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Completing the census is important because the answers provide the Scottish Government, local authorities, the NHS and many other service providers with the data they need to make important decisions that affect people’s lives and their communities.

These decisions include how money will be spent on important services, for example:

  • the schools, colleges and universities in our communities
  • the roads we drive on every day
  • the hospitals, care services and GP surgeries that we rely on

National Records of Scotland is responsible for planning and delivering the census.

What information does the census record?

Every household in Scotland has a legal responsibility to complete a census questionnaire.

This is vital to ensure that the census provides detailed and accurate information about the entire nation and population.

We have engaged extensively with stakeholders over many years to develop the questions in the census. These include information on:

  • age
  • sex
  • where people live
  • employment, education and qualifications
  • ethnicity

This time, the census will ask some new questions which will collect information about:

  • British Sign Language (BSL) use
  • passports held
  • Armed Forces service
  • trans status or history
  • sexual orientation

Who is responsible for completing the census?

The householder, i.e. a person who either lives, owns, rents the property or is responsible for paying the household bills and expenses, is responsible for completing the census.

If an individual in a household wishes to provide answers about themselves in private, they can request an individual questionnaire separate from the household questionnaire.

The householder will not be made aware of the request or the information provided.

People who are over 16 and living in places like halls of residence, care homes or hostels are also legally required to complete an individual census questionnaire as well as having their information recorded as part of a communal establishment questionnaire.

A communal establishment is typically managed residential accommodation where there is full-time or part-time supervision of the accommodation.

Complete the census  

COMPLETION DEADLINE:1 May 2022