Metadata and quality report on European demographic and migration statistics

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Office for National Statistics


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Metadata update
3. Statistical presentation
4. Unit of measure
5. Reference Period
6. Institutional Mandate
7. Confidentiality
8. Release policy
9. Frequency of dissemination
10. Accessibility and clarity
11. Quality management
12. Relevance
13. Accuracy
14. Timeliness and punctuality
15. Coherence and comparability
16. Cost and Burden
17. Data revision
18. Statistical processing
19. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Office for National Statistics
1.2. Contact organisation unit

HALE Methods and International Branch
1.5. Contact mail address

HALE Methods and International Branch

Office for National Statistics

Cardiff  Road

Newport

NP10 1XG

UNITED KINGDOM


2. Metadata update Top
2.1. Metadata last certified 30/01/2020
2.2. Metadata last posted 30/01/2020
2.3. Metadata last update 30/01/2020


3. Statistical presentation Top
3.1. Data description

Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.

This Euro SDMX Metadata Structure is used for the purpose of quality reporting. The definition of the quality concepts and guidelines are described in the European Statistical System Handbook for Quality Reports.
3.2. Classification system

The current regional breakdown of the countries in the regional demographic tables is according to:

1. Regulation (EU) 2016/2066 amending the annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). The NUTS classification according to this regulation is shortly named NUTS-2016.

2. Agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector

A time series for population estimates is available back to the following dates:

Total UK: 1851;

Quinary age and sex: 1953;

Single year of age and sex: 1971;

A time series for the number of births and deaths is available back to 1887;

A time series for migration data is available back to 1975.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
  1.Usually Resident Population  2. Legal Residence Population  3. Registered Residence Population 4. Other 
Population Usual Resident Population.     None.
Live births      

Live births are all births that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Births to UK residents which are registered outside the UK and births that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded. Births that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded although the numbers are small (220 in 2017).
Deaths       Deaths are all deaths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded. Deaths that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded although the numbers are small (around 446 in 2017).
Immigrants       A person arriving or returning from abroad to take up residence in a country for a period of at least 12 months. This is in line with the UN definition.
Emigrants       A person who leaves their country of usual residence to take up residence in another country for a period of at least 12 months. This is in line with the UN definition.
Acquisitions of citizenship       The definition of citizenship is as stated in Article.9.3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
Loss of citizenship       The definition of citizenship is as stated in Article 9.3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
Legally induced abortions       Legal abortions data does not include abortions to non-residents of England, Wales or Scotland.
Late foetal deaths       Stillbirths are all stillbirths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Stillbirths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded.
Infant deaths       Infant deaths are all infant deaths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Infant deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded.
Marriages       Marriages are all marriages that took place in the UK. The statistics do not include marriages to residents of UK that took place abroad, but do include marriages that took place in UK to non-residents.
Divorces       Divorces are all divorces that took place in UK following court orders. The statistics do not include divorces to couples usually resident in UK that took place abroad.

 

3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population Population estimates use the usual residence definition.  
Live births

Births that occur and are then registered in the UK  to usual residents. Births to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded.  Births that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded although the numbers are small (around 220 in 2017). Figures for England and Wales are based on births occurring in a calendar year. Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are based on births registered in a calendar year.
Deaths
Deaths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded. Deaths that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded although the numbers are small (around 446 in 2017). Figures are based on deaths registered in a calendar year.
 
Immigrants  ‘Immigration’ means the action by which a person establishes his or her usual residence in the territory of a Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a third country.
Emigrants ‘Emigration’ means the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in the territory of a Member State, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months.
Acquisitions of citizenship The definition of citizenship is as stated in Article 9.3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
Loss of citizenship The definition of citizenship is as stated in Article 9.3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
Legally induced abortions A legally induced abortion is a termination of a pregnancy by abortion under the 1967 Act, as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

A legally induced abortion must be certified by two registered medical practitioners as justified under one or more of the following grounds:

— the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated (Abortion Act, 1967 as amended, section 1(1)(c));

— the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (section 1(1)(b));

— the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (section 1(1)(a));

— the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of any existing children of the family of the pregnant woman (section 1(1)(a));

— there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped (section 1(1)(d));

or, in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary:

— to save the life of the pregnant woman (section 1(4));

— to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (section 1(4)).
Late foetal deaths The Stillbirth (Definition) Act 1992 defines a stillbirth as:

“A child that has issued forth from its mother after the 24th week of pregnancy, and that did not at any time after being completely expelled from its mother breathe or show any signs of life”.

This definition has been in use since 1 October 1992. Prior to this, the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 defined a stillbirth as above, but at 28 or more weeks completed gestation.
Infant deaths Deaths under 1 year of age.
Marriages Annual marriage statistics for the UK and its constituent countries are based on the details collected when marriages are solemnised, the statistics are based on information recorded in the marriage register.

