Age and year of arrival in the UK in the 2021/22 Census

What questions were asked on Age and year of arrival in the UK?

If the respondent was born outside the UK for England, Wales and Scotland, or, Northern Ireland for Northern Ireland individual responses on their most recent arrival to live in the UK (or Northern Ireland) was asked.

In England and Wales individuals who arrived in the last year were asked about how long they intended to stay.

How do the questions transfer to variables and tables?

The combination of answers is used to derive variables that show the age and year of arrival in the UK.  If the planned length of stay is less than 12 months the respondent will be classed as a short-term resident.

How does it compare to previous censuses?

The same variables were available but there is only one planned cross-tabulation of year of arrival in the UK by passports in contrast to 2011 when the variables country of birth, ethnic group, proficiency in English, country of birth were cross-tabulated with age of arrival. These variables plus economic activity, highest level of qualification, industry, occupation, tenure and general health were also cross-tabulated with year of arrival in the UK.

How does it compare across nations?

The responses for Northern Ireland include the year of arrival there.

What impact might the COVID pandemic have had on Age and year of arrival in the UK?

Whilst the pandemic might have affected international travel it is unlikely to have had an impact on those who were living in the UK at the time of the census.

Variables

Table 1 – AGE_ARRIVAL_UK_18A

Code Description
1 Born in the UK
2 Arrived in the UK: Aged 0 to 4 years
3 Arrived in the UK: Aged 5 to 7 years
4 Arrived in the UK: Aged 8 to 9 years
5 Arrived in the UK: Aged 10 to 14 years
6 Arrived in the UK: Aged 15 years
7 Arrived in the UK: Aged 16 to 17 years
8 Arrived in the UK: Aged 18 to 19 years
9 Arrived in the UK: Aged 20 to 24 years
10 Arrived in the UK: Aged 25 to 29 years
11 Arrived in the UK: Aged 30 to 44 years
12 Arrived in the UK: Aged 45 to 59 years
13 Arrived in the UK: Aged 60 to 64 years
14 Arrived in the UK: Aged 65 to 74 years
15 Arrived in the UK: Aged 75 to 84 years
16 Arrived in the UK: Aged 85 to 89 years
17 Arrived in the UK: Aged 90 years and over
-8 Does not apply

Table 2 – YEAR_ARRIVAL_UK_13A

Code Description
1 Born in the UK
2 Arrived before 1951
3 Arrived 1951 to 1960
4 Arrived 1961 to 1970
5 Arrived 1971 to 1980
6 Arrived 1981 to 1990
7 Arrived 1991 to 2000
8 Arrived 2001 to 2010
9 Arrived 2011 to 2013
10 Arrived 2014 to 2016
11 Arrived 2017 to 2019
12 Arrived 2020 to 2021
-8 Does not apply