FOI REF: FOI-2023-1306
You asked
I kindly request the following information for the specified time period:
The total number of births registered in Wendover and/or Buckinghamshire for each year within the last ten years, 2012 until 2023 (or the most recent data available).
The total number of deaths registered in Wendover and/or Buckinghamshire for each year within the last ten years, 2012 until 2023 (or the most recent data available).
If available, please provide the data broken down by year, gender, and age group for both births and deaths.
We said
Thank you for your request.
Births
The number of live births in Buckinghamshire can be located in the following dataset: Births summary dataset. The following numbers of births were recorded:
- 2012 – 6,197
- 2013 – 5,822
- 2014 – 5,989
- 2015 – 6,140
- 2016 – 6,102
- 2017 – 5,912
- 2018 – 5,859
- 2019 – 5,629
- 2020 – 5,543
- 2021 – 5,893
- 2022 – 5,533
We publish annual birth figures within our interactive webservice NOMIS, using this online tool, you can request annual births by small geographic area. NOMIS data starts from 2013 onwards. Birth figures for 2022 will be added to NOMIS imminently.
The figures extracted via NOMIS fall within Aylesbury Vale. The following numbers of births were recorded in Wendover (E02003675):
- 2012 – 123
- 2013 – 120
- 2014 – 101
- 2015 – 115
- 2016 – 94
- 2017 – 112
- 2018 – 88
- 2019 – 111
- 2020 – 64
- 2021 – 102
- 2022 – 72
Finalised data for 2023 will be published in 2024. As such, this information is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
Births data by the age of mother figures for Wendover/Buckinghamshire would need to be created via our bespoke services route. Special extracts and tabulations of birth and death registration data are available to order. Please note, these services are subject to disclosure control, legal frameworks, resources and costs as per the ONS Charging Policy.
Please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk for more information about these services.
Deaths
The number of deaths registered in Buckinghamshire and Wendover can be located using NOMIS. However, this information is from 2013 onwards. Sex and age group can also be extracted using NOMIS.
The following numbers of deaths in Buckinghamshire were recorded:
- 2012 – 3,957
- 2013 – 3,946
- 2014 – 4,014
- 2015 – 4,265
- 2016 – 4,069
- 2017 – 4,376
- 2018 – 4,374
- 2019 – 4,310
- 2020 – 4,904
- 2021 – 4,970
- 2022 – 4,776
The following numbers of deaths in Wendover were recorded:
- 2012 – 100
- 2013 – 81
- 2014 – 98
- 2015 – 75
- 2016 – 70
- 2017 – 80
- 2018 – 88
- 2019 – 81
- 2020 – 93
- 2021 – 67
- 2022 – 85
Using our interactive webservice NOMIS you can also request annual deaths by geographic area using the following instructions:
- Open the NOMIS webservice via the following link: NOMIS
- Select Geography, choose Countries ALL for England and Wales including non-residents or specific countries. Local authority level is available, please use the search bar to select.
- Click Date and tick required dates or ALL for 2013 to 2021 range.
- NOMIS automatically selects total ages, if you require Age disaggregation please tick the selected 5-year age bands.
- NOMIS automatically selects number of deaths, if you require rates or percentages please tick this manually. .
- NOMIS automatically selects Total, if you require disaggregation by sex please tick boxes for male and female.
- Underlying cause – In the search bar type insert ICD-10 codes. Alternatively, select “ICD-10” list and expand insert starting letter of ICD10 codes (J) for example for flu and select manually. (Amend to leading cause if applicable)
- Click format if you require CSV download, if you require Excel format you do not need to follow this step.
- Click Download the data.
Registered deaths in England and Wales in 2022 will be finalised and published in our Deaths Registered Series and on NOMIS later in the year. This is to allow late registrations such as Coroner’s Inquests to be included. Please see our Impact of Registration delays release for further information. As this information will be published later, it is also exempt under Section 22(1) of FOIA.