Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Lower tier local authorities

Lower tier local authorities provide a range of local services. There are 309 lower tier local authorities in England made up of 181 non-metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts and 33 London boroughs (including City of London). In Wales there are 22 local authorities made up of 22 unitary authorities.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. However, you can choose to filter areas by:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Tenure of household

Whether a household owns or rents the accommodation that it occupies.

Owner-occupied accommodation can be:

* owned outright, which is where the household owns all of the accommodation

* with a mortgage or loan

* part-owned on a shared ownership scheme

Rented accommodation can be:

* private rented, for example, rented through a private landlord or letting agent

* social rented through a local council or housing association

This information is not available for household spaces with no usual residents.

Car or van availability

The number of cars or vans owned or available for use by household members.

Vehicles included:

* pick-ups, camper vans and motor homes

* vehicles that are temporarily not working

* vehicles that have failed their MOT

* vehicles owned or used by a lodger

* company cars or vans if they're available for private use

Vehicles not included:

* motorbikes, trikes, quad bikes or mobility scooters

* vehicles that have a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)

* vehicles owned or used only by a visitor

* vehicles that are kept at another address or not easily accessed

The number of cars or vans in an area relates only to households. Cars or vans used by communal establishment residents are not counted.

Households with 10 to 20 cars or vans are counted as having only 10.

Households with more than 20 cars or vans were treated as invalid and a value imputed.

Ethnic group

The ethnic group that the person completing the census feels they belong to. This could be based on their culture, family background, identity or physical appearance.

Respondents could choose one out of 19 tick-box response categories, including write-in response options.