1921 Census of England & Wales Now Available

Ancestry has announced that the 1921 Census of England and Wales is now available on its platform. In addition to its existing 60 billion records, the 1921 Census offers a snapshot into what life was like for almost 38 million people who were living in England and Wales at the time, and is the last census from the first half of the 20th century available to family historians as the 1931 Census was taken but destroyed in WWII.

The records offer a fascinating look into the lives, households, occupations and trades of those in England and Wales in 1921, giving an insight into the past.

Adding the 1921 Census into Ancestry’s family history offering is a huge boost for history enthusiasts in 2025. Opening the door for comparisons to take place between the 1911, 1921 and 1939 records - taking a look at our ancestors’ lives across both World Wars, while shining a light on lessons and heroes to learn from.

Simon Pearce, Family History Expert at Ancestry says: "The 1921 Census of England and Wales provides us with a fascinating insight into the lives of our ancestors in the years after WWI. We hope the addition of this collection to the Ancestry platform will help users discover rich details about the lives of their ancestors at the time of the census, including where they were living, where they were born, and their line of work. It's exciting to think where these clues could take you and what you might learn along the way.”

All of the census records can be found on Ancestry. With the next surviving census (1951) not set to be released until 2051 - Ancestry provides an opportunity to draw comparisons from the past of our ancestors to our present. Start a search today and uncover what life was like for ancestors post WWI.