Wales. The Demography Statistics team provides advice and analysis on a wide range of data sets.

Population estimates are calculated by combining birth and death registration data together with estimates of international migration and internal migration (within UK) flows to calculate estimates for the usually resident population of each area as at 30 June each year.

Population projections are trend-based projections that provide estimates of the size of the future population, and are based on assumptions about births, deaths and migration.

International migration estimates (between Wales and overseas) are available, along with cross-border migration (migration between Wales and England/UK) and internal migration (people moving within Wales).

Electoral Rolls show the number of people entitled to vote in a particular area.

Who are the key users?

The key users of population and migration statistics are:

  • Welsh Government planning and policy areas
  • Welsh Government colleagues working on Local Government Finance
  • Other staff within the Welsh Government’s Statistical Directorate.
  • Ministers and the Members Research Service in the National Assembly for Wales.
  • Researchers in Local Government, NHS, National Parks and a wide range of other organisations.
  • The Office for National Statistics.
  • Other government departments.
  • Students, academics and universities.
  • Individual citizens and private companies.

What is the data used for?

There is a high demand for population and migration statistics for a variety of uses. Some of these include:

  • As part of the Local Government Finance revenue settlement.
  • Planning services and estimating future need, e.g. schools, health and social services provision.
  • Policy development.
  • For the calculation of further statistics e.g. Spatial Plan Areas, Housing Estimates and Projections.
  • As denominators in rates (eg birth rates).
  • For the purposes of weighting surveys.
  • Geographic profiling, comparisons and benchmarking.
  • Analysis of population cohorts and migration trends.

Feedback

We actively encourage feedback of our statistics. If you have any comments or queries then please contact us at stats.popcensus@wales.gsi.gov.uk.