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Census 2021 output geography information papers

Date published: 21 February 2023

Research and support: Geography,  Data Zones (Census 2021),  Super Data Zones (Census 2021)

Data Zones and Super Data Zones are new statistical output geographies created to support the release of local-level Census 2021 statistics.

  • Read ‘New statistical output geographies for Northern Ireland derived from Census 2021’ to find out how the new statistical geographies have been developed.
  • Read ‘Aggregating Data Zones to produce statistics for higher-level geographies’ to find out how other Northern Ireland geographies can be approximated.
  • Read 'Aggregating Data Zones to produce statistics for the new Parliamentary Constituencies' to find out more about the aggregation method and its accuracy in producing approximated statistics for each of the new Parliamentary Constituencies.
  • Read 'Census 2021 geography guidance' for background on the Census 2021 output geographies, disclosure considerations for producing outputs at multiple geographies and the geography approximation methodologies that Census Office has adopted.

Digital boundaries can be downloaded for:

  • Data Zones
  • Super Data Zones

The 3,780 Data Zones nest within the 850 Super Data Zones; both of these geographies nest within the 80 District Electoral Areas and 11 Local Government Districts in Northern Ireland.

Person and household estimates from Census 2021 are available for Data Zone, Super Data Zone, and District Electoral Area.

The census area explorer has been updated with person and household estimates for the new geographies.

Documents

  • New statistical output geographies for Northern Ireland derived from Census 2021 Adobe PDF (7 MB)
  • Aggregating Data Zones to produce statistics for higher-level geographies Adobe PDF (763 KB)
  • Data Zone and Super Data Zone lookups (updated April 2025) Microsoft Excel (589 KB)
  • Aggregating Data Zones to produce statistics for the new Parliamentary Constituencies Adobe PDF (377 KB)
  • Census 2021 geography guidance Adobe PDF (137 KB)

Help viewing documents

Last updated: 15 April 2025

Links

  • Official Statistics producer – Upholding Trust, Quality and Value
  • General Register Office - registration and certification of life events relating to births, deaths and marriages
  • nidirect.gov.uk – the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens
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