FOI reference: FOI-2025-3156
You asked
Please could you provide mid-year population estimates (2024), land area in KM2 and population density for the counties for the purposes of the lieutenancies (as finally set in 1998 when Herefordshire was recreated).
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.
The Population Estimates by Output Areas, Electoral, Health and Other Geographies, England and Wales: Mid-2023 and Mid-2024 (Revised Mid-2022) are scheduled for release on 24 October 2025.
As such, the information you have requested is considered 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.
Following this release, we will be in a position to consider producing a bespoke dataset tailored to your requirements. Please note that depending on the complexity and time required to compile the data, a charge may apply.
To proceed with your request after the release date, please contact the Population Estimates team at pop.info@ons.gov.uk.