About the Digest and Rural Definitions
Updated 18 March 2025
Applies to England
漏 Crown copyright 2025
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About the Statistical Digest of Rural England
The Statistical Digest of Rural England (hereafter the Digest) is a collection of statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type. For more information on our classifications, including maps and diagrams explaining the classification, see below.
Current statistics in the Digest use the 2011 Rural Urban Classification. The 2021 Rural-Urban Classification was released on 6 March 2025. Details of the 2021 Rural Urban Classification can be found at: /government/collections/rural-urban-classification. It will take some time for the Digest to be updated throughout using the new classification. Where relevant, Statistics drawing on the 2021 Census will be added to Digest thematic reports.
The Digest has been restructured into thematic reports and incorporates the previously separate publication the Rural Economic Bulletin.
The Digest consists of the following thematic reports:
- Population
- Housing
- Health and Wellbeing
- Communities and Households
- Connectivity and Accessibility
- Education, Qualifications and Training
- Rural Economic Bulletin
- Energy
All of the content previously found within the Digest has been clustered into sub-themes. There is a lookup table which shows how the new structure maps to the previous publication structure. The Digest will continue to be updated regularly when new material is available. Thematic reports will be updated individually and not every report with be updated every month.
Official Statistics
The statistics within the Digest have been produced to the high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, which sets out eight principles including meeting user needs, impartiality and objectivity, integrity, sound methods and assured quality, frankness and accessibility.
More information on the Official Statistics Code of Practice can be found at the page.
This publication has been compiled by the Rural Statistics Team within the Rural and Place Team in Defra:
Stephen Hall
Sarah Harriss
Beth Kerwin
Martin Fowell
rural.statistics@defra.gov.uk
There is a 2011 Census version of the Digest which looks at the data from the 2011 Census and where possible makes comparisons to the 2001 Census results.
This can be found at /government/statistics/2011-census-results-for-rural-england.
Defining Rural areas
Wherever possible, the Rural-Urban Classification is used to distinguish Rural and Urban areas. The Classification defines areas as Rural if they fall outside of settlements with more than 10,000 resident population.
Census Output Areas are the smallest areas for which data are available from Censuses. These Census Output Areas are assigned to one of four Urban or six Rural categories (Figure X-1) based on dwelling densities. Those described as 鈥渋n a sparse setting鈥� reflect where the wider area is sparsely populated (again based on dwelling densities). From Census Output Areas, other small area geographies can be classified based on how they map to Census Output Areas (such as Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs), Wards, and postcodes 鈥� Note 1)
Figure X-1: Classifying Rural and Urban areas for small geographical areas
A map showing the distribution of the Rural and Urban Census Output Areas is shown in Figure X-2.
When data are not available at a small geographical scale, it may be possible to apply the Rural Urban Local Authority Classification or a similar classification for other larger geographies. This classification categorises districts and unitary authorities on a six-point scale from Rural to Urban. It is underpinned by Rural and Urban populations as defined by the Census Output Area Classification. A map of the geographical distribution of the Rural and Urban Local Authorities is shown in Figure X-3.
However, the Local Authority Classification also considers some Urban areas as Hub Towns (with populations of between 10,000 and 30,000). These Hub Towns have met statistical criteria (based on dwelling and business premise densities) to be considered hubs for services and businesses for a wider rural hinterland and their populations are therefore classified as effectively Rural for the purposes of determining the classification of the authority.
Figure X-2: Map of the 2011 Rural-Urban Classification for Census Output Areas in England
Figure X-3: Map of the 2011 Rural-Urban Classification for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authorities in England
Under the classification, which is shown in Figure X-4, each Local Authority is assigned to one of six categories on the basis of the percentage of the total resident population accounted for by the combined Rural and Hub Town components of its population and its 鈥榗onurbation context鈥�. The Local Authority Classification categories are frequently aggregated to 鈥楶redominantly Rural鈥�, 鈥楿rban with Significant Rural鈥� and 鈥楶redominantly Urban鈥� as shown on Figure X-4.
Figure X-4: 2011 Rural-Urban Classification for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authorities in England
It should be noted that the Local Authority Rural-Urban Classification is based on populations and settlement patterns, not on how much countryside there is. Authorities classified as Urban may have wide areas of countryside and may have sizeable Rural populations. The classification has been made according to the proportions of the population residing in Urban settlements and outside Urban settlements. More information on the classifications can be found at: The Rural-Urban Definition.
Defining Rural areas explanatory notes
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Note 1: Defining Super Output Areas and Wards
Census Output Areas (OAs) were created for publication of the results of the recent Censuses. They cover around 125 households. In practice few datasets are produced at OA level. However, other larger geographies can be built up from OAs. These include Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) which typically contain 5 OAs, so contain approximately 625 households or a population of approximately 1,500 and a minimum 1,000. Their Rural-Urban Classification is based on the majority category of OAs they contain. Some other geographies, for example postcodes are classified based on the location of their central point and the classification of respective OA.
