History of the Census and UK

First Census

Jul 23, 1801

The very first Census was taken in the UK. The population at that time was 9.3 million.

Age Groups

May 28, 1821

This is the first year that the age of the population is measured.

Industry

May 30, 1831

This was the first year that people's job types was recorded. For example manufacturing, retail, farming.

Door to Door Questioning

May 30, 1841

This year some 35,000 people were employed to go from door to door with a form and pencil to ask the public to fill out the census. This proved to be quite difficult as many people could not read or write.

Question Changes

May 30, 1851

This is the first year that the census asked for people's exact age, marital status, relationship to head of house, and birthplace.

Under aged workers

Jul 23, 1860

The Census meant that Government were able to see what was happening in the country and took action - from 1860, boys under 12 years of age could not work underground unless they could read and write.

Medical Conditions

May 23, 1871

People are already categorised as being 'deaf, dumb and blind'. This is the first year that people are also categorised as being a 'lunatic' or 'imbecile'.

Factory and Workshops Act

Jul 1, 1878

Children under 10 years could no longer be employed in factories.

Number of rooms

May 23, 1891

This is the first year that people are asked to comment on the number of rooms that they have in their house. This was because of fear that many people were living in cramped, 1 room houses.

Education

Jul 23, 1891

From the census, it was decided that children needed education. As of this year, the Government introduced free education for all children up to the age of 11 years.

Local Councils

Mar 23, 1894

Local Parish councils are set created to deal with running services.

1901 Census

Jul 23, 1901

The population stands at 32.5 million.

Technological Advances

May 23, 1911

This is the year that the census was stepped up and brought into the modern world. They now used technology to sort the data using punched cards

Women Vote

Feb 6, 1918

A imited number of women are now able to vote

New Questions

Apr 23, 1921

It is now that the census starts asking questions about where people work, and what edcualtional qualifications a person has.

Unemployment

Jun 23, 1921

Unemployment reached a new high (after World War 1) of 2.5 million

No Census

May 23, 1941

There is no census this year because of the War.

Butler Act

Jan 1, 1944

The Butler Act of 1944 was introduced, meaning free education for all.

NHS

Jul 5, 1948

The very first national health service was created.

London Olympics

Aug 23, 1948

London hosts the 1948 Olympic Games.

First census since the 2nd World War

Jul 23, 1951

It was the first census to ask about household amenities (outside toilets) as Britain began to clear slums and rebuild housing after World War II. Questions about fertility and duration of marriage were reinstated.

Computer use

Apr 23, 1961

This is the first year that a computer is used to process the results from the census.

Comprehensive Schools

Jul 12, 1965

The Comprehensive school system is initiated.

Abortion and Homosexuality

Jul 23, 1967

Abortion and homosexuality is legalised.

Economy

Jan 26, 1982

Economic recession leads to a rise in unemployment again.

Census Population

Jul 23, 2001

The population has risen to more than 52 million.

Religion

Jul 23, 2001

A voluntary question about Religion was added to the census.