Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Following the UK Statistics Authority’s recommendation that a census should be conducted in 2031, the UK government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to undertake the next census in Wales and England. The census is one of the most significant data collection exercises undertaken in the UK, informing decisions about public services, funding allocations, and long‑term planning.
As part of preparations for Census 2031, the ONS will carry out a large-scale census test in spring 2027 across Wales and England. The ONS has today announced the test areas, and Cardiff and Monmouthshire have been selected in Wales.
The census test in 2027 will allow the ONS to trial different operational and data collection approaches ahead of the full census in 2031. Around 120,000 households across six local authority areas, including Cardiff and Monmouthshire, will be invited to complete a questionnaire, with most responding online but with alternative options available where needed.
The test will assess a range of methods, including:
- ways to encourage higher response rates
- new technical capabilities for contact centres
- simplified online authentication
- doorstep and telephone completion routes
- use of alternative data sources to help identify vacant properties
- approaches for collecting data from students in halls of residence and residents in care homes
These trials will help determine which methods are most effective and ensure that the full census operation in 2031 runs efficiently, inclusively, to a high standard and responds positively to the particular linguistic and social characteristics of Wales.
Although participation in the census test is voluntary, I strongly encourage all households who are invited to take part to do so. By participating, residents will play an important role in helping to ensure that the systems for Census 2031 are well‑designed and effective. A successful census in 2031 depends on robust testing, and the insight gained from Welsh communities will help ensure that the needs and characteristics of Wales are accurately reflected.
The Welsh Government will continue to work closely with the ONS as it prepares for both the census test in 2027, a census rehearsal in 2029 and the full census in 2031.