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Note 2: Accessibility of Figure X-2
We accept that this map might not be accessible for all users, but it is difficult to develop a map containing six colours that will provide enough contrast between all colours to enable every user to see them, especially when the shaded areas are small. Separate maps (showing only three levels of shading) for Rural and Urban areas are available on request from: rural.statistics@defra.gov.uk
Eight new thematic reports
1. Population
听听听听听 A. Population level and change
听听听听听 B. Population age profile
听听听听听 C. Ethnicity
听听听听听 D. Internal migration
听听听听听 E. Local Authority population data
2. Housing
听听听听听 A. Housing stock: age and type
听听听听听 B. Housing stock: additions and affordable housing
听听听听听 C. Housing costs: purchases and rentals
听听听听听 D. House purchase affordability
听听听听听 E. Second and empty homes
听听听听听 F. Homelessness
听听听听听 G. Land use change for housing
听听听听听 H. Housing quality
3. Health and Wellbeing
听听听听听 A. Life expectancy
听听听听听 B. Wellbeing
听听听听听 C. NHS Dentistry provision
听听听听听 D. General Practices
听听听听听 E. Childcare provision
听听听听听 F. Loneliness
听听听听听 G. Volunteering and charity
4. Communities and Households
听听听听听 A. Deprivation
听听听听听 B. Poverty due to low income
听听听听听 C. Household expenditure
听听听听听 D. Police recorded crime and outcomes
听听听听听 E. Crime surveys: local police and businesses
听听听听听 F. Feelings about the local neighbourhood
5. Connectivity and Accessibility
听听听听听 A. Broadband and mobile
听听听听听 B. Travel behaviours
听听听听听 C. Access to personal transport
听听听听听 D. Access to services
听听听听听 E. Home working
6. Education, Qualifications and Training
听听听听听 A. Schools and their workforce
听听听听听 B. Class sizes
听听听听听 C. Secondary education attainment
听听听听听 D. School inspections
听听听听听 E. Free school meals - eligibility
听听听听听 F. Alternative and specialist education provision
听听听听听 G. Progression to higher education
听听听听听 H. Apprenticeships and on-the-job training
听听听听听 I. Workforce education level
7. Rural Economic Bulletin
听听听听听 A. Employment
听听听听听 B. Earnings
听听听听听 C. Redundancies
听听听听听 D. Claimant count - Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance
听听听听听 E. Output and productivity measured by Gross Value Added (GVA)
听听听听听 F. Business demographics
听听听听听 G. Businesses by industry
听听听听听 H. Business survival and growth
听听听听听 I. Innovation and investment
8. Energy
听听听听听 A. Fuel poverty
听听听听听 B. Energy Performance Certificates: average Energy Efficiency Score
听听听听听 C. Energy Performance Certificates: achieving energy efficiency category C
听听听听听 D. Energy costs
听听听听听 E. Energy consumption
听听听听听 F. C02 emissions
Each of the 8 themes also has their own set of supplementary data tables that include the larger source data that could not be included in the presented document. The chapter headings above are hyperlinked to the home page for that specific digest theme. The supplementary tables can be accessed from these home pages. There is a further document including the individual Local Authority data tables, which have been separated for ease of use.
The A-Z index can also be used to navigate between topics/sections.
Mapping the old digest sections to the 8 new themes
| Old Digest section | New Digest Theme |
|---|---|
| Rural population and migration | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Mid-year population 2020 | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Population by age | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Average age of the population | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Population change | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Ethnicity | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Population at local authority level | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Internal migration | Population |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Internal migration by age | Population |
| Rural economy | 听 |
| 听听听听听 Employment and earnings | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Employment rate | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Unemployment rate | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Economic inactivity | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Earnings | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听 Home working | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Productivity measured by Gross Value Added (GVA) | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Contribution to England鈥檚 Gross Value Added (GVA) | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Gross Value Added (GVA) per Workforce Job | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Contribution to England鈥檚 Gross Value Added (GVA) by Industry | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听 Businesses | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Business composition | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Businesses by industry type | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Employment by industry type | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Businesses by size band | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Small and medium businesses | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Business count | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Business start-ups | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听 Innovation and investment | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Businesses engaged in innovation | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Capital investment per employee | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听 Rural accessibility | 听 |
| 听听听听听 Transport and travel | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Distance travelled | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Trips made | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Journey to School | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听 Accessibility to services | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Average minimum travel times | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Access to key services | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Average number of key services available | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Overall measure of accessibility of services | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听 Broadband | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Broadband speed | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Broadband coverage | Connectivity and Accessibility |
| 听听听听听 Tourism | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Gross Value Added (GVA) from Tourism | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Tourism: business counts and employment | Rural Economic Bulletin |
| Rural living | 听 |
| 听听听听听 Housing | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Housing completions | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Net additions to housing stock | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Second and empty homes | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Residential housing transactions | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Additions to affordable housing stock | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Housing and accommodation affordability | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Housing affordability | Housing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Homelessness and temporary accommodation | Housing |
| 听听听听听 Household expenditure | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Nominal expenditure and disposable income | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Expenditure on commodity or service groups | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听 Deprivation | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听 Poverty | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听 Fuel poverty | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听 Education and skills | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Childcare provision | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Secondary education | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Pupils leaving school with English and Maths at A* to C grades or equivalent at GCSE level, based on residency of pupils | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Pupils leaving school with English and Maths at A* to C grades or equivalent at GCSE level, based on Income Deprivation Affecting Children Indices (IDACI) decile and residency of pupils | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Pupils leaving school with English and Maths at GCSE level, by geographical residency of pupils | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Pupils leaving school with English and Maths at A* to C grades or equivalent at GCSE level, based on school location | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 School inspection outcomes, based on school location | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Higher education | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Full-time entrants to higher education | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Part-time entrants to higher education | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听 Skills | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Workplace based skills | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Residence based skills | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Apprenticeships | Education, Qualifications and Training |
| 听听听听听 Health and Wellbeing | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Life expectancy | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Potential years of life lost (PYLL) | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Infant mortality rate | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Wellbeing | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Loneliness | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Feelings about the local neighbourhood | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Volunteering and charity | Health and Wellbeing |
| 听听听听听 Crime | 听 |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Commercial Victimisation Survey | Communities and Households |
| 听听听听听听听听听听 Crime Survey for England & Wales | Communities and Households |