Exploring Scotland's Census 2022 data at a small-area level

Local Insight is a user-friendly platform that brings together small-area data, helping you to make informed decisions for the benefit of your community. We’ve set up an example version of the tool, where you can use the ‘Data’ button on the left to explore sample datasets from Scotland’s Census 2022 at a small-area level. Explore the data now.

We’re happy to announce that data from Scotland’s Census 2022 is now available in Local Insight. This means that for the first time, you can map and explore the latest census data at a small-area level for Scottish neighbourhoods within the platform.

Why is this data being added to Local Insight now?

In order to be able to map this dataset accurately, following each census the Scottish government renews statistical geographies to accurately show population changes over time.

While boundaries at an Output Area (OA) level were released early in 2024, the larger Data Zones (DZ) and Intermediate Zones (IZ) were not yet published. As the 2022 census was published at an OA level, it has just now become possible for us to aggregate data up to larger areas, facilitating custom area creation across multiple geography levels.

If you’re not familiar with Scottish geography types, you can read about them in this guide.

What does this mean for you?

Now that this data is available to interactively explore:

Map the most up-to-date population information directly to the areas that matter to you in Scotland, via flexible custom area creation
Discover how population trends and demographic changes have impacted your neighbourhoods since 2022
Accurately assess the impact of local programmes and policies using the latest information, at a small-area level

What can you now explore?

We’ve updated 335 indicators within Local Insight, covering ethnicity, identity, language, housing, education and more.

You’ll be able to explore all new groups of census data:

Country of Birth – e.g. “UK”
Household Type – e.g. “One family households, Lone parent families: All children non-dependent”
General Health – e.g. “Very good health”
Employment Industry e.g. “Human health and social work activities”
Distance of Travel to Work e.g. “5km to less than 10km”

For a sample of what you can expect from access to Local Insight, we have put together a small sample of census data for you to explore here.

Explore the new data for yourself:

You can now explore Scottish Census 2022 data for any area you are interested in straight away through maps, reports and dashboards in Local Insight.

Get in touch for a demo so you can:

Be sure that you and your team are using the latest population data
Define your neighbourhoods and areas as they really are within Local Insight, even a mix of Output Areas, Data Zones and Intermediary Zones
Easily share information across your team, organisation and local partners via downloadable reports

Book a demo now.