Statistical and census area maps

Maps of Super Output Areas in Swansea.

Statistical geographies provide the basis for the production of local area statistics from the national census, and other published outputs from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), government departments and information providers. They provide a consistent, stable structure for collecting, processing, aggregating and analysing data at a local level.

Designed and managed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Output Areas and Super Output Areas have been the main units for local Census data outputs and other small area statistics since 2001.

Statistics are more readily available for Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) and Middle layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs). They are built up from groups of Output Areas (OAs - the smallest unit, with 806 currently in Swansea), with each of the different layers nesting within the level above; therefore OAs sit within LSOAs, which sit within MSOAs. All OA-based boundaries ultimately fit within individual local authority areas. The areas are only reviewed once every ten years, alongside the initial release of local Census outputs.

Since 2021, Swansea has consisted of 150 LSOAs (up from 148 in 2011). There are now 30 MSOAs (PDF) [4MB] in the county (one less than 2011).

MSOAs within the city and county of Swansea are coded in the range 'Swansea 001' to 'Swansea 032' (or W02000168 to W02000428). Whilst MSOAs have no formal local area based name, in October 2019 the House of Commons Library devised a set of MSOA names for all areas which aimed to provide recognisable names for MSOAs based on the towns, villages or neighbourhoods that they cover. The names aren't official names for MSOAs, but are intended to provide a resource for users to make MSOA data easier to interpret and present.

The map images available to view or download on this page show the 30 MSOAs in Swansea and the location of the individual LSOAs within them. A map of Swansea's one new MSOA (Swansea 032) is also included:

* note: an unofficial / interim name for this new MSOA formed by the merging of former MSOAs Swansea 020 ('Dunvant and Upper Killay') and Swansea 023 ('Killay').

Meanwhile, code and name-based identifiers for the LSOAs are available, which generally reference the electoral ward in which they are situated. The LSOA names introduced in 2001 are still in use, unless since affected by splits and/or mergers (in 2011 and 2021).

The statistical geographies are subject to review alongside the publication of new Census results every ten years. Following the 2021 Census, Swansea has gained two net additional LSOAs. Three of Swansea's LSOAs were split, namely the former LSOAs 'Gorseinon 1' (ONS code W01000773), 'Llansamlet 3' (code W01000796) and 'St. Thomas 2' (code W01000850). Separately, two of Swansea's LSOAs were merged, namely the former 'Castle 7E' and 'Castle 7W' LSOAs.

At this point, the changed LSOAs and MSOAs have no official area-based names. As an interim measure, the following unofficial LSOA names have been introduced alongside the official ONS codes to help identify areas (these names may be subject to change):

Split LSOA 'Gorseinon 1': new codes W01001991 ('Gorseinon 1A') and W01001992 ('Gorseinon 3')
Split LSOA 'Llansamlet 3': new codes W01001993 ('Llansamlet 3A') and W01001994 ('Llansamlet 9')
Split LSOA 'St. Thomas 2': new codes W01001995 ('St. Thomas 2A') and W01001996 ('St. Thomas 5')
Merged LSOAs 'Castle 7E' (code W01001938) / 'Castle 7W' (code W01001957): reverts to 'Castle 7' (new code W01001997).

The maps on this page reflect these changes.

For further information or advice on statistical geographies in Swansea, please contact us.

The use of Ordnance Survey data within the documents on this web page is subject to terms and conditions.

Last modified on 27 November 2023