Super Output Areas (SOA) : geographical areas designed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to improve the reporting of small area statistics across England and Wales, and provide a geography of a consistent population size across England and Wales.
SOA boundaries remain consistent between Censuses, therefore, the current 2011 boundaries will remain in use until the next Census is due to take place in 2021.
SOAs can be combined to create custom areas such as school catchments or create statistical profiles of existing areas such Committee Areas, which is a technique ONS use to compile statistics for Wards and Parishes. Email:
knowledge@northumberland.gov.uk. for profiles of non-standard areas
Lower Super Output areas (LSOA)
Background info
LSOAs are compiled from Census output areas (OAs), which are the smallest geography used when releasing Census results.
Population thresholds and numbers
LSOAs in England and Wales
- target size is 1,500 people and 600 households
- minimum population threshold of 1,000 people and 400 households
- maximum population threshold of 3,000 people and 1,200 households
- 197 LSOAs in Northumberland in 2011 (199 in 2001) and 32,844 2011 LSOAs in England (32,482 in 2001).
Between 2001 and 2011 there were changes to LSOA boundaries in Northumberland. Where populations became too large, existing LSOAs were split into two or more areas, and where populations became too small, they were merged with an adjacent one. The changes were made to ensure that LSOAs continue to meet the minimum and maximum population thresholds set by ONS.
Changes to LSOA boundaries in Northumberland between the 2001 and 2011
Change |
2001 Code |
2011 Code (new) |
Merge |
E01027467 |
E01033714 |
E01027470 |
Merge |
E01027547 |
E01033716 |
E01027548 |
Merge |
E01027454 |
E01033718 |
E01027459 |
Split |
E01027360 |
E01033715 |
E01033717 |
Middle super output areas (MSOA)
Background information
MSOAs are built up from collections of LSOAs which are themselves built up from Census output areas (the smallest geography that Census results are released at). Between 2001 and 2011 there have been no changes to MSOA boundaries in Northumberland so no separate maps are provided for 2001 boundaries.
Population thresholds and numbers
MSOAs in England and Wales
- target size of 7,500 people and 3,000 households.
- minimum population threshold of 5,000 people and 2,000 households
- maximum population threshold of 15,000 people and 6,000 households
- 40 2011 Census MSOAs in Northumberland, (40 in 2001),and there are 6,791 2011 MSOAs in England (6,781 in 2001).
Licencing data and reuse of this map
The mapping information used to produce this map is freely available from the
ONS open geography portal. You can re-use this map but you must include the licence information provided at the bottom of the map within your document.
Queries and comments :
knowledge@northumberland.gov.uk