Figures for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland represent the number of marriages solemnised in a particular year in either a civil or a religious ceremony. Figures are derived from information collected as part of the marriage registration process.

Marriage figures are based on country of formation and not country of residence and relate only to marriages taking place in the constituent countries of the UK. They do not include marriages of UK residents taking place abroad, but do include non UK residents who marry within the UK. There is no legal requirement for UK residents who get married abroad to register their marriage with UK authorities.
Divorces Annual divorce statistics for the UK and its constituent countries are based on information recorded when decrees are made absolute and decrees of nullity are given. Figures are derived from forms supplied by the courts. Figures for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland represent the number of marriages dissolved or annulled in a particular year (based on the date the decree absolute or decree of nullity was awarded). Figures are based on country of dissolution and not country of residence.

 

3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population None – the Usual Residence definition is used. 

Population estimates refer to the usually resident population. This can mean that estimates of population do not necessarily coincide with the number of people to be found in an area at a particular time of the day or year.

For most people, defining where they usually live for the purposes of the census for example, is quite straightforward. For a minority of people the concept of usual residence is however more difficult to define, for example for students, members of the armed forces, prisoners and international migrants.

Specific rules are used for these groups:

— Higher education students and school children studying away from home are resident at their term-time address.

— Members of the armed forces are usually resident at the address where they spend most of their time.

— Prisoners are usually resident in the prison estate if they have a sentence of six months or more.

— International migrants are usually resident if they intend to stay in England and Wales for more then 12 months.
Live births  
Live births are all births that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Births to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded. Also Births that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded although the numbers are small (around 220 in 2017). Figures for England and Wales are based on births occurring in a calendar year. Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are based on births registered in a calendar year. The difference between providing wholly birth registration data for the UK in comparison to birth registration data for Scotland and Northern Ireland combined with birth occurrence data for England and Wales varied between 0.001 % and 0.43 % during the period 2006 to 2016 (between 10 and 3 400 births per year). 
 
 
It should be noted that in England and Wales where a birth is registered too late to be included in the count for the year of occurrence, it will be included in the count for the following year. There are some births registered too late for this also but the numbers are low.
Deaths

Deaths are all deaths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded. Deaths that occur in one of the constituent countries of UK to a resident of another constituent country of UK are excluded although the numbers are small (less than 450 in 2017).

 

Figures are based on deaths registered in a calendar year.

 

Looking at England and Wales data for death registrations and death occurrences, the difference between the total death figures for a reference year varied between 0.01 % and 1.2 % during the period 2006 to 2016 (between 30 and 6 300 deaths per year). For Scotland, this varied between 0.0 % and 0.4 % during the period 2006 to 2016 (between 1 and 248 deaths per year).

 

It should be noted that death occurrence figures are extracted at a particular point in time in England and Wales, 10 months after the end of the calendar year. There will be more deaths registered after this point in time which will not be included within any death occurrence dataset. For example, there are currently between 1 700 and 3 800 deaths per year that are not included in England and Wales death occurrence datasets for the calendar years 2006 to 2016 (as of March 2018). Thus, death registration data provides a more complete time series of data. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, a death occurrence dataset is not routinely extracted so death occurrence figures will vary over time depending on when the data is extracted.

 

It should be noted that deaths registered in a reference year will include some deaths that occurred in previous year. For example, in the England and Wales, 5 % of deaths registered in 2017 were from previous years (around 27 800 deaths).

 

The deaths not included in the registration file are likely to be a mix of those deaths registered in early January for deaths in late December and those deaths referred to a coroner (or Procurators Fiscal in Scotland) ie those considered unexpected, accidental or suspicious.

 

The number of deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK is likely to be very small so has a negligible impact on statistics.

 
Immigrants None.
Emigrants None.
Acquisitions of citizenship None.
Loss of citizenship None.
Legally induced abortions Not applicable.
Late foetal deaths Stillbirths are all stillbirths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Stillbirths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded

Figures for England and Wales are based on stillbirths occurring in a calendar year. Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are based on stillbirths registered in a calendar year. It should be noted that in England and Wales where a stillbirth is registered too late to be included in the count for the year of occurrence, it will be included in the count for the following year. The number of these is very small.
Infant deaths Infant deaths are all infant deaths that occur and are then registered in the UK to usual residents. Infant deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK are excluded.

Figures are based on infant deaths registered in a calendar year. The infant deaths not included in the registration file are likely to be a mix of those infant deaths registered in early January for deaths in late December and those infant deaths referred to a coroner (or Procurators Fiscal in Scotland) ie those considered unexpected, accidental or suspicious.

