Census: Is it necessary?

The results of last year's Census of Britain have been published, putting the country's population at 58,789,194, one million lower than estimates made in 2000.

The survey revealed an ageing population with more people aged over 60 than there are under 16 for the first time.

The census has attracted criticism for its cost and for the addition of the details of imaginary people to make it more complete.

A total of 23 million households were surveyed at a cost of £255m, to provide a snapshot of the shape of Britain when it was taken on 29 April last year.

It gives details of population numbers, their ages and sex both nationally and for each local authority in England and Wales.

Is a national census necessary, or is it too costly an exercise? Does it adequately reflect modern Britain?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

I find it comforting that census data does stand alone and isn't based on data collected by other government agencies. The fact that the Government hasn't got its act together to synchronise its databases means our privacy is a bit more likely to survive a bit longer.
Sarah Appleby, London, UK

In the US we love it when the census comes about and counts everyone up. It means tax dollars for public programs get directed where they need to go, political districts get redrawn, and we get to brag about our ethnic diversity; in short it brings us up to date on the needs of our population. I'm really surprised a census would cause such friction in the UK, I thought the British like being organized. Burying your head in the sand won't make the needs of and diversity of your people go away. Besides, one hundred years from now do you really want to be remembered as an anonymous faceless nation?
John, San Antonio, USA

I think it is good value for money

Gordon Lewis, UK

It works out at less than £5 a head. I think it is good value for money. Are you worth £5 every 10 years?
Gordon Lewis, UK

The Census is an invaluable source of data for the academic community and for the government. My father is a government statistician and without the census he wouldn't be able to forecast future spending trends in order to allow the government to make economic policies for the long term.
Graham R, London, UK

It is absolutely no surprise that the population is ageing, we have been aware of this for years. Perhaps the £255m would have been better spent on bolstering our flagging pension system. And as for a census needed for town planning? Don't make me laugh - this Government's policy is to shove up as many houses as possible come what may!
Sid, England

We need accurate information about the population of the country and its characteristics but the 2001 Census was so badly run that we can disregard the results. I tried on numerous occasions to contact the helpline with perfectly valid questions but failed. So I guessed the answers to my questions!! Now the people running it have invented people to make the results look good. What a farce!!!!
Bob Cain, UK

Of course the government needs accurate figures - so that they can blithely ignore them and do just what they like, as usual. They will, of course, quote statistics "derived" from the census in the most confusing way possible. This will be done in the hope that, if people do not understand the answers, they will stop asking questions.
Marcus, England

However essential the Census is the UK government for statistics and future planning, the real usefulness for the public comes in 100 years time when the records are released. I'm sure the survey won't be viewed as "irrelevant" or a waste of money by historians and future generations, for whom the Census is the only public document to record such details about the lives of ordinary people, as it has since 1841.
Paul Clare, London, UK

It wouldn't really be right for me to comment - after all I never completed a census form! I tried to get hold of one but they kept on leaving notes to say they had been around during the day (when I was out) and refusing to post one through the letter box. Despite telephoning the hotline, none was ever posted through my door. Oh well better look next time!
Paul, Manchester, UK

Those who criticise the process would be the first to complain if the government failed to provide the right level of services

Daniel, UK

Those who criticise the process would be the first to complain if the government failed to provide the right level of services in your area because they didn't know who was living there. You may find the questions prying, but they're all important and none of them are exactly difficult to answer! You wouldn't call the religion question irrelevant if your local school started teaching a religion that no one locally adopts, or if your local radio stations started doing religious programmes for a faith not relevant to you. So stop whingeing, and stop being so selfish.
Daniel, UK

Can someone tell me why the government has spent £255m gathering information it already holds? The Inland Revenue know how much money we all earn, down to the last penny. Council tax records/the electoral role can be used to tell where we all live, how long we have live there, and where we moved from. The schools hold records on how many children exist and so on. The only "new" information gathered is that of race and religion, and as these are emotive subjects you will have to take the results with a pinch of salt (Jedi?) The fact that a census was conducted in the first place, tells me that the government does not trust its own agencies to collect, process and share the information they are charged with.
Andy, Wales

Of course we need the Census! Don't concentrate on the minor problems, think about the need for accurate statistics that help us to plan for the future in health, education and town planning. And don't forget that your children's children may be future genealogists wanting to trace their ancestors (Jedi or not!).
John, Nottingham, UK

It is vital to have a record of this country and the people in it

Nicola, England

I think it is vital to have a record of this country and the people in it. What is unclear is why it could not be done properly to ensure that everyone was included rather than making up the numbers. I understand that for homeless people this might be necessary to ensure that their future needs are met, but surely everyone else should be capable of being counted.
Nicola, England

The questions were irrelevant (how many rooms do you have), nosey (what's your religion), or asking again for information the government already has (what do you get paid, how many cars have you got). All in all, a waste of my taxes.
Phil, UK

If anybody has undermined the Census it's the Bureau themselves. Why bother inventing people when it's clear there would have been a drop in population whatever happened?
K Henry, England

Making up people makes the census a total farce

Ian, Poland, ex-UK

Here in Poland you are not allowed to fill in the form, you make an appointment and they come round and ask you the questions. Making up people makes the census a total farce. The census should be used to check things like whether births are being registered, not the other way round. It may be cheaper and more accurate to use statistical methods, but there are billions spent on decisions based on the data. Once in 10 years it should be possible to document everyone, if it isn't, what real hope would there ever be of introducing ID cards?
Ian, Poland, ex-UK

As there are a million less than estimated, is the government going to reduce the horrific building plan which, if carried out, will decimate our countryside?
Betty Stapley, England

While it is expensive, it is important to keep track of population patterns in the UK. The fact that we now have an aging population and less people being born, if it's a trend that continues for the long term, could result in various economic problems. One only has to look at Sweden which now has a negative growth rate. In other words more people are dying there than being born. This is something that needs to be tracked for the long term good of our country.
Michael, UK

£255m is not that expensive when you compare it to the new Wembley stadium

Jayne, England

£255m is not that expensive when you compare it to the new Wembley stadium. I think the government needs to know details of the population, but I am not sure about the worth of adding people that don't exist.
Jayne, England

I am amazed that, in a society swamped by bureaucracy, the bureaucrats are incapable of estimating the population to within one million.
Rodger Edwards, UK

I'm horrified at the addition of imaginary people. This, to me, invalidates the whole thing. We know people may have been missed, but that is no reason to invent people to fill in the gaps.
Pete B, Thatcham, UK

The public has no need for this waste of time

Sam Blakeman, Wigan, England

The public has no need for this waste of time. We will see that from the amount of people who entered "Jedi" as their religion. Don't count me in.
Sam Blakeman, Wigan, England

Yes, the basic information is needed. However, I don't like the rising number of irrelevant questions and spiralling cost. It's supposed to be a basic snapshot of the country not an in depth marketing database for the government.
Phillip Holley, UK

The census attracted less response than usual because it was "politically correct", asking for details of ethnic origin and religious beliefs. People should not be segregated like this and neither should the state be the slightest bit bothered about it. Hence "Jedi" becoming a new religion in the UK when people protested in their own, quiet manner. If the state is going to try this sort of trick then nobody will mind if the census is scrapped.
Mike R, UK