Census 2022 – Output Areas
2022 OA's
Output Areas (OAs) are the key geography for dissemination of small area statistics from the Census. OAs are large enough for Census statistics to be released without infringing confidentiality. They are designed to have relatively small numbers of households (in the range of 25 to 89) and population (>=60), while nesting within Council areas. They also act as the basic “building-blocks” for the creation of other geographies such as Data Zones. There are 46,363 Census 2022 OAs in Scotland.
dataset
protocol: OGC:WMS
name: OutputArea2022
description: OGC View Service
function: information
protocol: OGC:WFS
name: CEN2022:OutputArea2022
description: OGC Feature Download Service
function: download
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/2022-census-geography-products/
protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
name: National Records of Scotland website
description: 2022 Census Geography Products
function: information
OutputArea2022
www.nrscotland.gov.uk
eng
boundaries
Statistical units
publication
2008-06-01
statistical data
census survey
publication
2010-01-13
Boundaries
Censuses
publication
2020-11-18
-8.80
-0.71
60.87
54.63
2022
2022
creation
2024-05-21
publication
2024-05-21
asNeeded
This dataset shows the 2022 Census Output Areas (OAs). OAs are the smallest geographical unit for which Census data is released, and as a result, they act as the basic “building-blocks” for the creation of other statistical geographies, e.g. Data Zones. The OAs are constructed by aggregating together a small number of Postcodes. Because the OAs cover small areas and contain relatively small numbers of households and population (households in the range 25 to 89; population >= 60), there is only a limited amount of Census data that can be released without infringing confidentiality. An important requirement during the creation of the 2022 OAs was to attempt to keep the boundaries the same, or similar, as the 2011 OAs – this would make it easier to compare over the time period The process for creating the OAs was as follows: Output Areas for the 2022 Census were created as groups of Postcodes nesting as well as possible into the following geographies in descending order of preference when not all Postcodes in the OA belong to a single combination of these area types: • Council Area • 2022 Census Locality 1. The 2022 census counts (population and households) were allocated to the individual Postcodes which were assigned to 2011 OA, boundaries dissolved to create a set of 2011 OA based on the 2022 frozen Postcodes. This highlighted the OAs which fell outside the stated parameters. 2. Where a 2011 OA dropped below the 2022 minimum threshold for confidentiality (60 persons and 25 households) it was merged with a neighbouring OA if possible or broken up. In addition where a 2011 OA had increased in size and exceeded the 2022 recommended maximum threshold (approximately 90 households) it was split into two or more OAs. 3. There are no OAs below the lower threshold for the number of required households (25) and population (60). 4. As a result 46,363 Census 2022 OAs in Scotland have been created. 5. Spatial improvement. Of the OAs created 531 (564 parts) are non contiguous because the polygons are separated by other output areas. It was agreed that the parts which did not contain the Postcode grid reference (in most instances the smaller polygon) would be removed and the area merged with adjoining OA to create a single polygon where possible. This was purely a cosmetic exercise and did not affect census statistics, calculation of the Centroid, the higher area assignment, or the area calculation for the OA all of which were based on all of the constituent parts of the OA or the grid reference points of the Postcodes that form the OA. A boundary dataset detailing the OA parts which were removed is available on the Geography Census pages of the NRS website. The dataset still contains non contiguous OAs that are separated by water. The boundaries are available for two geographic extents: Extent of the Realm (EoR) The boundaries in this dataset are to the Mean Low Water mark so that the coastline is extended to be consistent with Local Authorities. and Clipped to the coastline with inland water removed (MHW) The boundaries in this dataset have been clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water Mark) with inland water removed. This version closely represents map users expectations of how a coastal boundary should look. Inland water has also been removed as listed in the Standard Area Measurements (SAM) produced by the Office for National Statistics.
publication
2010-12-08
false
WMS
1.3.0
The following statements must be used when reproducing or using this material: Copyright National Records of Scotland, contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right (insert year).
Geography
National Records of Scotland
General Register House, 2 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YY
United Kingdom
geographycustomerservices@nrscotland.gov.uk
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
name: National Records of Scotland Website
description:
publisher
Geography
National Records of Scotland
General Register House, 2 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YY
United Kingdom
geographycustomerservices@nrscotland.gov.uk
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
name: National Records of Scotland Website
description:
pointOfContact
2025-02-10T13:52:42.763Z