It should be noted that infant deaths registered in a reference year will include some infant deaths that occurred in the previous year.

The number of infant deaths to UK residents which are registered outside the UK is likely to be very small so has a negligible impact on statistics.
Marriages Marriages are all marriages that took place in the UK. Therefore the statistics do not include marriages to residents of UK that took place abroad and they do include marriages that took place in UK to non-residents.
Divorces Divorces are all divorces that took place in UK following court orders. Therefore the statistics do not include divorces to couples usually resident in UK that took place abroad.
3.5. Statistical unit

Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
  Statistical population
Population Usually resident population.
Live births Not available.
Deaths Not available.
Immigrants The principal data source is the International Passenger Survey. The target statistical population is all travellers entering or leaving the UK through air and sea ports and the Channel Tunnel. The survey covers 95 % of travellers entering and leaving the UK.
Emigrants The principal data source is the International Passenger Survey. The target statistical population is all travellers entering or leaving the UK through air and sea ports and the Channel Tunnel. The survey covers 95 % of travellers entering and leaving the UK.
Acquisitions of citizenship Those that are acquiring British citizenship through application, based on a residence of 3 years for someone whose spouse or civil partner is British and 5 years for others.
Loss of citizenship

Under the British Nationality Act 1981 it is possible for British citizens who are over 18 years of age and of full capacity to apply to renounce their nationality, although renunciation will only be granted where that applicant already has or is about to acquire citizenship of another country. Further information on renunciation of British citizenship is available on the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/renounce-british-nationality.

 

 
Legally induced abortions  Not available.
Late foetal deaths  Not available.
Infant deaths  Not available.
Marriages  Not available.
Divorces  Not available.
3.7. Reference area

Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time

Population estimates data with the reference 31 December/1 January is available from 2001. Alternative series for population estimates based on the mid-year reference point is available back to the following dates:

Total UK: 1851;

Quinary age and sex: 1953;

Single year of age and sex: 1971;

A time series for the number of births and deaths is available back to 1887;

A time series for migration data is available back to 1975.
3.9. Base period

Not applicable.


4. Unit of measure Top

Data is collected at unit (person) level.


5. Reference Period Top

The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.


6. Institutional Mandate Top
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.


7. Confidentiality Top
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Disclosure control guidance for birth and death statistics for England and Wales can be found on ONS website at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/methodologytopicsandstatisticalconcepts/disclosurecontrol/policyonprotectingconfidentialityintablesofbirthanddeathstatistics.

 

Disclosure guidance for Northern Ireland can be found at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011census/howourcensusworks/howwetookthe2011census/howweplannedfordatadelivery/protectingconfidentialitywithstatisticaldisclosurecontrol.

 

The population estimates are produced using a variety of data sources and statistical models, including some statistical disclosure control methods, and small estimates should not be taken to refer to individuals.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

To protect confidentiality in Table B02, data for mothers aged 14 and aged under 14 has been combined with data for mothers aged 15 born in 1998. Similarly, in Table B03, data for mothers aged under 15 has been combined with data for mothers aged 15-19.

 

For population estimates small estimates should not be taken to refer to individuals to protect confidentiality in Table B02, data for mothers aged 14 and under has been combined with data for mothers aged 15 born in 1998. Similarly in Table B03, data for mothers aged under 15 has been combined with data for mothers aged 15-19.

For population estimates small estimates should not be taken to refer to particular individuals.


8. Release policy Top
8.1. Release calendar

Population estimates to the mid-year reference point of the preceding year are published at the end of June. First release of births and deaths are published in June for Scotland, mid-July for England and Wales and July/August for Northern Ireland. Migration statistics are published quarterly in February, May, August and November.
8.2. Release calendar access

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements.
8.3. Release policy - user access

Data are released in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics:

www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/.


9. Frequency of dissemination Top

Annual.


10. Accessibility and clarity Top
10.1. Dissemination format - News release

In recent years there has been no news release for births and deaths data in England and Wales. In Scotland a news release for birth and death figures was released in June 2018:

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/2018/5000-more-deaths-than-births-in-2017.

In Northern Ireland a news release for final birth and death figureswas released in November 2019:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/births-deaths-and-marriages/registrar-general-annual-report.

There are no news releases for population estimates or migration statistics.



Annexes:
NI Registrar report
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

The first annual publication of births and deaths data for England and Wales takes place in August:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2018;

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregistrationsummarytables/latest.

The first annual publication of births and deaths data for Scotland takes place in June:

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-publications/vital-events-reference-tables/2018.

The first annual publication of births and deaths data for Northern Ireland takes place in November:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/births-deaths-and-marriages/registrar-general-annual-report.

