Population Estimates (Mid 2008)

Following the release by ONS of revised population estimates for mid-2002 to mid-2008, the GOSW / ONS SW Interactive Population Tool, previously available on this page has been temporarily removed.

The ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates Analysis Tool (available to download from the right hand column; also available by clicking here) contains the latest revised data, and will produce analyses of these, including breakdowns by age group, change over time, and components of change.

The revisions to population estimates have been made possible by improvements in methodology by ONS, in particular in migration of students and international migration. Further information on these improvements can be found by clicking here.

These revisions have resulted in corrections to previously published population estimates for many areas, some of which are quite significant. Since mid-year estimates are used as the denominator for many other statistics, this may have effects on other data series. Mid-year estimates have also previously formed a component in the formulae used to allocate government grant to local authorities, therefore there may be local government finance implications.

Details of corrections caused by the improved methodology are available at the webpage above. This includes a further ONS analysis tool, that produces tables and charts of the impacts of the improvements; for convenience, this is also attached here (available by clicking here).

ONS Population Estimates by Ethnic Group (experimental), which were included on the GOSW / ONS SW Interactive Population Tool, will not be updated until autumn 2010. The latest (mid-2007) data for these can be found by clicking here.