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Demographics of Northern Ireland

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Demographics of Northern Ireland
Population pyramid of Northern Ireland in 2020
Population1,903,175 (2021 census)
Density133 per km2
Life expectancy
 • male78.4 years[1]
 • female82.3 years
Age structure
0–14 years19%
15–64 years64%
65 and over17%
Nationality
Major ethnicWhite 97%
Minor ethnicother ethnic groups 3%

Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four parts of the United Kingdom in terms of both area and population, containing 2.9% of the total population and 5.7% of the total area of the United Kingdom. It is the smaller of the two political entities on the island of Ireland by area and population, the other being the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland contains 27.1% of the total population and 16.75% of the total area of the island of Ireland.

The Belfast Metropolitan Area dominates in population terms, with over a third of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland.

When Northern Ireland was created, it had a Protestant majority of approximately two-to-one,[2][3][4] unlike the Republic of Ireland, where Catholics were in the majority.[5] The 2001 census was the first to show that the Protestant and other (non-Catholic) Christian share of the population had dropped below 50%, but 53.1% still identified as being from a Protestant or other Christian background. In the 2011 census, this dropped to 48.4%.[6][4] In 2021, the recorded number of Catholics by background (45.7%) overtook the Protestant and other Christian by background share (43.48%), becoming the plurality, with no group in the overall majority.[7][8][9][10]

Its people speak Irish (Gaelic), Ulster Scots and Ulster English which is itself heavily influenced by the Scots language of which Ulster Scots is a dialect. In addition the Ulster dialect of Irish (Gaelic) also has a closer connection to Scottish Gaelic than other Irish (Gaelic) dialects. This is both because of historic links with Scotland going back centuries, and because of settlements of lowland Scots Protestants in Ulster in the 17th century, such as the Plantation of Ulster.

Also unlike the Republic, a large proportion of people in Northern Ireland have a British national identity, although a significant minority identifies as Irish. Many people in Northern Ireland have a Northern Irish identity, whether in addition to a British or Irish identity or by itself.


[edit]
Population of Northern Ireland over time
Population census
YearPop.±%
1841 1,648,945—    
1851 1,442,517−12.5%
1861 1,396,453−3.2%
1871 1,359,190−2.7%
1881 1,304,816−4.0%
1891 1,236,056−5.3%
1901 1,236,952+0.1%
1911 1,250,531+1.1%
1926 1,256,561+0.5%
1951 1,370,921+9.1%
1961 1,425,042+3.9%
1971 1,536,065+7.8%
1981 1,543,000+0.5%
1991 1,607,300+4.2%
2001 1,685,267+4.9%
2011 1,810,863+7.5%
2021 1,903,175+5.1%
2023[12] 1,920,400+0.9%
Note: 1981 and 1991 data are mid-year estimates.[11] Data for years prior to 1926 are from the Census of Ireland, for those counties that became Northern Ireland in 1920.
Population change by DEA between 2011 and 2021
Cities and towns by population[13]

Belfast

Derry

# Settlement Population Metro

population

Lisburn

Newry

1 Belfast 293,300 626,339
2 Derry 85,279 94,376
3 Lisburn [14] 51,447 84,090
4 Craigavon Urban Area 72,301
5 Metropolitan Newtonabbey [14] 67,599
6 Bangor [14] 64,596
7 Metropolitan Castlereagh [14] 58,762
8 Ballymena 31,205
9 Newtownards 29,677
10 Newry 28,530
11 Carrickfergus [14] 28,141

Fertility

[edit]
  • Fertility statistics
  • Percentage of births born outside of wedlock in Northern Ireland
    Percentage of births born outside of wedlock in Northern Ireland
  • Age of mother at birth in Northern Ireland
    Age of mother at birth in Northern Ireland

Population density

[edit]
Population density of Northern Ireland based on 2021 census

Northern Ireland's population density is 133 people per square kilometre - comparable to European countries such as Denmark and the Czech Republic. If Northern Ireland were a sovereign state, it would have the 16th-highest population density in Europe.