The UK Population Estimates for mid-year are published with a 12-month lag (thus, estimates for mid-2018, for example, are published in June 2018).

 

The first release of provisional annual migration statistics (year ending December) data is in May:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/migrationstatisticsquarterlyreport/july2018revisedfrommaycoveringtheperiodtodecember2017.


Annexes:
births summary 2018
10.3. Dissemination format - online database

An online database of population estimates from 1981 to 2018 is available at:

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/select/getdatasetbytheme.asp?theme=32.

 

An on-line database for births and deaths data in England and Wales is available (2013-2018).

 

Births data is available in mid-July and deaths data in October.

 

An on-line database is not currently available for migration in the UK. Detailed data is provided by Excel files.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other

Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
  Documentation on methodology
Population
Methods Guide is published on ONS website at:
Live births
Births  user guide for England and Wales is available at:
Methodology information for Scotland is available at:
A user guide for Northern Ireland is available at:
Deaths
Deaths  user guide for England and Wales is available on ONS website at:
 
Methodology information for Scotland is available at:
 
A user guide for Northern Ireland is available at:
Immigrants The methodology for long-term international migration estimates is available on the ONS website at:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/population-and-migration/international-migration-methodology/long-term-international-migration-estimates-methodology.pdf.
Emigrants The methodology for long-term international migration estimates is available on the ONS website at:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/population-and-migration/international-migration-methodology/long-term-international-migration-estimates-methodology.pdf.
Acquisitions of citizenship Although we do not published metadata files as such, there is a ‘user guide’ published alongside the commentary and tables that includes an assessment of quality along with more detail on the source and methods used in collation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/user-guide-to-home-office-immigration-statistics--9.
Loss of citizenship Although we do not published metadata files as such, there is a ‘user guide’ published alongside the commentary and tables that includes an assessment of quality along with more detail on the source and methods used in collation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/user-guide-to-home-office-immigration-statistics--9.
Legally induced abortions See Annex A for England and Wales
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433437/2014_Commentary__5_.pdf.
Late foetal deaths Information on stillbirths in England and Wales is contained with the births metadata:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/births-metadata.pdf.
Infant deaths Information on infant deaths in England and Wales is contained with the mortality metadata:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/mortality-metadata.pdf.
Marriages Marriages metadata for England and Wales is available at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/marriages-2011.pdf.

Background information on marriages for Scotland is available at:
http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/marriages-and-civil-partnerships/background-information.
Divorces Divorces metadata for England and Wales is available:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/divorces-metadata.pdf.
Surface in km2  Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Quality and Methodology document for population estimates published at:
Quality and Methodology document for births in England and Wales published at:
Quality assessment for births in Scotland published at:
Quality assessment for births in Northern Ireland published at:
Quality and Methodology document for deaths England and Wales published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for deaths Northern Ireland published at:
 
Quality assessment for Deaths in Scotland published at:
Quality and Methodology document for Abortions; in England and Wales published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for Abortions; in Northern Ireland published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for Abortions; in Scotland published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for Marriages; in England and Wales published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for Marriages; in Northern Ireland published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for Marriages; in Scotland published at:
Quality and Methodology document for Divorces; in England and Wales published at:
Quality and Methodology document for Divorces; in Northern Ireland published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for Divorces; in Scotland published at:
 
Quality and Methodology document for international migration:


11. Quality management Top
11.1. Quality assurance

 

 

 

Quality and Methodology Information report for population estimates published at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/qmis/annualmidyearpopulationestimatesqmi.

 

Quality and Methodology Information report for births in England and Wales published at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/qmis/birthsqmi.

Quality assessment for births in Northern Ireland published at:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/vital-statistics-quality-assurance-procedures.

 

Quality and Methodology Information report for deaths in England and Wales published at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/qmis/mortalitystatisticsinenglandandwalesqmi.

Quality assessment for deaths in Northern Ireland published at:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/vital-statistics-quality-assurance-procedures.

 

Quality documentation for births, deaths, marriages and divorces in Scotland published at:

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-background-information/quality-of-national-records-of-scotland-nrs-data-on-vital-events.

 

Quality and Methodology document for international migration:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/longterminternationalmigrationqmi.

 

 
Citizenship  

Citizenship information is not collected when registering a birth or death in the UK. Therefore, an algorithm has been developed to estimate country of citizenship from country of birth for mothers giving birth and for deaths. This is based on 2011 Census information on the relationship between derived citizenship and country of birth by age group and sex.

Citizenship information for migration statistics is based on the passport on which the migrant is travelling.
Country of birth  

Yes.

