Every 10 years the Office for National Statistics (ONS) carries out a census to find out more about the people who live in England and Wales and about the make-up of local neighbourhoods.
The 2011 census took place on Sunday 27 March 2011, when questionnaires were sent to around 25 million households.
The census asked about work, health, national identity, citizenship, ethnic background, education, second homes, language, religion, marital status and so on.
These statistics will be used to build a picture of today's society — the first results will be published in September 2012.
For more information, visit the ONS website.
Confidentiality
Everything you told the census is in strictest confidence and will only be used to produce generalised statistics.
The Office for National Statistics will not share your personal information with any other government department or organisation.
Why it matters
Accurate population estimates help us plan local services and meet the needs of local communities to improve the places in which we live and work.
By ensuring you complete your census questionnaire, we can achieve this by using the census results to shape and make decisions about services, including:
- schools - for children growing up now and in the future
- social housing - for families who need an affordable place to live
- transport - to and from work, and for going out and about in the area
- healthcare - facilities that everyone can access easily
- training - for people who want to learn new skills
