About the 2011 census

​When was the census?

Jersey's census took place on 27 March 2011. The Jersey census was run on the same day as the census in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Who ran the census?

The Statistics Unit ran the Jersey Census independently, on behalf of the Chief Minister. The entire census project was carried out on-Island, including processing and validation of the census returns. This approach allowed use of local knowledge and expertise throughout the census project.

How did you collect the information? 

• the Island was divided into 166 Enumeration districts, with a fieldworker (Enumerator) responsible for checking that all dwellings in their district were included in our address list
• census Enumerators hand-delivered census questionnaires to every household in Jersey 
• each household was required to complete and return the questionnaire, providing details of all those who were usually resident along with any visitors at the household on census night
• households who did not return their census form were sent a reminder and replacement questionnaire before being visited by a special team of Collection Officers, multiple times where required. The follow-up of non-responding households continued for several months
• the census office checked and processed census questionnaires from all the households and communal establishments across the Island
• a careful process of validation was carried out against administrative data sources to ensure the final census numbers were consistant with the known sections of the population 

How did yo​​u decide which questions to ask?

In deciding which topics to cover, the Statistics Unit consulted with States Members and officers in Jersey, as well as professional statisticians in the UK, and researched plans for censuses in other countries.

​The cases made for specific topics by census users were balanced against the public acceptability of the questions, whether or not they can be asked in a way that gives reliable information, and whether there are alternative methods of collecting the information.

​​The questions to be asked in 2011 were approved by of the States of Jersey Assembly in September 2010. The number of questions were kept to a minimum to ensure that the questionnaire was quick and easy to fill in.

Document​​s relating to the States decision to hold a Jers​​ey census in 2011

Download Senator Frank Walker's census statement September 2005 (size 15Kb)
Download Policy and Resources' comment on proposition P116 2005 (size 29kb)
Download the press release February 1 2005 (size 60kb)
Download the statement by the President of the Policy and Resources Committee February 1 2005 (size 7Kb)
Download Policy and Resources' paper: The next Jersey Census (size52kb)