It has a higher population density than Scotland (70 people per km2), but less than England and Wales (434 per km2 and 153 per km2 respectively).[15]

Belfast is the most population-dense of the 11 local government districts by far, at 2,617 per km2 - it has the highest population (345,418)[16] and least land area (133km2)[17] of any district, and takes in Belfast City itself as well as much of the Metropolitan Castlereagh settlement (formerly part of the Castlereagh local government district before 2015).

By contrast, Fermanagh and Omagh is the least dense, with the lowest population (116,812)[18] and greatest land area (2,836km2). It includes all of Northern Ireland's least-populous county, Fermanagh (except the townland of Killybane near Fivemiletown), and the largely rural former Omagh district.

Of the 80 District Electoral Areas that make up the local government districts, Botanic in Belfast has the highest population density at 4,653 people per km2[19], as well as being the most populous DEA (49,727 people in 2021).[20] The DEA includes Belfast city centre, Queen's University, and much of the city's student population.

By contrast, Erne West in Fermanagh and Omagh has the lowest population density of any DEA, with 20 people per km2, as well as being the least populous DEA (14,661 people in 2021). Erne West is largely made up of and surrounded by mountainous terrain. Lough Erne forms a geographical barrier between it and the rest of Northern Ireland, with only a few roads around and over the lough. The largest settlement, Bellanaleck, a small village near Enniskillen, is home to only 714 people,[21] and is apart from the other small villages spread through Erne West's large, narrow area.

The 217 wards with the highest population density which make up 50.2% of the population. They have a combined area of 460.1km2, 3.3% of Northern Ireland's total area. Overlaid: railways (black), rail stations (yellow), motorways (blue), dual carriageways (green).
The 216 contiguous wards with the highest population density, which make up 50.02% of the population. They have a combined area of 1,299km2, 9.4% of Northern Ireland's total area. Overlaid: railways (black), rail stations (red), motorways (blue), dual carriageways (green).

As of 2021, 50.2% of Northern Ireland's population lived in the 217 most population-dense electoral wards (around 47% of Northern Ireland's 462 wards). The 217 wards have an area of 460.1km2, 3.3% of Northern Ireland's total area. Of these 217 wards, 99 are a contiguous area covering most of Belfast, Castlereagh, Lisburn and Newtownabbey. These 217 wards are highlighted in red on the map.

These wards cover part or all of the 28 largest settlements in Northern Ireland, as well as Warrenpoint, Donaghadee, Ballynahinch, Moira, Maghera and Coalisland. The vast majority of these wards contain or are near a motorway, dual carriageway or train station. Considering this, the most remote wards are the Portora and Erne wards in Ennskillen, which are 30 miles from the A4 dual carriageway near Ballygawley.

Furthermore, 50.02% of Northern Ireland's population lived in the most population-dense contiguous area of 216 electoral wards. These 216 wards have an area of 1,299km2, 9.4% of Northern Ireland's total area. These 216 wards are highlighted in purple on the map. These wards cover part or all of the 10 largest settlements, and almost entirely track Northern Ireland's rail lines, motorways and dual carriageways. The exceptions are a spur towards Armagh city; and a string of villages between Ballymena and Limavady.

The electoral wards in Northern Ireland with the highest and lowest population density are listed in the table below:

No. Electoral Ward (2012) District Electoral Area (2012) Local Government District (2012) Electoral Ward population (2021)[22] Density (/km2)[23] Area (km2)
1 Ardoyne Oldpark Belfast 5,490 10,235.66 0.54
2 Woodstock Titanic Belfast 6,431 9,649.75 0.67
3 Windsor Botanic Belfast 11,302 8,183.80 1.38
4 Clonard Court Belfast 5,999 7,641.16 0.79
5 Bloomfield Titanic Belfast 5,894 7,224.94 0.82
6 Beersbridge Titanic Belfast 6,610 6,952.38 0.95
7 New Lodge Oldpark Belfast 4,881 6,815.49 0.72
8 Connswater Titanic Belfast 5,929 6,387.94 0.93
9 Ballymurphy Black Mountain Belfast 5,131 6,329.39 0.81
10 Beechmount Black Mountain Belfast 5,394 6,255.17 0.86
11 Woodvale Court Belfast 5,170 6,143.26 0.84
12 Ballymacarrett Titanic Belfast 5,905 5,972.05 0.99
13 Shankill Court Belfast 6,445 5,793.76 1.11
14 Fairview Three Mile Water Antrim and Newtownabbey 3,115 5,610.43 0.56
15 Central Botanic Belfast 15,446 5,497.58 2.81
16 Cregagh Lisnasharragh Belfast 4,587 5,418.46 0.85
17 Fortwilliam Castle Belfast 4,717 5,381.77 0.88
18 Shantallow Ballyarnett Derry City and Strabane 3,667 5,317.61 0.69
19 Silverstream Bangor West Ards and North Down 3,960 5,305.38 0.75
20 Rosetta Lisnasharragh Belfast 5,793 5,215.15 1.11
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
443 Derrylin Erne West Fermanagh and Omagh 2,794 26.45 105.65
444 Dunnamanagh Sperrin Derry City and Strabane 3,513 25.75 136.45
445 Fairy Water West Tyrone Fermanagh and Omagh 2,826 25.57 110.50
446 Boho, Cleenish and Letterbreen Erne West Fermanagh and Omagh 3,466 24.76 139.99
447 Dungiven Benbradagh Causeway Coast and Glens 3,297 24.44 134.88
448 Rosslea Erne East Fermanagh and Omagh 2,331 24.43 95.43
449 Magilligan Limavady Causeway Coast and Glens 3,481 24.00 145.01
450 Donagh Erne East Fermanagh and Omagh 2,527 23.17 109.06
451 Fivemiletown Clogher Valley Mid Ulster 3,174 21.34 148.76
452 Brookeborough Erne East Fermanagh and Omagh 2,579 20.88 123.50
453 Drumquin West Tyrone Fermanagh and Omagh 2,910 18.38 158.31
454 Derrygonnelly Erne West Fermanagh and Omagh 2,898 18.00 160.98
455 Slemish Braid Mid and East Antrim 3,207 17.90 179.17
456 Florence Court and Kinawley Erne West Fermanagh and Omagh 2,883 17.61 163.75
457 Belleek and Boa Erne North Fermanagh and Omagh 3,123 15.94 195.90
458 Glenderg Derg Derry City and Strabane 3,200 15.09 212.05
459 Owenkillew Mid Tyrone Fermanagh and Omagh 2,698 14.40 187.30
460 Torr Head and Rathlin The Glens Causeway Coast and Glens 3,597 14.21 253.11
461 Glenelly Valley Sperrin Derry City and Strabane 3,403 13.25 256.90
462 Belcoo and Garrison Erne West Fermanagh and Omagh 2,644 13.07 202.26

Place of birth

[edit]
Place of birth by age group[24]
Map showing the percentage of the population born outside Northern Ireland according to the 2021 census.

In 2001, 91.0% of the population were born in Northern Ireland, 7.2% were born in other parts of the UK and Ireland, and 1.8% were born elsewhere. By 2021, the proportion of immigrants from outside the UK and Ireland had risen to 6.6%, while the proportion born within other parts of the UK and Ireland had fallen to 6.9%. The highest number of non-British/Irish immigrants are in Belfast City Council, followed by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Mid Ulster District Council. The town of Dungannon in Mid Ulster District Council has a bigger share of immigrants than any town in Northern Ireland, while Derry City and Strabane has the smallest share of immigrants.[25]

