CEREDIGION has been selected to help ensure the overall success of the 2021 Census with a rehearsal taking place across the county later this year.

The rehearsal will enable the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to test some of the systems and processes it has put in place ahead of the digital-first 2021 Census.

The coastal county has been chosen as it has a high proportion of Welsh speakers, and includes a large rural area with varying internet coverage.

Tower Hamlets and Hackney in London and Carlisle in Cumbria will also be taking part.

People in each of the chosen areas will be asked to complete a questionnaire about those living in their household on October 13, 2019.

The rehearsal will be online, with help for those who need it. Residents will be invited to take part later this year.

Director of census operations, Pete Benton, said: “The census helps inform vital public services such as the number of children’s school places, hospital and GP services and social care provision in local areas.

"As the census only takes place every 10 years it is important we hold an operational rehearsal to ensure that all our processes run smoothly.

“The people who take part will all be helping to ensure the overall success of the 2021 Census.”

The 2021 Census will, for the first time, collect information on veterans of the UK Armed Forces. This enables monitoring of the Armed Forces covenant – the deal between the country and those who served it.

And it is proposed that there will also be a new voluntary question on sexual orientation for those aged 16 and over. In addition to the usual question on being male or female, there will also be a voluntary question on gender identity for those aged 16 and over.

Ceredigion facts from 2011 Census:

• There was a total of 75,922 residents living in 31,562 households.

• Among them were 12,559 households with no dependent children and 1,305 with three or more.

• There were also 16,487 single people, 26,716 were married and 407 were in a civil partnership or cohabiting with a partner of the same sex.

• A total of 35,404 residents said they could speak Welsh.

• There were 2,063 farmers and nearly as many artists (143) as publicans and managers of licensed premises (144).

• But just 11 people were keeping the county’s historic ship and boat building industry going.

• While another 16 people worked at quarries.

• Among the county’s least common jobs were tailors, pipe fitters and pest control officers.

• However, in some of the most popular jobs were 2,623 carers, 5,675 secretaries and 6,492 who had a skilled trade occupation.

• 30,032 residents either answered that they had no religion or did not specify.

• There were also 43,981 Christians, 521 Muslims and 355 Buddhists – making up the county’s most popular religions.

• 5,803 households said they did not have a car or van but 12,132 households had two or more – together, households owned a total of 42,905 cars or vans.

• The county’s population was made up of 71 ethnicities. Excluding ‘white British’, the two biggest groups were made up of 619 Polish and 479 Irish people.

• Meanwhile 349 Jedi Knights were protecting the county from the ‘dark side’.