Health and sexual orientation questions added to census

Monday 01 March 2021

This year's population census will collect information about islanders’ health conditions, while also giving them the opportunity to share their sexual orientation and gender identity, for the first time ever.

With 2021 marking the 200th anniversary of the first official census count in 1821, Census Day will take place on Sunday 21 March.

The census is run by Statistics Jersey and takes place once every decade. It helps plan public services such as education, healthcare, and transport, and is widely used by businesses, charities, and islanders. 

Jersey’s population according to the 2011 census was 97,857 compared with 28,600 in 1821. 

Pictured: The population in Jersey in 2011 was 97,857.

Between 8 March and 20 March, every household will be receiving a paper census questionnaire, but, for the first time, they will have the option to fill it in online via a unique access code included in the form. 

The census will collect information about the age, sex, place of birth, ethnicity as well as the length of time one has been in Jersey for every islander.

In addition, for islanders aged over 16, there will be questions about the residential status, education qualifications, marital status, employment, occupation as well as the hours worked and how they travel to work.

For the first time ever, the census will also ask islanders to describe their general health as well as list any lasting conditions that affect their day-to-day life.

Sarah Davies, Head of Statistics at Statistics Jersey, explained that this will help calculate the healthy life expectancy “at a granular level”.

Two voluntary questions have also been added to give islanders the opportunity to self-describe their gender and share their sexual orientation. 

“This is really key in terms of equality legislation,” Ms Davies said. “We do not have this information anywhere else. We want to capture this now to monitor and tackle inequality.”

Pictured: For the first time, islanders will be able to fill in their census form online.

While 170 officers had been deployed 10 years ago, a much smaller team will be working on this year’s census, which will be posted rather than delivered by hand. 

All field staff will be tested regularly and wear face coverings, but they will not enter any homes. Support to complete the form will be available online and over the phone.

With the previous census having achieved a 99.5% participation rate, Ms Davies said “it’s important that people get behind it”, reminding that taking part in the census is a legal requirement and that those who do not return could face a fine of £1,000.

 “The 2021 census will provide a fresh picture of the local population and shed light on the social and economic changes to Jersey over the past 10 years,” said Ian Cope, Chief Statistician at Statistics Jersey.

“Completing the census is not only a legal obligation but is vitally important as it helps inform the planning of healthcare services, housing and school places which impacts all islanders.  

“The census reveals important details of how we live and work and will inform the island’s history for generations to come. It’s fascinating to look back at impacts such as the first World War and the 1918 flu pandemic which led to a decrease of 2,000 people in the 1921 census.

“I encourage islanders to fill the census out as soon as possible and to use the online form. We expect to publish the results of the 2021 census by early 2022.”