The Census and the Office of National Statistics

The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganism

The Census and the Office of National Statistics

Report on 2011 Census workshop - 27 November 2008
ONS confirms Paganism will not have its own tick box in the next census
- 6 February 2008
Responses to the 2011 Census stakeholders consultation
- 14 November 2007
Census diversity group selects definition of 'Paganism'
- 30 September 2007
Pagan tick box in the Census diversity group's internal cognitive test
- 6 September 2007
Pagan DASH - background
2001 Census data

27 November 2008

Report on 2011 Census workshop

Mark Rosher, representing PEBBLE partner organisation The Druid Network, recently attended a workshops on the 2011 Census. The issue of what questions might be asked in the Census, how they might be framed and how the answers might be analysed, had previously been dealt with and was no longer an item of discussion.

There will be a rehearsal of the census in three locations on 11 October 2009 - in Lancaster (61,500 people), Newham (40,000) and Anglesey (34,100). The actual census will be 27 March 2011. Part of the discussion was about data security, given the amount of data lost by Government departments recently. ONS have never apparently lost data and are ‘secure’.

ONS noted that the 2001 census had missed many people, especially those who live outside the norm of society such as those in benders and who borrow bed-space at several addresses. This will be more carefully managed by the use of local ‘champions’ who know each area. New migrants and medium-term visitors will also be included. The National Identity question will offer English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, British and Other [specify].

Mark raised one question to Peter Benton, Director ONS Census 2011, here paraphrased:

Accepting that most census documents will be received and despatched by post, some will be hand delivered and collected and some will be filled out with the active cooperation of the census field staff. There is, in some elements of society, still some antipathy towards Pagans – especially from some religious folk of other paths and especially towards those who might put, or wish to put ‘Pagan-Witch’ on their return. Would the ONS stress to their staff the absolute need for tolerance in the execution of their duties, in order that folk feel able to put their truth into the census without fear of discrimination or harassment?

Mark received his affirmation.

6 February 2008

ONS confirms Paganism will not have its own tick box in the next census

This is a good result for the Pagan DASH campaign, as it means that Pagans will be able to ascertain far better data about Paganism in the UK than if a single tick box without subgroups was used. Each Pagan will now be able to define their path as they wish it to be collected – using the Pagan DASH method. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is going to spend money to ensure that we are all counted and that we are able to reach the Pagan audience.

PEBBLE’s Jon Randall will attend a one-to-one meeting with the ONS in April, and a Census Diversity Advisory Group (DiAG) meeting with them in March. The April meeting will discuss the outputs and keycoding for Pagan groupings.

14 November 2007

Responses to the 2011 Census stakeholders consultation

The Office for National Statistics has published the responses to the 2011 Census stakeholders consultation (2006/07) on ethnic groups, national identity, religion and language. A number of Pagan organisations took part in the consultation, including PEBBLE.

Amongst the responses, several experts, community and special interest group respondents suggested that Paganism should be recognised in the 2011 Census with its own tick box.

Heathens For Progress stated that their organisation: 'needs to know overall numbers of Pagans/Wiccans/Heathens to support [their] work with central government departments for faith recognition.'

The Pagan Federation and PEBBLE, contributed a joint statement, saying that: 'Paganism is said to be the fastest growing religion, but we suffer discrimination – partly because it is difficult to estimate exactly how many Pagans there are.

The Druid Network included that it is important to: '... encourage ONS to put "Pagan" as a tick box on the census form. However,' they added, 'this must be accompanied by an option whereby Pagans can mark which of the many different Pagan traditions they work within, whether Druidry, Wicca, Witchcraft, Heathenism, Asatru, and so on. This would encourage Pagan Druids to be registered, where they may be unsure about being Pagan (without Druid), and where ONS would not mark them as Pagan if they were simply to put themselves down as Druid.'

The Pagan Association UK added: 'we believe that "Modern Paganism" should be a separately listed category, as in the 2001 Census, the information had to be compiled by looking at all individual paths. A "Pagan" tick box would enable a better and more accurate view of how many considered themselves to be practising one of the Pagan religions.'

In addition, a request was also received for a number of religions, including 'Pagan', to ideally be included from the Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and The Humber.

The response document is available to download here from the ONS website.

The PaganDASH and PEBBLE websites will publish news of any decisions made by the ONS on the basis of these responses.

30 September 2007

Census diversity group selects definition of 'Paganism'

The description that the Census Diversity Advisory Group (DiAG) has chosen to describe the Pagan religion is as follows:

PAGANISM : The umbrella term for spiritualities and religions that recognise the sacred in nature, the environment, ancestry and heritage.

6 September 2007

Pagan tick box in the Census diversity group's internal cognitive test

The managers of the Census Diversity Advisory Group (DiAG) have confirmed that the next internal cognitive test, due to go ahead in late September, will include a Pagan tick box. Cognitive tests are used by the creators of the Census to trial questions - to assess how easily they are understood and responded to, and whether they will yield useful and workable data.

As well as the Pagan tick box, the cognitive test will also include a write-in component, which will add to the tick box data, thus defining it even more and allowing respondents to specify their path or tradition. This is unlike some write-ins which over-ride the tick box rather than adding to it. This means that the Pagan DASH campaign has had an effect and the creators of the Census are listening!

This does not mean, however, that there will definitely be a Pagan tick box on the next Census, just that they are trialling it for cognitive reasons. It is vital that PEBBLE keeps in contact with them, and, to that end, we are going to be invited to the next DiAG meeting in London - details to follow. We are also being added as a contact on the DiAG.

