Introduction
On 28 October 2025, NISRA launched the Northern Ireland Census User Needs Consultation. The consultation ran for 20 weeks until 18 March 2026. It asked individuals, organisations and community groups to share their views on topics to be included in the next census.
This release contains moderated copies of the responses received, alongside summary tables showing counts for the main consultation questions.
What we asked
NISRA invited users to share their views to help shape the content of Census 2031. The consultation sought feedback on:
- how Census 2021 data is used
- which topics should be included in Census 2031
- views on the use of alternative data sources to support the census
Participants were encouraged to review the supporting information before responding. This included:
- Census User Needs Consultation document
- consultation questionnaire
- moderation policy
Slides from online engagement events are also available. These events were held on 12 November 2025 and 21 January 2026.
What you said
This release does not provide an evaluation of the responses received. A full evaluation report is planned for later in 2026.
The Census User Needs Consultation responses are now available to view. Use the response look-up to search by Citizen Space Unique ID or organisation name. All responses have been moderated in line with the consultation moderation policy.
Summary tables are also available. They provide an overview of how frequently each question was answered.
We received 140 responses to the consultation: 93 on behalf of organisations and 47 from individuals. Respondents were asked to select the sector that best described their work or area of interest. "Charity / Community / Voluntary" was selected the most (51), followed by "Central government" (36) and "Statutory body (for example, health, education, transport, housing, etc)" (15). We also received responses from other sectors including local government, the private sector and research-related fields.
What happens next
NISRA is currently reviewing and assessing all responses received. A full report outlining the findings and NISRA’s response to the consultation will be published later in 2026.
The assessment process considers a range of evaluation criteria, including:
User requirements
- purpose of user need
- need for information on lower-level geographical areas or population subgroups
- need for comparability beyond Northern Ireland
- need for continuity with previous censuses
- requirement for multivariate analysis
- suitability of alternative sources
Operational requirements
- improving coverage
- coding of derived variables
- question routing and validation
Feasibility considerations
- data quality
- public acceptability
- respondent burden
- financial concerns
- questionnaire design
Section 6 of the Northern Ireland Census User Needs consultation document (PDF, 1 MB) provides a description of each criterion.
The findings from this process will inform NISRA’s recommendations on the topics to be included in the Census 2031 questionnaire. Final decisions on census content will be subject to approval by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Responses to the consultation will also be used to publish a Census 2021 benefits realisation report.