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Census 2001 - Introduction |
A national Census has been conducted every 10 years since 1801 and represents a count of all people and households in the UK. The Census is unique in being the only survey which covers the entire population at the same time and which asks the same questions everywhere, making it possible to compare results for different parts of the country from major regions to local neighbourhoods.
The information provided by the Census allows central and local Government, health authorities and many other organisations to target their resources more effectively and is vital to the efficient planning of public services including education, health, social services and transport.
The 2001 Census was held on Sunday 29 April 2001 and, in England and Wales, was conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which has provided a comprehensive background to the Census. Simultaneously, censuses were also conducted in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The collection and processing of Census data involves complex methodology. ONS introduced a number of new measures in the collection and analysis of data for the 2001 Census and is confident that the results are accurate and incorporate significant improvements over the approach used in the 1991 Census.
Results were published for a variety of output geographies, from areas as small as postcodes through to statistics for the entire UK. ONS has taken strict measures to ensure the confidentiality of results and guarantees that no data about individuals or individual households can be identified.
For the first time, results were published on-line and at no cost to users through the Neighbourhood Statistics section of the ONS website. Local results have been summarised on the Bedfordshire County Council website, with links provided to the relevant sections of the ONS site for those requiring further in-depth data.
Users of Census data should familiarise themselves with the regulations governing copyright and licenses, and any individual or organisation intending to republish Census data must first obtain a Click-Use Licence, available free of charge from HMSO.
We recognise that Census data is complex and have added a Frequently Asked Questions section covering the most common issues regarding Census data and how to access it. If you require any further assistance, please refer to our Help section.
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Summary of Population Changes 1991 - 2001
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The 2001 Census indicates that Bedfordshire's population grew by more than 25,600, or 7.2%, to 381,571 over the period 1991-2001. This compares to the 2.3% growth experienced in the UK and also exceeds the 5.2% increase in the population of the East of England region.
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POPULATION CHANGE 1991 - 2001 |
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| 1991 Census * | 1991 Mid Year Estimates | 2001 Census | % change
1991 - 2001 ** |
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| United Kingdom | 56,466,680 | 57,438,700 | 58,789,194 | 2.35 |
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| England | 47,055,204 | 47,875,000 | 49,138,831 | 2.64 |
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| East of England | 5,055,515 | 5,121,100 | 5,388,154 | 5.21 |
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| Bedfordshire | 352,434 | 355,900 | 381,571 | 7.21 |
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| Bedford Borough | 133,692 | 135,400 | 147,913 | 9.24 |
| Mid Bedfordshire | 109,801 | 111,100 | 121,031 | 8.94 |
| South Bedfordshire | 108,941 | 109,400 | 112,627 | 2.95 |
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| Luton | 171,671 | 173,700 | 184,390 | 6.15 |
* ONS has indicated that the population estimates provided by the 1991 Census contained significant inaccuracies - see ONS/Census 2001/Implications for a detailed discussion.
* * Due to errors in the 1991 Census, ONS has recalculated the 1991 Mid-Year Estimates based on the results of the 2001 Census. Changes from 1991 to 2001 have been calculated by comparing the 2001 Census population to the revised 1991 MYE.
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Updated 30th June 2010
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