Version: 3.1.0 | Published: 14 Oct 2025 | Updated: 8 days ago
ONS Longitudinal Study - England and Wales
Dataset
Summary
Citation:
Office for National Statistics, released 14 October 2025, ONS SRS Metadata
Catalogue, dataset, ONS Longitudinal Study - England and Wales,
https://doi.org/10.57906/z9xn-ng05
DOI Name:
Documentation
Associated Media:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/paidservices/longitudinalstudyls
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/research/epidemiology-and-public-health/research/health-and-social-surveys-research-group/studies-10
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/population-health-sciences/epidemiology-health-care/research/ucl-research-department-epidemiology-public-health/research/health-and-social-surveys-research-group/studies/celsius
Description:
The LS contains records on more than 500,000 people usually resident in England and Wales at each point in time and is largely representative of the population. The LS is the largest longitudinal data resource in England and Wales.
The LS has linked records at each census since the 1971 Census for people born on one of four selected dates in a calendar year. Life events data are also linked for LS members, including births to sample mothers, deaths, and widow(er)hoods. New LS members enter the study through birth or immigration (if they are born on one of the four selected birth dates). They leave the study through death or emigration, although their data are retained for analysis. Data on approximately 1.2 million sample members has been collected over the 50 years of the study.
The LS can be used for several types of analysis, over many different research topics. The studies that make best use of LS data are those that link social, occupational, and demographic information to data on life events. Examples include studies of mortality, cancer incidence and survival, and fertility patterns. The individual-level data of the LS means that person-years at risk can be calculated for epidemiological studies.
More detailed information about the LS and how to make use of it can be found on the ONS website here:
www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/paidservices/longitudinalstudyls
A free user support service for UK-based researchers from the academic, public and voluntary sectors is provided by the Centre for Longitudinal Study Information & User Support (CeLSIUS) based at University College London. More information is provided at the CeLSIUS website here:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/population-health-sciences/epidemiology-health-care/research/ucl-research-department-epidemiology-public-health/research/health-and-social-surveys-research-group/studies/celsius
Coverage
Spatial
Spatial Coverage:
- England
- Wales
Geographical Levels:
- local authority district
- region
Temporal
Start Date:
01 January 1971
Latest Data:
31 December 2021
Frequency:
ANNUAL
Distribution Release Date:
14 October 2025
Provenance
Source:
- Census
- Administrative
- Linked
- Longitudinal
Access and Governance
Usage
Condition of Access:
Access needs approval
Condition of Use:
- Output required for approval
- Disclaimers required on output
Resource Creator:
Office for National Statistics
Access
Access Service:
- Safe Rooms, SafePods
- Assured Organisational Connectivity – office based
- Assured Organisational Connectivity – remote access
Jurisdictions:
GB-EAW
Data Controller:
Office for National Statistics
Access Level:
Access Level 3
Format and Standards
Languages:
en
Formats:
SQL
Origin
Name:
ONS SRS Metadata Catalogue