The following definition is used:

the country (in its current borders, if the information is available) in which the birth took place.
Country of birth of the mother  Yes.
Country of previous usual residence  Yes.
Country of next usual residence  Yes.
Deaths  Yes.
Divorce  Yes.
Emigrants  Yes.
First-time marrying person  Yes.
First-time registering partner  Yes.
Foetal death  Yes.
Foreign-born  Yes.
Immigrants  Yes.
Infant death  Yes.
Late foetal death  

No, the definition in the UK is 24 weeks.
Legally induced abortions  Yes.
Level of development  Yes.
Live birth  Yes.
Live birth order  Yes.
Marriage  Yes.
Native born  Yes.
Person contracting legal union for first-time  Yes.
Regional  Yes.
Registered partnership  Yes.
Registered partnership legally dissolved  Yes.
Separation  Yes.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
11.2.1. Quality assessment: Type of duration of stay used when counting a person as a migrant according to Art. 2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
 

1. Actual duration of stay of at least 12 months

2. Intended duration of stay of at least 12 months

3. Actual and intended duration of stay of at least 12 months

4. Other. Please specify
Nationals Immigrants        

Intended 12 month stay.
Emigrants        

Intended 12 month stay.
EEA citizens Immigrants        

Intended 12 month stay.
Emigrants        

Intended 12 month stay.
Non EEA citizens Immigrants        

Intended 12 month stay.
Emigrants        

Intended 12 month stay.

 

11.2.2. Quality assessment of the definition of acquisitions of citizenship according to Art. 3(d) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
 

1. Acquisitions of citizenship granted to persons having their usual residence in the territory of the Member State

2.Other. Please specify
Acquisitions of citizenship    

Complete, subject to caveats listed below:

Persons for whom it is not possible to calculate age due to incomplete data.

Some persons granted British citizenship outside the UK.

Persons granted British citizenship under section 5 of the British Citizenship Act 1981.


12. Relevance Top
12.1. Relevance - User Needs

Users are a mixture of bodies from central government, local government, health service, academics, researchers, charities and the general public. Different users require varying levels of detail in terms of figures and commentary.

The population estimates are an important input for a wide number of economic and social statistics. Main users include central and local government and the health sector, where they are used for planning and monitoring service delivery, resource allocation and managing the economy. Additionally, they are used by a wider range of organisations such as commercial companies (for market research), special interest groups and academia as well as being of interest to the general public.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Feedback is requested from users from each release of data and on emails to customers. In addition, ONS holds regular “key account” meetings with key user organisations to ensure that the quality and relevance of outputs is maintained. 
12.3. Completeness

The statistics that are most needed are available.

 

Ad-hoc requests for data that are not routinely published are made available on the ONS website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/alladhocs.


13. Accuracy Top
13.1. Accuracy - overall
  Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister,...)
Population

Quality and Methodology Information is published on the ONS website at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/qmis/annualmidyearpopulationestimatesqmi.

 
Live births

Quality and Methodology Information for England and Wales published at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/qmis/birthsqmi.

Quality assessment for Northern Ireland published at:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/vital-statistics-documentation.

Quality assessment for Scotland published at:

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-background-information/quality-of-national-records-of-scotland-nrs-data-on-vital-events.
Deaths

Quality and Methodology document for England and Wales published at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/qmis/mortalitystatisticsinenglandandwalesqmi.

Quality assessment for Northern Ireland published at:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/vital-statistics-quality-assurance-procedures.

Quality documentation for Scotland published at:

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-background-information/quality-of-national-records-of-scotland-nrs-data-on-vital-events.
Immigrants

Quality and Methodology Information is published on the ONS website at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/longterminternationalmigrationqmi.
Emigrants

Quality and Methodology Information is published on the ONS website at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/longterminternationalmigrationqmi.
Acquisitions of citizenship

Overall, the data quality for the total numbers of those granted and refused British citizenship is high. These data:

— are administrative counts of the Home Office’s casework processes, which are defined in UK legislation and are recorded under detailed categories on the Home Office’s administrative database;

— are scrutinised regularly as part of the performance monitoring of the Home Office;

— are regularly assessed as part of the Home Office’s Quality Assurance Framework;

— have not, in recent years, had to be altered significantly between initial provisional totals released in February each year and subsequent revised totals released in the following May and have not, in recent years, had to be revised at all when the annual data are subsequently checked 12 months later and the provisional status of the data is altered to final;

— do not require sampling processes for the compilation of the figures and hence have no associated sampling errors; and

— undergo a thorough reconciliation process including some data cleansing.
Loss of citizenship Overall, the data quality for the total numbers of those granted and refused British citizenship is considered to be high. These data:

— are administrative counts of the Home Office’s casework processes, which are defined in UK legislation and are recorded under detailed categories on the Home Office’s administrative database;

— are scrutinised regularly as part of the performance monitoring of the Home Office;

— are regularly assessed as part of the Home Office’s Quality Assurance Framework;

— have not, in recent years, had to be altered significantly between initial provisional totals released in February each year and subsequent revised totals released in the following May and have not, in recent years, had to be revised at all when the annual data are subsequently checked 12 months later and the provisional status of the data is altered to final;

— do not require sampling processes for the compilation of the figures and hence have no associated sampling errors; and

— undergo a thorough reconciliation process including some data cleansing.
Legally induced abortions Data quality and methods for abortions in England and Wales (Annex A)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433437/2014_Commentary__5_.pdf.

