ONS LS is a comprehensive dataset tracking over 500,000 participants from England and Wales in the United Kingdom. It focuses on various aspects of life, including health, mortality, and social changes. Participants are recruited based on birth dates from census data. The initial cohort included 524,000 individuals of all ages, representing a diverse population across different demographics. Participants have exited the study for various reasons, including death and migration. To mitigate this, the study has expanded to include additional participants to ensure a representative sample of the population. As of 2011, the study consists of over 580,000 participants. Participants are followed up every 10 years, coinciding with each national census, to maintain continuous and up-to-date data collection.

Recruitment is ongoing