Rural Urban Classification (2021) of Local Authority Districts (2024) in EW

<p></p><p><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;'>Rural Urban
Classification</span></p><p><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;'>The 2021 RUC is
a statistical classification to provide a consistent and standardised method
for classifying geographies as rural or urban. This is based on address
density, physical settlement form, population size, and Relative Access to
Major towns and cities (populations of over 75,000 people). The classification
is produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) with advice from the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Welsh
Government and colleagues from the Government Geography Profession (GGP).</span></p><p><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;'>This is 2021
rural-urban classification (RUC) of 2024 Local Authority Districts in England
and Wales. This means that the 2021 RUC methodology has been applied to the
2024 LAD boundaries.  LAD classifications
are divided into four categories based on their populations:</span></p><p><font face='Arial, sans-serif'>1.  Majority Rural:  had at least 50% of their population residing in Rural OAs</font></p><p><font face='Arial, sans-serif'>2.  Intermediate Rural:  35-50% rural population</font></p><p><span style='text-indent:-18pt; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;'>3.<span style='font-variant-numeric:normal; font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-variant-alternates:normal; font-size-adjust:none; font-kerning:auto; font-feature-settings:normal; font-variant-position:normal; font-stretch:normal; font-size:7pt; line-height:normal; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;'>  </span></span><span style='text-indent:-18pt; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;'>Intermediate
Urban: 20-35% rural population</span></p><p><span style='text-indent:-18pt; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;'>4.<span style='font-variant-numeric:normal; font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-variant-alternates:normal; font-size-adjust:none; font-kerning:auto; font-feature-settings:normal; font-variant-position:normal; font-stretch:normal; font-size:7pt; line-height:normal; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;'>   </span></span><span style='text-indent:-18pt; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;'>Urban:
20% or less of the population lived in rural OAs.</span></p><p><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;'>Each 2024 LAD
category is split into one of two Relative Access categories, using the same
data as the 2021 Output Area RUC. If more than 50% of a LAD population lives in
‘Nearer a major town or city’ OAs, it is deemed ‘nearer a major town or city’;
otherwise, it is classified as ‘further from a major town or city’.</span></p><p>















</p><p style='margin-bottom:6.0pt; text-align:justify;'><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; color:#0C0C0C;'>Where
data is unavailable for Super Output Area geographies, it may be appropriate
for users to undertake analysis at the LAD level. </span><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; color:#0C0C0C;'>At this level, the
categorisation works slightly differently in that most areas will include a mix
of both rural and urban areas - so the LA RUC categorisation is a reflection of
this.</span><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; color:#0C0C0C;'> </span><span style='font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; color:#323132;'>A statistical geography may contain substantial portions of open
countryside but still be given an ‘Urban’ classification if the majority of the
population within the area live in settlements that are urban in nature. Users
should take this into consideration to ensure correct interpretations of any
analysis of RUC LAD categories.</span></p>

Tags: 2024, LAD, Latest_Products, Local Authority, Local Authority District, Local Authority Districts, Other Products, PRD_RUC, PRD_RUC_LAD, RUC, RUC21, Rural Urban Classification
Organization: Office for National Statistics