Metadata for abortions in Scotland (Appendix A2)

https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Sexual-Health/Publications/2015-05-26/2015-05-26-Terminations-2014-Report.pdf?27857607604.
Late foetal deaths Quality and Methodology document for births (including stillbirths) in England and Wales published at:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/quality/quality-information/population/quality-and-methodology-information-for-birth-statistics.pdf.

Quality assessment for births (including stillbirths) in Scotland published at:

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/vital-events/quality-data-obtained-from-registration-of-ve.pdf.

Quality assessment for births (including stillbirths) in Northern Ireland published at:

www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/Northern_Ireland_Birth_Statistics_Quality_Assessment.pdf.
Infant deaths Quality and Methodology document for deaths (including infant deaths) in England and Wales published at:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/quality/quality-information/quality-and-methodology-information-reports-by-theme/population/quality-and-methodology-information-for-mortality-statistics-in-england-and-wales.pdf.

Quality assessment for deaths (including infant deaths) in Northern Ireland published at:
www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/Northern_Ireland_Death_Statistics_Quality_Assessment.pdf.

Quality assessment for deaths (including infant deaths) in Scotland published at: 
http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/deaths-background-information/quality-of-nrs-data-on-deaths.
Marriages Quality and Methodology document for marriages in England and Wales published at
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/quality/quality-information/health-and-social-care/quality-and-methodology-information-for-marriages-in-england-and-wales.pdf.
Divorces Quality and Methodology document for divorces in England and Wales published at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/quality/quality-information/population/quality-and-methodology-information-for-divorces-in-england-and-wales.pdf.

Quality information for divorces in Scotland is available in section 10 of civil justice statistics:
http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0048/00489564.pdf.
13.2. Sampling error
  Sampling error
Population Not applicable.
Live births Not applicable.
Deaths Not applicable.
Immigrants IPS Immigration estimates are subject to sampling error and are published alongside confidence intervals to give user's an indication of the size of the error. Typically annual immigration is around 500 000 with a margin of error (representing the 95 % confidence interval) of +/- 30 000.

Estimates provided to Eurostat do not have confidence intervals attached.
Emigrants IPS Emigration estimates are subject to sampling error and are published alongside confidence intervals to give user's an indication of the size of the error. Typically annual immigration is around 300 000 with a margin of error (representing the 95 % confidence interval) of +/- 20 000.

Estimates provided to Eurostat do not have confidence intervals attached.
Acquisitions of citizenship  Not applicable.
Loss of citizenship  Not applicable.
Legally induced abortions  Not applicable.
Late foetal deaths  Not applicable.
Infant deaths  Not applicable.
Marriages  Not applicable.
Divorces  Not applicable.


Annexes:
13.1 Accuracy - asylum seekers and refugees
13.3. Non-sampling error
  Non-sampling error (coverage error, measurement error, non-response error, processing error, model assumption error)
Population  Not applicable.
Live births  Not applicable.
Deaths  Not applicable.
Immigrants There is no method for quantifying the error associated with the non-survey components of LTIM, which are unlikely to be random. Since the majority of the estimate is based on IPS data, LTIM estimates are published alongside IPS confidence intervals to give users an indication of the robustness of the estimate.

The confidence intervals do not take into account non-sampling error such as non-response bias and measurement error which cannot be quantified.

Non-response bias would be introduced if those who choose to respond to the survey have different characteristics to those who do not; or, if at peak times sampled passengers do not complete an IPS questionnaire because the number of interviewers is insufficient to cope with the high volume of passengers. The weighting applied to the estimates on total passenger flows will account for these non-contacts, but if their migration characteristics are different in some way then non-response bias would occur. Measurement error would be introduced, for example, if respondents provide incorrect information to the IPS interviewers.
Emigrants There is no method for quantifying the error associated with the non-survey components of LTIM, which are unlikely to be random. Since the majority of the estimate is based on IPS data, LTIM estimates are published alongside IPS confidence intervals to give users an indication of the robustness of the estimate.

The confidence intervals do not take into account non-sampling error such as non-response bias and measurement error which cannot be quantified.

