Petition · Cabinet Office
Release all records from each census after 75 years instead of 100 years
Closed
43 signatures
What the petition asks
A census gives the government a picture of households across the UK and is also used by genealogists to research family history. The UK has a longer waiting time for census records to be released, at 100 years compared to Canada's 92 and USA's 72. We'll have to wait until 2052 for the next release.
From the Inter-War period, genealogists in the UK have the information given to them about ancestors from the 1921 census and 1939 England and Wales Register.
However, the 1931 census was burnt in a fire in 1942 so that leaves a 30-year gap between the 1921 census and next available census from 1951.
Between the UK, USA and Canada, the UK has the longest wait for census records to be released, and I think that it should be lowered to 75 years instead.
However, the 1931 census was burnt in a fire in 1942 so that leaves a 30-year gap between the 1921 census and next available census from 1951.
Between the UK, USA and Canada, the UK has the longest wait for census records to be released, and I think that it should be lowered to 75 years instead.
Timeline
| 31 Jul 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 31 Jan 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
43
Status
Closed
Department
Cabinet Office
Opened
31 Jul 2025
Closed
31 Jan 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 20 Aug 2026.