Nine out of 10 households have completed Census 2021

Every household is required by law to complete the census by the end of April.

It's not too late to fill out the form

Even though Census Day, 21 March, has been and gone, it is not too late to fill out your form and avoid a fine. Most people have already completed their census online to make sure public services like GP surgeries, hospital beds, school places and public transport, are based on the most up to date information. If you haven’t already done so, please fil out your form as soon as possible.

Field officers from the Office for National Statistics are now out and about knocking on doors where records show we have had no response. If you don’t want to get a visit, please complete your census now. The information you give means all the services you rely on, like school places and emergency services, are planned on accurate information. It is even used to plan where to build new supermarkets and how many parent and toddler spaces to put in the car park.

The census questionnaire is simple, straightforward, and safe to complete online. It only takes 10 minutes per person in a home.

All households were sent a letter in the post in early March with instructions for taking part. If you have lost the letter or have a second address you have not visited, go to the Census website to request an online completion code for your address via SMS text message.

Help to fill out the form

If you know someone who doesn't have the skills or confidence to do the census online, help is at hand. There are local census support centres across England and Wales, offering phone and face-to-face support. You can find a nearby centre. You can also call the Office for National Statistics freephone contact centre on 0800 141 2021.

The field officers will be operating until 28 April. After that date the Office for National Statistics will investigate why a household has not completed a census. In some cases the household could receive a fine of up to £1000. Field officers are there to help those who have not yet filled in their census questionnaire online or on paper and direct them to the support services they need. They never need to enter people’s houses; they will always be socially distanced, be equipped with PPE and work in line with all government guidance. They will never ask for money or payment. They operate in the same way as a postal or food delivery visit. They also carry ID to show they are genuinely working on the census.