UK · 29 July 2026
Why do population counts get shakier locally?
Unsplash / Diogo Palhais
International migration and student turnover blur local counts more than national ones, the Office for National Statistics says. Oxford and Manchester see the widest margins from international arrivals, students and internal moves, while North Lincolnshire and Caerphilly stay stable. The pandemic-era 2021 census skewed baselines, so the ONS blends birth, death and migration data with tax and education records to narrow the gap.
Reported by ONS · How we write briefs