People by gender identity and age, for Wales, Census 2021

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Next update expected:This dataset is not expected to be updated, but is expected to be replaced in the future

Updates

7th January 2026
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Official statistics in development
Data provider
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source
2021 Census

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset shows counts and percentages of people by gender identity and age in Wales. Data is for usual residents from Census 2021. The count shows the number of people by gender identity and age in Wales, the percentage shows the proportion of people by gender identity in a given age band in Wales.

The gender identity question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Please see the "Statistical Quality" section which provides important information on the uncertainty associated with the Census 2021 gender identity estimates and guidance on their use.

For Census 2021, a usual resident of the UK is anyone who, on census day, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months.

Data collection or calculation

Estimates provided are for usual residents as on Census Day, 21 March 2021. The data was collected through questionnaires for every household and communal establishment in Wales. Please see the Office for National Statistics (ONS) quality and methodology information on the 2021 Census for more information - a link is provided in the Related Reports section.

Statistical quality

The census question and estimates for gender identity are subject to a higher level of uncertainty than some other topics. There are patterns in the gender identity estimates from Census 2021 that suggest some respondents may not have interpreted the gender identity question as intended, most notably those with lower levels of English or Welsh language proficiency. Some people may have unintentionally given an answer that they had a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth. This has increased uncertainty in the gender identity estimates, compared with other Census 2021 estimates.

Gender identity estimates from Census 2021 should not be used as precise estimates to support service delivery but can be used to provide insights. Users should refer to the specific advice in the statistical article published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 26th March 2025 before using the Census 2021 gender identity estimates. A link to this article is provided in the "Related Reports" section - "Census 2021 gender identity estimates for England and Wales, additional guidance on uncertainty and appropriate use".

The ONS are confident that the Census 2021 estimates can be used to provide broad insights on how gender identity varies by age. However, the estimates should not be used as precise estimates of the size of the population with a gender identity different to their sex registered at birth in each age group.

On 5 September 2024, Emma Rourke, Deputy National Statistician, wrote to Ed Humpherson, Head of the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), to request that the gender identity estimates from Census 2021 are no longer accredited official statistics and are classified as official statistics in development. The change in designation was confirmed by the OSR on 12 September. This change in designation reflects the innovative nature of the gender identity estimates and the evolving understanding of measuring gender identity, along with the uncertainty associated with these estimates. All other Census 2021 estimates, including those on sexual orientation, are still designated as accredited official statistics. A link to the ONS letter to the OSR on Census 2021 gender identity estimates is provided in the "Related Reports" section.

Due to statistical disclosure procedures, totals may not exactly match. Sometimes changes need to be made to data if it is possible to identify individuals. This is known as statistical disclosure control. The disclosure control carried out by ONS for Census 2021 included: Swapping records (targeted record swapping). For example, if a household was likely to be identified in datasets because it has unusual characteristics, the records were swapped with a similar one from a nearby small area (very unusual households could be swapped with one in a nearby local authority). Adding small changes to some counts (cell key perturbation). For example, a count of four might be changed to a three or a five – this might make small differences between tables depending on how the data is broken down.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
equalityevidenceunit@gov.wales