Census

UK Census

The census as we know it today started in Great Britain in 1801, as part of a drive to ascertain the number of men willing and able to fight in the Napoleonic wars.

The census has been conducted every ten years since, the last one completed this year (although results have not been release at time of writing). The census is undertaken by the government, and the information is sold to interested parties, as well as being used for policy and planning purposes.

The census is usually very accurate, and with a fine of £1000 for those who do not complete it, filled in by a high percentage of the population.