How to make the most out of NISRA’s Census User Needs Consultation
Date published:
The census is one of the most important sources of data we have for understanding our population and housing. It informs the planning of public services for the next decade and supports a wide range of government and academic research.
The consultation closed on 18 March 2026. Thank you to everyone who submitted a response.
Why your input mattered
The Census User Needs Consultation was the first step in helping NISRA understand what users need from the census. Responses will feed into the design and testing work needed to develop an agreed questionnaire for Census 2031.
What happens next
All responses are being reviewed in line with our moderation policy and assessed against criteria in three areas: user requirements, operational requirements, and feasibility considerations. Full details of the evaluation criteria are set out in the consultation document.
The findings will inform NISRA's recommendations on which topics to include in the Census 2031 questionnaire. The final decision on what is collected will be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
NISRA will publish the responses alongside summary tables showing response frequencies for each question in due course.
Tips for a strong consultation response
While the consultation is now closed, these tips reflected the kind of evidence that helps NISRA assess user needs.
1. Be specific
Explain why a topic matters to your work or community, to help us understand your need. Instead of saying “data on general health is important”, explain why it matters. For example:
“My organisation will use general health data to allocate resources for primary health care support”.
2. Set the scene
We may not be familiar with your sector, please provide context, avoid jargon, and explain acronyms.
If you work with a subgroup of the population, such as a specific age group or minority population, please let us know.
3. Tell us your stories
Whether from your community or organisation, case studies and examples are an excellent way for us to understand your need for census topics.
Share scenarios where future census data would help you or your work. For example:
“I am involved in a community partnership programme and would like to use census data to understand how our educational intervention programs or youth programs improved educational attainment, for example, a reduction of those with no qualifications leaving school or higher percentage staying on in education or training.”
4. Use evidence
Facts and figures help us in assessing the merits of each topic and can strengthen the case for inclusion.
Do you have a legislative need for data on a topic? Can you quantify the positive impact the inclusion of a topic will have on your work? Can you quantify the negative impact omission will have instead? Please tell us. For example:
“Our organisation needs information about disability to comply with statutory obligations stemming from Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. This is vitally important to our organisation as the information provided via the census at small area level is otherwise unavailable”.
5. Focus on topics, not questions
Responses should help us to decide which topics to include in the Census 2031, not the actual questions. We will engage with users about the questions in the future.
6. Engage fully
Even if some questions on a topic feel less relevant, your insights help us see the bigger picture.
Contact us
If you have a question about the consultation, census2031.consultations@nisra.gov.uk