2011 CENSUS: WHAT IS YOUR RELIGION?

I wrote about someone from the 2011 Census being involved in our REDP Equality Update Event in Nottingham on Thursday 27th (see blog entry). I thought it would be helpful to put in a bit more about the census - especially its religious dimension. So here's the relevant text:

2011 Census - register your religion
Providing information about your faith


In 2001 over 37 million individuals registered themselves as Christian on the census questionnaire, with the majority recorded in the South East of England. Although the census has been around since 1801, the religion question has only been asked twice before, once in 1851 then again 150 years later in 2001, and remains the only voluntary question in the entire questionnaire, simply asking: What is your religion.


The information gained from the religion question helps improve understanding of local populations, and helps to promote equality legislation, in order to prevent religious discrimination.


The next census takes place on 27 March 2011 and can be completed online for the first time in census history, at http://www.census.gov.uk/


Due to space constraints Christian denominations have not been separated into their own categories on the census questionnaire. If you'd like to write in your particular denomination you can do so by ticking the "Any other religion" category and entering your denomination in the space provided.


Genealogists use census data for historical research, academics use statistics for their studies and businesses and local authorities use the information to cater for an ever changing society; this could include identifying the need to build new schools, care homes or leisure centres, or catering for religious groups.

I am sure, faithful reader, you can see why Leicester Council of Faiths is keen to ensure that as many people as possible fully in the census this year (if only so we can update the figures on our leaflets). The city's Asian community didn't respond strongly to the 2001 Census, which has led to some dispute over the relative size of some of the faith groups - for instance, I've heard it said on good authority that there are actually twice as many Sikhs in Leicester as are shown in the official record.