1971 and 1961 Census microdata samples
A suite of microdata samples from the 1971 and 1961 censuses have been made available at the UK Data Service and in the ONS’s Secure Research Service
(formerly the
Virtual Microdata Laboratory (VML). This follows the release of
1981 Census microdata in October. The files were created as part of a project to make better use of existing data and to advance research based on census data. This was led by the UK Data Service and supported by ONS and the National Records of Scotland.
Microdata files are small samples of data for whole households and individuals that contain a range of socio-demographic characteristics but no
information that could identify a household or individual. They enable researchers to look at combinations of characteristics that are not generally available from the standard census tables, and to perform different types of analyses not possible from standard
tabulations. Access to the different microdata samples varies according to the size of the sample and the level of detail contained in it - details below.
ONS are always keen to obtain value from historical censuses by opening up data. The release of microdata samples from 1961 to 1981 has created
a rich research resource for the analysis of social change over the last 50 years.
|
1961 Census (GB) microdata sample |
Sample Size |
Lowest Level of Geography |
Licence Type |
Who can access the data under current arrangements |
|
1% |
Approximation of contemporary regions based on a grouping of 1961 Local Authority Districts |
Open |
·
Anyone |
|
|
5% |
Groups of neighbouring area codes The closest modern equivalent is Grouped Local Authority Districts |
End User Licence |
·
Academic ·
Government and public sector ·
Third sector (independent and commercial research organisations) ·
Not available to overseas users without explicit permission from ONS and NRS ·
No commercial use of the data without explicit permission from ONS and NRS |
|
|
0.95% |
Region |
End User Licence |
·
Academic ·
Government and public sector ·
Third sector (independent and commercial research organisations) ·
Not available to overseas users without explicit permission from ONS and NRS ·
No commercial use of the data without explicit permission from ONS and NRS |
|
|
9% |
Area code This refers to the original 1961 Local Authority District variable in the data, there is no modern equivalent. In most cases it is Local Authority District, but where an authority is partly within a conurbation centre this is distinguished. |
Controlled access (via UK Data Service Secure Lab or ONS's Secure Research Service) |
·
Approved Researchers |
|
|
1971 Census (GB) microdata sample |
Sample Size |
Lowest Level of Geography |
Licence Type |
Who can access the data under current arrangements |
|
1% |
Region |
Open |
·
Anyone |
|
|
5% |
Grouped Local Authority Districts |
End User Licence |
·
Academic ·
Government and public sector ·
Third sector (independent and commercial research organisations) ·
Not available to overseas users without explicit permission from ONS and NRS ·
No commercial use of the data without explicit permission from ONS and NRS |
|
|
0.95% |
Region |
End User Licence |
·
Academic ·
Government and public sector ·
Third sector (independent and commercial research organisations) ·
Not available to overseas users without explicit permission from ONS and NRS ·
No commercial use of the data without explicit permission from ONS and NRS |
|
|
9% |
Local Authority District |
Controlled access (via UK Data Service Secure Lab or ONS's Secure Research Service) |
·
Approved Researchers |
___________________________________________
Gill Meadows
Programme Administrator, User Support and Training
___________________________________________
W
ukdataservice.ac.uk
___________________________________________
UK Data Service
Cathie March Institute for Social Research
University of Manchester
W
http://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/
___________________________________________
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