Non-response bias would be introduced if those who choose to respond to the survey have different characteristics to those who do not; or, if at peak times sampled passengers do not complete an IPS questionnaire because the number of interviewers is insufficient to cope with the high volume of passengers. The weighting applied to the estimates on total passenger flows will account for these non-contacts, but if their migration characteristics are different in some way then non-response bias would occur. Measurement error would be introduced, for example, if respondents provide incorrect information to the IPS interviewers.
Acquisitions of citizenship Persons for whom it is not possible to calculate age due to incomplete data and persons granted British citizenship outside the UK.

Date of birth is not recorded in a small fraction of cases, leading to the inability to calculate age.
Loss of citizenship Persons for whom it is not possible to calculate age due to incomplete data and persons granted British citizenship outside the UK.

Date of birth is not recorded in a small fraction of cases, leading to the inability to calculate age.
Legally induced abortions  Not applicable.
Late foetal deaths  Not applicable.
Infant deaths  Not applicable.
Marriages  Not applicable.
Divorces  Not applicable.


14. Timeliness and punctuality Top
14.1. Timeliness

According to Art 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata ( In the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Art 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality

Estimates are delivered on time.


15. Coherence and comparability Top
15.1. Comparability - geographical

For population estimates, although there are small differences in methods between the constituent countries of the UK, the estimates are stated to be comparable for areas within the UK. This is documented at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/consistencyofmethodsusedforpopulationstatisticsacrossukcountries.

 

Birth statistics for England and Wales are based on the number of births occurring in the year, while Scotland and Northern Ireland statistics relate to the number of births registered in the year. In England and Wales where a birth is registered too late to be included in the count for the year of occurrence, it will be included in the count for the following year. The differences between reporting occurrences and registrations are minor and figures are broadly comparable.

Death statistics are based on the number of deaths registered in the year across the UK so are comparable.

For migration, estimates are comparable across the UK countries.

 
15.2. Comparability - over time
  Comparability - over time
Population

Definitions have remained consistent since 2002, and estimates from 2002-2017 are all based on both the 2001 and the 2011 Census, thus allowing comparison over time. Plans for revisions to methodology, and the publication of a back-series covering 2012-2017, are available at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/methodologyguideformid2015ukpopulationestimatesenglandandwalesjune2016.
Live births A time series for the number of  births is available back to 1887. The length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table.
Deaths A time series for the number of  deaths is available back to 1887. The length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table.
Immigrants

LTIM – Available from 1991 to 2018 (final data).

Data supplied to Eurostat for 2008 to 2018 are comparable.

 

More information on changes and comparability over time:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/methodologies/internationalmigrationmethodology.
Emigrants

LTIM – Available from 1991 to 2018 (final data).

 

Data supplied to Eurostat for 2008 to 2018 are comparable.

 

More information on changes and comparability over time:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/methodologies/internationalmigrationmethodology.
Acquisitions of citizenship 1997-2018.
Loss of citizenship 1997-2018.
Legally induced abortions The first reference year for which data are available is 1968.  
Late foetal deaths A time series for the number of stillbirths is available back to 1961 (when registration of stillbirths first came into operation). The length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table. The definition of stillbirth changed from 28 or more weeks completed gestation to after 24th week of pregnancy in October 1992.
Infant deaths A time series for the number of infant deaths is available back to 1900. The length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table.
Marriages A time series for the number of marriages is available back to 1862. The length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table.
Divorces A time series for the number of divorces is available back to 1971. The length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table.
Surface in km2  
15.3. Coherence - cross domain

PEU: Usual resident population used for all statistical population outputs. Some definitional differences in population used as denominators in surveys (e.g. Labour Force Survey uses usual resident household population as well as students and medical staff in communal establishments). Other surveys use only usual residents in private households.

 

VSOB: not available.

MSU: not available.
15.4. Coherence - internal

The current population estimates will be different from that calculated by applying the official births, deaths and migration figures to the previous year's estimates for the following reasons:

— Movements of (UK or other) Armed Forces into and out of the UK are counted separately and applied to the population estimates as an adjustment rather than through international migration.

— Births and deaths used in the population estimates are on an occurrence rather than a registration basis (the latter is the basis used in most deaths statistics across UK while births in Scotland and Northern Ireland are on a registration basis).

— The estimate of the international migration component of population change uses some provisional data and will thus be slightly different to the final official international migration estimates.

 

Differences in the application of the balancing equation applied since 1 January 2015 mean that these estimates do not correspond precisely with the change in population estimates used in the official national UK series of mid-year reference point estimates series.


16. Cost and Burden Top

Not applicable.


17. Data revision Top
17.1. Data revision - policy

The revision policy is published at

http://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/methodologytopicsandstatisticalconcepts/revisions/revisionspoliciesforpopulationstatistics.