Pagan DASH - background

In 2011 there is to be a Census in the UK. This campaign has been set up to ensure that Pagans of ALL paths are counted.

In 2001, Pagans were able for the first time, to write in their religious affiliation on the Census form. A campaign was started by a number of diverse groups to write Pagan in the 'religion other' section. Whilst in the main people did, some resented the loss of their individual path identity. Furthermore, due to the way the Office of National Statistics (ONS) counts religious affiliation responses, Pagans ended up having their number diluted across a number of categories. Even though many wrote Pagan, the campaign didn't reach all Pagans. This means that every time we are asked the question 'how many Pagans are there?' we cannot come back with a simple answer.

This doesn't need to happen!

The ONS wants to count us. They have a 'mandate of inclusion' which means they are actively looking for ways to include us in their figures. Looking at the raw data that was provided last time to us gave us some startling insights. However, as mentioned, by just writing Pagan on your form, we lose the data for various paths, and our diversity - but there is a simple solution - one that's worked elsewhere.

In Australia in 2001 there were 10,000 Pagans in the census. Just five years later, with this initiative, their numbers are being counted as nearer 70,000. So if we can do the same here, and get more accurate numbers, it will go a long way to getting the recognition we have fought for, and deserve.

All you need to do is put down your religion as:

Pagan – insert your chosen path

Some examples :

Pagan – Druid
Pagan – Wiccan
Pagan – Witch
Pagan – Asatru
Pagan – Neo-Shaman

A number of Pagan organizations, groups and magazines are already behind the campaign. We can show strength through unity with diversity. Each of the partners in this project have committed themselves to getting the message out to their membership, and to the wider Pagan public.

Why do we need to 'stand up and be counted'?

For too long we have known that there are significant numbers of people who identify as Pagan. The estimates have been from 20,000 to 140,000 or more. But we've never had any really accurate figures for a number of historical reasons. We now have the chance to know just how many of us are there. Why do we need to know?

In the 2001 census some 30,000 people wrote Pagan. An additional 10,000 Pagans wrote their path specifically (Druid, Wiccan, witch etc.). Combined, this made us the seventh largest faith in the UK. While this number is significant, in the course of speaking to Pagans at various moots, events etc, we found there were approximately only one in five who had expressed their beliefs. This leaves a significant number not accounted for, or even counted. As a further problem the Heathens were originally counted with the Atheists in the results – which did not please them one bit!

If figures for British Pagans rose as much as those in Australia, we could be looking at 280,000 Pagans. In the 2001 census, there were 150,000 Buddhists, and just 270,000 Jews (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=954). Imagine how this would change the way Pagans were treated in Britain!

If the Office of National Statistics has our true numbers:

Paganism will be officially recognized as a serious religious choice;
The government can see that we vote and there are enough of us to make a difference;
Pagan organisations can show they are representative;
We can achieve more representation within the local and wider community;
Pagan organisations will have credibility when dealing with both businesses and the government to provide the services you need.

This means it will be easier for us to be heard, our religious / spiritual sensitivities taken into account - and especially at those times when it is really important - in hospitals and hospices, for our children in schools, in the military and police and other places of work, in courts and prisons, when dealing with social workers and health visitors, at times when we face prejudice and discrimination.

So, what can you do to help?

Tell your friends;
Get your Pagan organization involved;
Bring it up at your next moot;
Put a link on your website to www.pagandash.org;
Give us your ideas about how to get the word out.

If you want to get involved just contact us using the form on our contacts page.

2001 Census data

Given that Paganism was NOT a separate category on the 2001 census form, the Pagan Federation requested that the 'Other Religion' category be specially coded and analysed so that we can ascertain how many Pagans there are in England and Wales. The 2001 Census results are presented below. Table A simply gives the number of people living in each district and does not give any information about religious orientation. This data has been included for reference purposes.

Table A: Entire Population

Region	England & Wales	North East	North West	Yorkshire & Humber	East Midlands	West Midlands
Total	52,041,920	2,515,439	6,729,768	4,964,834	4,172,168	5,267,300

Table A (part ii): Entire Population

Region	East England	London	South East	South West	Wales
Total	5,388,140	7,172,093	8,000,643	4,928,436	2,903,087

Table B gives the numbers of Pagans by region in England and Wales.

Table B: Pagans

Region	England & Wales	North East	North West	Yorkshire & Humber	East Midlands	West Midlands
Heathen	278	9	30	34	22	25
Asatru	93	3	11	6	12	7
Druidism	1,657	61	159	120	136	138
Pagan	30,569	725	2,611	2,542	2,472	2,589
Wicca	7,227	219	746	588	629	573
Celtic Pagan	508	15	54	40	36	39
Pagan sub-totals	40,332	1,032	3,611	3,330	3,307	3,371
% of total pop'n	0.07750%	0.04103%	0.05366%	0.06707%	0.07926%	0.06400%

Table B (part ii): Pagans

Region	East England	London	South East	South West	Wales
Heathen	31	45	35	34	13
Asatru	15	19	16	-	3
Druidism	180	236	316	222	89
Pagan	3,506	3,978	5,826	4,606	1,714
Wicca	830	916	1,451	892	383
Celtic Pagan	37	66	81	92	48
Pagan sub-totals	4,599	5,260	7,725	5,846	2,250
% of total pop'n	0.08535%	0.07334%	0.09655%	0.11862%	0.07750%

Note: Many people put down 'Pagan' as an umbrella term rather than their path name, so path data may be misleading.