Place of Birth 2001[26] 2011[27] 2021[28]
Number % Number % Number %
Northern Ireland 1,534,268 91.04 1,608,853 88.84 1,646,276 86.50%
England 61,609 3.66 64,717 3.57 72,940 3.83%
Scotland 16,772 1.00 15,455 0.85 16,521 0.87%
Wales 3,008 0.18 2,552 0.14 2,796 0.15%
Republic of Ireland 39,051 2.32 37,833 2.09 40,357 2.12%
Other European Union member countries 10,355 0.61 67,451 3.54%
— Member countries prior to 2004 expansion 9,703 0.54
— Accession countries 2004 onwards 35,704 1.97
Other outside the EU 20,204 1.20 36,046 1.99 57,012 2.99%
Europe 3,689 0.19%
Africa 10,761 0.57%
Middle East and Asia 29,241 1.54%
North, Central America and Caribbean 8,207 0.43%
South America 1,858 0.10%
Oceania and other 3,076 0.16%
Total 1,685,267 100.00 1,810,863 100.00 1,903,173 100%

Below are the 5 largest foreign-born groups in Northern Ireland according to 2014 ONS estimates.[29]

Country of birth Estimated population, 2013 Estimated population, 2014 Estimated population, 2015
Poland 25,000 20,000 18,000
Lithuania 7,000 8,000 13,000
India 8,000 6,000 6,000
Philippines 3,000 4,000 5,000

Emigration

[edit]

Detailed statistic on births are available between 1887 and 2022 in Birth tables [30] and deaths between 1955 and 2022 in Death tables [31]

Using deaths and births between 1955 and 2021, and the number of those from the 2021 census whose country of birth is Northern Ireland, we can estimate emigration for those aged under 66 by subtracting the total of the number of deaths and the number of those born in Northern Ireland who are still living there.

Northern Irish emigration estimates
All ages 18-66 year olds
Births 1955-2021 1,801,552 1,353,624
Deaths 1955-2021 among those born 1955-2021 78,914 76,226
Country of birth is Northern Ireland in 2021 Census, ages 0-66 1,389,081 965,538
Estimated Emigration 333,557 311,860
Estimated Emigration as a percentage of births 18.5% 23.0%

This gives an estimate of 18.5% of all people born since 1955 have emigrated, or 23% of adults aged 18-66. This is an estimate of the minimum amount of emigration, since deaths are not broken down by country of birth, so some of those will not have been born in Northern Ireland. Most deaths occur in the over 50 and currently about 12.5% of those aged 50 and over were born outside Northern Ireland. Adjusting the number of deaths downwards by 12.5%, we can estimate an emigration rate of 18.5 to 19% for all ages, and 23.0% to 23.7% for adults aged 18-66.

Doing the same analysis by age, we see that this is consistent with the actual number of those born in Northern Ireland from the 2021 England/Wales census,[32] where about 40% of emigrants have settled in England or Wales.

  • Emigration from Northern Ireland by Age
  • Births, deaths, and Northern Ireland-born living in Northern Ireland
    Births, deaths, and Northern Ireland-born living in Northern Ireland
  • Estimated emigration as percentage of births, compared to Northern Ireland-born living in England as a percentage of births
    Estimated emigration as percentage of births, compared to Northern Ireland-born living in England as a percentage of births

Below are the numbers of Northern Ireland born living outside Northern Ireland from the most recent censuses for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Northern Irish emigration to other countries
0-17 year olds 18-34 year olds 34-65 year olds 65+ year olds Total
England[32] 5,730 37,193 87, 245 60,362 190, 534
Scotland[33] 1,354 10,061 18,029 7,817 37,260
Wales[32] 273 1,541 3,471 2,521 7,806
Total UK 7,357 48,795 108,745 70,700 235,600
Ireland[34] 61,750
Australia[35] 3,293 10,244 9,450 22,995
New Zealand[36] 4,806
Total 325,151

Numbers for other countries are not available for the individual countries that make up the UK, so it's not possible to determine the number living in the US, Canada, or the EU (excluding Ireland).

