ONS Consultation to Update UK Ethnicity Data Standards: Census 2031
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a consultation to gather opinions on how ethnicity is recorded in official UK statistics. The consultation is open until 4th February 2026 and asks whether new or updated response options should be added to a harmonised ethnicity standard used across government surveys.
The harmonised standard helps make ethnicity data consistent and comparable across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Updates could make the categories more accurate and reflective of the UK’s changing population.
The ONS wants feedback from organisations and individuals to decide if additional tick-box options are needed. This will help improve ethnicity data and guide questions for the Census 2031.
Anyone interested can complete the online questionnaire to share their views, which will shape how ethnicity is recorded and analysed in the coming years.
