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Title:
Small Area Population Estimates for the United Kingdom, 1991
(Small Area Population Estimates for 1991: UK Coverage)

Subject Categories:
Population studies - Population, vital statistics and censuses
Vital statistics - Population, vital statistics and censuses

Depositor(s):
Norman, P., University of Leeds. School of Geography

Principal Investigator(s):
Norman, P., University of Leeds. School of Geography
Simpson, L., University of Manchester. Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research
Sabater, A., University of Manchester. Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research

Original Producer(s):
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys
Office for National Statistics
General Register Office (Scotland)
Census Office for Northern Ireland

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES-163-25-0012

Abstract:
Even after imputation of missing households, the UK’s 1991 Census counts were lower than expected. In the 1990s, the ESRC-funded Estimating with Confidence project (EwC) distributed official non-response data for local authority districts on a small area-specific basis to allow for under-enumeration, timing changes between census day and the mid-year, armed forces adjustments and the transfer of students from home to term-time addresses. The EwC-enhanced census counts became accepted as the ‘gold standard’ for mid-1991 small area populations and have been widely used in academic and government research.

Following the 2001 Census, evidence suggested that previous official upward adjustments to 1991 populations were too large. Revisions were retrospectively made to 1991 non-response in England, Wales and Scotland (GB) and to the official annual time-series of local authority (LA) mid-year population estimates.

Since data for previous populations are needed for sub-district small areas, this project has revised the original EwC non-response allowances (for small areas across GB) and converted the output to more contemporary geographies (for all of UK including Northern Ireland). As a result, the 1991 EwC small area estimates are now consistent and comparable with the 2001 Census population definition and geography and the 1981-2001 official population time-series at LA level across the whole of the UK.

These revised UK-coverage small area population estimates resource will underpin late 20th Century local area social analyses of changes in populations and, for example, changes in health and unemployment rates.

Further information can be found on the ESRC Award web page.

Main Topics:
The study provides complete mid-1991 and mid-2001 population estimates by five year age-groups and sex for Census Area Statistics (CAS) wards across England, Wales and Northern Ireland CAS postal sectors across Scotland.

Coverage:
Dates of Fieldwork: 1991
Country: United Kingdom
Spatial Units: Enumeration Districts (1991);Output Areas (Scotland) (1991)
Observation Units: Administrative units (geographical/political)
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Aggregate (macro) level

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:National
Population:Individuals present at the 1991 Census (United Kingdom).

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: No sampling (total universe)
Method of Data Collection: Compilation or synthesis of existing material
Weighting: No weighting used
Data Sources: The original Estimating with Confidence (EwC) data are copyright of the EwC project which was funded by the ESRC, award number H519255028.

The research uses 1991 and 2001 Censuses, the National Statistics Postcode Directory (NSPD) and GIS boundary data obtained via MIMAS CASWEB and EDINA UKBORDERS which are academic services supported by ESRC and JISC. -The Census, official Mid-Year Estimates, NSPD and vital statistics data for England and Wales have been provided by the Office for National Statistics and the digital boundary data by Ordnance Survey. These data are copyright of the Crown and are reproduced with permission of the Controller of HMSO.

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: Access is restricted to users in UK higher and further education institutions. Registration is required.
Availability: UKDA Census, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@census.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 6 February 2009

Copyright:
Crown copyright held jointly with P. Norman and the Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research. Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland.

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