The 2011 Rural Urban Classification defines areas as rural if they fall outside of areas forming settlements with populations of at least 10,000.

When data are not available at a small enough geographical scale, it may be possible to apply the Local Authority Rural Urban Classification. This classification categorises local authority districts and unitary authorities on a six point scale from rural to urban. Local Authority Districts are categorised as rural or urban based on the share of their resident population that live in rural areas.

The number of Local Authorities that are now classed as rural has reduced compared with the 2001 classification. When applying the classification for statistical purposes it is important to note that a Local Authority that is classed as urban will contain rural areas and vice versa.

Interim results identifying rural hub towns to be used in the 2011 Local Authority Classification was published separately in May 2014.

Additional information:

• Rural urban classification lookup tables for all small area geographies, local authority districts, and other higher level geographies
• Rural urban classifications of other higher level geographies via the https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/search?collection=Dataset&sort=name&tags=all(PRD_RUC)" class="govuk-link">ONS Open Geography portal

<p class="govuk-body">You can also contact us via Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/DefraStats" class="govuk-link">https://twitter.com/DefraStats</a></p>

National Statistics release of the main DWP-administered benefits via Stat-Xplore or supplementary tables where appropriate.

Data on DWP benefits is also released quarterly through:

• https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore
• data tables

A statistical summary document is published on a 6-monthly basis in February and August each year. It contains a high level summary of the latest National Statistics on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

Data on Stat-Xplore

Due to the 2019 local government reorganisation, 5 new unitary authorities were created in April 2019, replacing 15 local authority districts. The new authorities are now reflected in our published figures for Housing Benefit administration from April 2019. Residency-based Housing Benefit data on Stat-Xplore will be updated to reflect the changes as part of a routine refresh in spring 2020.

We identified a small error in the number of Widow’s Benefit claimants on Stat-Xplore for February and May 2019. We removed the Widow’s Benefit datasets for February 2019 from Stat-Xplore and delayed the release of May 2019 Widow’s Benefit datasets. Figures for February and May 2019 have now been corrected and will be released on Stat-Xplore on 17 December 2019.

We will also introduce a new ‘65 and over’ age band for Widow’s Benefit and bereavement benefits datasets on 17 December 2019.

NOMIS datasets

We are no longer updating NOMIS datasets. May 2019 was the last release of new data via NOMIS for the datasets listed under the https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/select/getdatasetbytheme.asp?theme=35&subgrp=-" class="govuk-link">“Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study” section. August 2019 was the last new release of datasets under https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/select/getdatasetbytheme.asp?theme=35&subgrp=5%25+Sample+Data" class="govuk-link">“5% Sample Data”. Existing datasets will remain on NOMIS under a “Discontinued” banner.

More information

Find further information about the statistics, including details on changes and revisions, in the background and methodology documents.