Census 2011 - Output Areas

Output Areas (OAs) are the key geography for dissemination of small area statistics from the Census. OAs are large enough for Census statistics to be released without infringing confidentiality. They are designed to have relatively small numbers of households (in the range 20 to 77) and population (>/= 50), while nesting within Council areas. They also act as the basic “building-blocks” for the creation of other geographies such as Data Zones. There are 46,351 Census 2011 OAs in Scotland.