Census outputs schedule

The outputs release schedule page is where we share our plans for publishing census outputs. This includes details on the timing for publications and what will be included in each release.

This page will be updated regularly as we prepare to publish census outputs.

Census outputs release schedule 

Flexible Table Builder

On 27 November we will open the Flexible Table Builder for Scotland’s Census. Users will be able to create their own tables by combining census variables.

Release 1 in November will include data down to electoral wards. Users will be able to combine up to four variables. You won’t see data for smaller geographies or the sexual orientation and trans status or history variables in the FTB at this stage. We will publish this data in 2025 after we have completed our Statistical Disclosure Control process. 

Update on learning disability, learning difficulty and developmental disorder data

On 21 November we will publish a combined figure for people who reported a learning disability, learning difficulty or developmental disorder. This will be the total number of people who ticked one or more of the three boxes.

As part of this release we will:

• add data and analysis to our topic report on health, disability and unpaid care
• add data to the relevant tables in the Census Data section of our website
• add more information to the quality report on health, disability and unpaid care data
• provide an update on additional quality assurance work on the estimates for the individual condition categories included in the combined figure

First release of census outputs

The first release of census data was published on 14 September 2023. This release included: 

• Population estimates by age and sex at Scotland and Local Authority level (rounded)
• Number of households estimates at Scotland and Local Authority level (rounded)  

Alongside the data tables we published commentary and analysis including comparisons results against previous censuses. We also published supporting information on our quality assurance process and the methods used to produce these estimates. 

Unrounded population estimates  

The second release of census outputs was published 21 May 2024. This release included: 

• Population estimates by single year of age and sex at all geographies down to output area (unrounded)

• Households estimates by household size at all geographies down to output area (unrounded)

• Estimates of the usually resident population by whether living in a household or communal establishment at Scotland and Local Authority level (rounded) 

Output areas are made up of approximately 50 households.

Alongside this release we will publish commentary and analysis and update supporting information published where appropriate. The 2022 output area boundaries will also be made available for download. 

Topic data 

Topic data tables include one variable, for example marital status or ethnic group.

We published data for our final topic on 3 October 2024. 

We published a breakdown of topic variables by age and sex. These breakdowns were generally available for the Scotland and Local Authority geographies. For some variables we were able to publish at lower geography levels.

The following topics were covered during this phase: 

• Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion 
• Armed Forces veterans 
• Sexual orientation and trans status or history 
• Demography and migration 
• Housing
• Education, labour market and travel to work 
• Health, disability and unpaid care 

Data tables are available in the Census Data section of the website.

We also published commentary and metadata, for each topic.

Write in responses

Write in responses to the questions from the Ethnicity, National Identity, Language and Religion topic were published on 3 October 2024. Write in responses to the sexual orientation and trans status or history questions were published on 27 June 2024.

Multivariate / Build your own tables

In this phase we will open the Flexible Table Builder. Users will be able to create their own tables by combining census variables. On 27 November 2024 we will publish part one of the multivariate dataset into the Flexible Table Builder. Release 1 will include data down to electoral ward. Release 2 will follow in 2025 and will include data down to output area, subject to statistical disclosure controls.

We will also publish additional pre-built census tables in this phase. The introduction of the Flexible Table Builder has reduced the need for pre-built tables. But we have agreed to produce a selection of standard tables like those from 2011 where a user need was identified.

Analytical reports 

After publishing the census topic data, we will work on analytical reports for a number of topics. These reports will provide further insight into the 2022 census data and provide evidence for policymakers across Scotland and the UK. 

We identified strong user need for analytical reports on the following topics: 

• Equalities
• Gaelic 
• Health 
• Inhabited islands 
• Sexual orientation 
• Trans status or history 
• Armed Forces veterans 

Microdata  

Microdata are small samples of anonymised records for whole households and individuals, which include some associated census characteristics. We aim to publish our microdata in 2025. 

Microdata products enable researchers to look at combinations of characteristics that are not generally available from the standard census tables, and to perform different types of analyses not possible from standard tabulations. 

Origin-Destination

Origin destination statistics describe the movement of people. This includes migration (from their address one year prior to the census) or travel to work or study (from their current address to their workplace address or place of study). We aim to publish Origin-Destination outputs from the 2022 census in 2025. 

We will publish flow tables which show basic flows between areas, univariate tables cross-tabulate flows with one other variable, and multivariate tables cross tabulate flows with more than one variable. 

Workplace and daytime 

The main population base for standard statistical outputs from Scotland's Census will be the usually resident population. However, the information collected in the census on travel to work/study also enables statistics to be produced for two alternative population bases: workplace population and daytime population. We plan to publish workplace and daytime outputs in 2025. 

Approach to outputs and consultation

When we publish outputs from the 2022 census, we want to help users: 

• access as much census information as legally possible 
• use the latest technology to access and analyse data 

To finalise our plans for census outputs we held an outputs consultation. This covered a number of aspects of our plans for publishing census outputs. 

We asked users to give us their views on: 

• the order and sequencing of topics published 
• the tools we use to publish data 
• the geographical levels that data is published at 
• how changes to census questions impact users’ planned work/research 
• what they need from the new census questions 

Read more about the consultation and our responses to the feedback received.