The revision policy for vital events in Northern Ireland is published at:

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/births/background-information.

The revision policy for NRS is published at

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/about-our-statistics/revisions-and-corrections.
17.2. Data revision - practice

In 2012/13 the UK population estimates for 2002-2010 were rebased to the results of the 2011 Census.

Rebased population estimates are used to revise mortality and fertility rates.

 

Plans for revisions to population estimates methodology, and the publication of a back-series covering 2012-2016, are available at:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/annualmidyearpopulationestimates/mid2012tomid2016.


18. Statistical processing Top
18.1. Source data
  List of data sources
Population

For population estimates the main sources are:

2011 Census Results;

Births data;

Deaths data;

Long-Term International Migration;

Estimates of Migration within the UK;

Armed forces data;

Prison population data.

 

A range of other data sources are used to improve the sub-national distribution of estimated migration. These are described in the annual methodology report available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/methodologies/methodologyguideformid2015ukpopulationestimatesenglandandwalesjune2016.
Live births Birth statistics are based on information collected when a birth is registered.
Deaths Mortality statistics are based on the information collected when a death is registered.
Immigrants Main data sources are:

International Passenger Survey (ONS);

Asylum seeker approvals (Home Office);

Northern Ireland Health card data (NISRA);

Labour Force Survey (ONS - calibration only);
Emigrants Main data sources are:

International Passenger Survey (ONS);

Asylum seeker approvals (Home Office);

Northern Ireland Health card data (NISRA);

Labour Force Survey (ONS – calibration only).
Acquisitions of citizenship UK Border Agency administrative data drawn from the Case Information Database.
Loss of citizenship UK Border Agency administrative data drawn from the Case Information Database.
Legally induced abortions Abortion notifications.
Late foetal deaths Stillbirth registrations.
Infant deaths Infant death statistics are based on the information collected when an infant death is registered.
Marriages Marriage statistics are based on the information collected when a marriage is registered.
Divorces Divorce statistics are based on the information collected by the court service.
Surface in km2 Not Applicable.
18.2. Frequency of data collection

Population estimates data are collected annually.

Data from birth and death registrations for England and Wales are provided on a daily basis to ONS. Births and deaths data from Scotland and Northern Ireland are provided on annual basis to ONS.

IPS data are collected on an ongoing basis and supplied for producing migration estimates on a quarterly basis.

Asylum seeker approvals and Health card data are supplied on a quarterly basis.
18.3. Data collection

Data collection is not carried out directly. Estimates of components of population change are received from other teams within ONS, and other government department. Births and deaths data is provided by register offices. Migration data is received from other teams within ONS, NISRA and the Home Office.
18.4. Data validation

Estimates of components of population change are received from other teams within ONS and and other government department. Basic checks of allowable values and comparison with previous years are applied. Descriptions of how each administrative data source is quality assured can be found in the quality assurance of administrative data listed in the “relevance” section here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/qmis/annualmidyearpopulationestimatesqmi.

 

Births and deaths data is provided by register offices. Checks of completeness, allowable values, comparison with previous years and imputation is carried out where necessary.

Migration data is received from other teams within ONS, NISRA and the Home Office. Checks of completeness and allowable values are carried out and imputation applied where necessary.
18.5. Data compilation

Population Estimates are compiled by applying components of change to start-year population. Estimation of sex and age of migration data is made at local level. Estimation of place of usual residence is made at local level for armed forces based on 2011 Census results.
Births and deaths data are coded, edited or imputed where necessary. Child deaths are linked with birth registrations using NHS number.
For migration data, annual record editing is carried out where necessary. Some imputation of variables from best match donor within input stream in the quarter. Data processing and estimation occur within an internally developed computer system. Output reports are checked and include charts and logic to check balances produced. Totals in output spreadsheets are checked.
18.6. Adjustment

No statistical adjustment is carried out to adjust population definitions to standard definitions. At national level, the method of calculating 1 January populations from the mid-year populations calculated as standard is based on calendar year components of change (migration and natural change) as supplied in DEMOBAL data collection. This is the method for 1 January 2018 onwards.

These do not correspond precisely with the change in population estimates used in the official national UK series of mid-year reference point estimates series.

 

Note: For 1 January 2012-1 January 2017 we have adopted a slightly different method. We have used the average of two mid-year population estimates to represent the 1 January 20xx population. The statistical adjustment covers the difference between this figure and the net natural change to produce a national estimate of population (DEMOBAL). 

 

Population estimates of the very old and centenarians (aged 90 to 110+) are based on the distribution of data both from the 2011 Census and other estimates of the very old produced at national level.


19. Comment Top

Not available.


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top