Final phase of the assessment of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics: 2022 Census in Scotland

Overview

The 2022 census in Scotland statistics, produced by National Records of Scotland (NRS), are published as accredited official statistics.

The census is one of the most important sources of data and statistics, informing decisions about almost every aspect of life within the UK. It gives users access to important information on the people and households of the UK and helps us better understand the places in which we live and work.

This report presents the findings of the third and final phase of our assessment of NRS’s outputs for the 2022 census in Scotland, which we started in October 2025.

Why we did this review

On 13 September 2023, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) wrote to NRS to confirm that the statistics on the 2022 census in Scotland could be designated as National Statistics (now referred to as accredited official statistics). This letter accompanied OSR’s Phase 2 report on the census, which identified several areas that NRS needed to address in order to comply with the standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics.

This review reports publicly on NRS’s actions against the Phase 2 requirements, and assesses NRS’s 2022 census outputs against the Code, with a focus on the extent to which the outputs have met user needs.

Highlighted findings

NRS released the 2022 Census outputs for Scotland in an orderly and well-structured way, with an approach shaped by user feedback.

Following quality challenges caused by lower-than-expected response rates during census data collection, NRS conducted rigorous quality assurance to understand and assure the reliability of the census results. Overall, the quality of the census outputs was communicated thoroughly and effectively, with appropriate attention given to communicating uncertainty. The performance of the census question on health conditions regarding learning disability data has provided lessons regarding the communication of quality issues.

NRS has shown a clear commitment to meeting user needs through its Census 2022 outputs. NRS has taken a proactive and comprehensive approach to user engagement and in supporting users to understand and make use of the census statistics.

NRS has taken clear steps to support the coherence and comparability of its outputs, including working with other UK census offices to produce UK-level estimates. NRS has informed users where cautiousness should be applied in comparing the 2011 to 2022 census statistics when question design and methodology differed.

NRS has developed a range of innovative tools that have generally enhanced users’ experience of using the 2022 outputs, although some features relating to data-zone level analysis and usability could be improved to support use.

Overall, NRS has taken a thoughtful and systematic approach to enhancing statistical insights through its Census 2022 outputs. Its work demonstrates a clear focus on maximising the value of census data by enabling users to derive meaningful and relevant conclusions about Scotland’s population.

Our judgement

NRS has met all the requirements set out in our 2023 Phase 2 assessment. NRS demonstrated a comprehensive approach to effective user engagement, clearly documenting quality and methods, collaboration with other census offices, and timely, accessible outputs. For these reasons, we confirm the designation of the 2022 census in Scotland statistics as accredited official statistics.

Users reported high levels of satisfaction with the 2022 Census outputs, reflecting NRS’s open and collaborative approach. Strong public engagement and clear communication on quality were notable achievements, particularly given the challenges posed by the census postponement from 2021 and lower-than-expected response rates.

Looking ahead, we encourage NRS to build on this positive reception by carrying forward lessons from 2022 into the design and delivery of 2031 Census outputs. NRS should strengthen expert engagement, continue close collaboration with other UK census offices to support comparability, and enhance the functionality and accessibility of the Flexible Table Builder. We also recommend NRS work closely with local authority users who require data‑zone‑level data to ensure clarity, access and comparability. We have set out five recommendations for NRS to take forward in respect to these areas.

Next steps

NRS should aim to meet these recommendations within six months or demonstrate to OSR how the recommendations have been integrated into planning for Census 2031.