Scotland's Census 2031 - Topics

Overview

The National Records of Scotland (NRS), on behalf of the Registrar General for Scotland, is responsible for conducting Scotland’s census. These statistics are of national strategic importance and bring a wide range of benefits to Scotland.

Census statistics provide an accurate picture of Scotland’s population including its size, distribution, and demographics. Our statistics inform policy making, enabling government agencies to make decisions regarding funding for services like healthcare, education, and transport. They help local authorities plan for infrastructure development, housing, and community services based on trends within their area. Census statistics support economic development strategies by providing insights into the workforce, employment patterns, and economic activity within different regions. They support research on social issues, including poverty, health disparities, and migration. They assist with equality monitoring by identifying inequalities across different demographics, promoting social inclusion. Census statistics help communities understand their own needs and to participate in decision-making. Finally, our statistics are used to help determine the budget allocation from the UK Government to the Scottish Government.

The census is the flagship of NRS’s population statistics. We have finished publishing the main outputs from the 2022 Census and are starting to plan for 2031. At the start of each census cycle, we seek to understand users’ changing requirements. These views inform the design of the census, the topics it covers and the methods we use to collect the information. 

NRS work with partners across the UK, including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and the Welsh Government. The UK Concordat on Statistics sets out how the UK and Devolved Governments cooperate in relation to the production of statistics, statistical standards and the statistics profession.

As in the past, there will be separate censuses in England & Wales and Northern Ireland. Where efficient and effective to do so, NRS will work with ONS and NISRA to design and build a census for 2031. The census will, where possible and necessary, support the harmonisation of outputs across the UK. At the same time, Scotland’s Census must meet the needs of our unique characteristics and geography. On 17 June 2025, the three census offices each recommended to their respective Governments that they should commission and resource full censuses of population and housing across the UK in 2031. It is our shared ambition that these censuses will provide coherent UK outputs and, where possible, maximise the use of administrative data. 

Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.

Why your views matter

Counting the entire population at one point in time is a large, expensive and complex undertaking. The planning is extensive, and it takes time to process and publish the information.  We have started to plan for the next census by building on the success of Scotland’s Census 2022. It is right that we design and manage a census that will best meet users’ needs. The purpose of this consultation is to inform our work on the topics to be included in the 2031 Census. We are seeking your views on:

• how you currently use the 2022 Census outputs, the benefits of the census data and how far these meet your needs
• your future requirements for statistics about Scotland’s housing, its people and their characteristics

We will use this information to inform the content of the 2031 Census and the topics it will cover. This consultation is the beginning of a wider programme of engagement. We will work with stakeholders to ascertain their views on the topics to be gathered in 2031.

The census is one part of a wider statistical system. Collecting information through a census is a significant investment and places a legal obligation on households and individuals in Scotland to provide personal information. We therefore must make sure that:

• the census is the most effective way to collect the information
• there is strong user requirement for the information
• the benefit of collecting the information outweighs the costs of collection

Your response to this consultation will help us understand the best way to meet your future needs. As well as census data, other sources of information may help. For example, some information may already be held by a public body. Rather than adding questions to the census, it may be better for NRS to access this administrative data. We may collect data using surveys where granular data is not so important. Alternatively, combining census, administrative and survey data may offer the best solution. We would, of course, have to be assured that we could consistently produce reliable, quality statistics from these sources. Ultimately, we want to give you the statistics that you need to make informed decisions for the people of Scotland.

Our consultation paper provides NRS’s initial views on the type of topics that could be collected in the next census. Our view is informed by the 2022 topics and questions. The paper focuses on topics, not the detailed questions that will be asked on the questionnaire. We will propose questions only after comprehensive research, testing and further discussions with users. Ultimately the Scottish Parliament will approve the questions to be used in 2031.   

To help us understand your data needs and to carefully assess your needs against those of other users, please provide as much detail as possible. Specify how you will use the census data and what impact it will have. This will ensure your view is fully considered in our evaluation.