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Release all records from each census after 75 years instead of 100 years

Submitted by Tyler Eric Thornton on Wednesday 9th July 2025

Published on Thursday 31st July 2025

Current status: Closed

Closed: Saturday 31st January 2026

Signatures: 43

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

100 years ~ 1921 Census ~ Canada ~ Census ~ England ~ England and Wales ~ Gap ~ history ~ Inter ~ The Information ~ USA ~ Wales ~ War ~ Years

Petition Action

Release all records from each census after 75 years instead of 100 years

Petition Details

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.

Additional Information

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.


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216.73.216.219 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:17:03 +0100