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Super Output Areas (Census 2011)

Super Output Areas (SOAs) were developed by NISRA to improve the reporting of small-area statistics.

Overview

A set of slightly revised Super Output Areas (SOAs) were created for Census 2011 outputs. Details on what changes were made are included in the SOA Background Paper.

Look-up tables and guidance documents

Super Output Areas (SOAs) do not nest within the 11 Local Government Districts (LGD2014); however, a best-fit look-up table and guidance document have been created.

An additional look-up table identifies the geographies (Wards, LGD1992, and Parliamentary Constituencies) within which a particular Super Output Area, Small Area, or Output Area is found.

Super Output Area boundaries in GIS format

Users are able to download Super Output Area digital boundaries in a number of formats:

  • ESRI Shapefile
  • MapInfo

Super Output Area attribute table

AttributeDescription
SOA_LabelSOA labelling convention
SOA_CodeSOA coding convention

Geography preview

Census 2011 Super Output Area

Last updated: 09 April 2025

Related to Super Output Areas (Census 2011)

Publications

  • Super Output Area Boundaries in GIS format

    Published 02 September 2013
  • SOA Background Paper

    Published 01 January 2013
See all publications in this topic

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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