September 27, 2003, Saturday London Edition 1
Census missed almost 200,000 people
Financial Times (London, England)
By SIMON BRISCOE
Close to 200,000 people were added to the nation's population yesterday in
an admission by National Statistics that the census figures published a year
ago were not accurate.
The 193,000 increase was principally made up of young men, most of them
living in London. It appears that National Statistics feels the census
process failed to count one in six young men in the capital.
The mid-year estimate for the population in 2001, published in October last
year, has been revised to 59.031 million. The figures are important because
they are used by the government for the allocation of funds to local
authorities.
Some authorities had complained about the initial estimates, claiming they
were too low. There was also some disbelief that the bulk of the so-called
"missing million" - a reference to the 1.14 million difference between the
census figure and National Statistics' own mid-year estimate at the time -
were mostly young men and had, according to National Statistics, apparently
gone to live abroad.
Since 85 per cent of those added yesterday were men aged 25 to 34, there are
now once again more men than women in the 25-34 age group. The census data
had suggested that for the first time women outnumbered men.
John Hollis, of the Greater London Authority, welcomed the increased
"realism" following the addition of the young men.
The concerns about the data accuracy prompted National Statistics to conduct
additional longitudinal and demographic analysis and a number of studies
matching administrative data and the results of those extra investigations
had led to the correction.
Although it says it is "standard practice" to revise figures once new
evidence becomes available, the mid-year estimates have never been revised
before.
The evidence suggests that inadequate time was allowed for all the analysis
required before publication of the 2001 results.
Copyright 2003 The Financial Times Limited; Financial Times (London,
England); September 27, 2003, Saturday London Edition 1;
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