Ethnicity

[edit]
  • Northern Ireland ethnic demography
  • Ethnic demography of Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2021
    Ethnic demography of Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2021
  • Population pyramid of Northern Ireland by ethnicity in 2021
    Population pyramid of Northern Ireland by ethnicity in 2021

The following table shows the ethnic group of respondents for the following censuses

Ethnic group 2001[37][38] 2011[39][40] 2021[41][42]
Number % Number % Number %
White: Total 1,672,698 99.25% 1,779,750

98.28%

1,841,713 96.77%
White 1,670,988 99.15% 1,778,449 98.21% – –
White: British/Irish/Northern Irish only (national identity) and Christian/no religion/religion not stated (religion) – – – – 1,749,970 91.9%
White: Other – – – – 87,607 4.6%
White: Irish Traveller/White Gypsy 1,710 0.10% 1,301 0.07% 2,609 0.14%
White: Roma – – – – 1,529 0.08%
Asian or Asian British: Total 6,824 0.40% 19,130 1.06% 30,667 1.61%
Asian/Asian British: Indian 1,567 0.09% 6,198 0.34% 9,881 0.52%
Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 668 0.04% 1,091 0.06% 1,596 0.08%
Asian/Asian British: Bangladeshi 252 0.01% 540 0.03% 710 0.04%
Asian/Asian British: Chinese 4,145 0.25% 6,303 0.35% 9,495 0.50%
Asian/Asian British: Filipino[a] 2,053 0.11% 4,451 0.23%
Asian/Asian British: Other Asian 194 0.01% 2,671 0.15% 4,534 0.24%
Black or Black British: Total 1,136 0.07% 3,616 0.20% 11,032 0.58%
Black or Black British: Caribbean 255 0.02% 372 0.02% – –
Black or Black British: African 494 0.03% 2,345 0.13% 8,069 0.42%
Black or Black British: Other 387 0.02% 899 0.05% 2,963 0.16%
Mixed: Total 3,319 0.20% 6,014 0.33% 14,382 0.76%
Other: Any other ethnic group:Total 1,290 0.08% 2,353

0.13%

5,385 0.29%
Other: Arab[b] – – 274 0.02% 1,817 0.10%
Other: Any other ethnic group – – – – 3,568 0.19%
Total 1,685,267 100% 1,810,863 100% 1,903,179 100%
  • Population pyramids of ethnic groups within Northern Ireland in 2021
  • White
    White
  • White British and Irish
    White British and Irish
  • White Other
    White Other
  • Ethnic minorities
    Ethnic minorities
  • Mixed
    Mixed

Languages spoken

[edit]
Main article: Languages of Northern Ireland

English is by far the most commonly spoken language in Northern Ireland. Two regional languages of Northern Ireland, Irish and Ulster Scots, are protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Several other languages are spoken by immigrants to Northern Ireland, the most common of which is Polish.

A question about knowledge of Irish was reintroduced to the census in 1991, for the first time since 1911. In 2011, the census question was modified to ask about Ulster Scots alongside Irish.[43]

  • Foreign languages. Map showing the percentage of people whose main language was other than English or Irish (Gaeilge) in the 2021 census. Those stating Ulster Scots as their main language were negligible in number and not analysed geographically by NISRA.
    Foreign languages. Map showing the percentage of people whose main language was other than English or Irish (Gaeilge) in the 2021 census. Those stating Ulster Scots as their main language were negligible in number and not analysed geographically by NISRA.
  • Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Irish in the 2021 census
    Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Irish in the 2021 census
  • Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Ulster Scots in the 2021 census
    Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Ulster Scots in the 2021 census

Main language of all usual residents aged 3 and over

Main language 2011[44] 2021[45]
Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion
English 1,681,171 96.86% 1,751,510 95.37%
Polish 17,731 1.02% 20,134 1.10%
Lithuanian 6,250 0.36% 8,978 0.49%
Irish 4,164 0.24% 5,969 0.32%
Portuguese 2,293 0.13% 4,982 0.27%
Slovak 2,257 0.13% 2,333 0.13%
Chinese 2,214 0.13% 3,329 0.18%
Tagalog/Filipino 1,895 0.11% 1,339 0.07%
Latvian 1,273 0.07% 1,700 0.09%
Russian 1,191 0.07% 1,605 0.09%
Hungarian 1,008 0.06% 2,172 0.12%
Other 13,090 0.75% 28,293 1.5%
Total 1,836,616 100%

Ability in Irish of all usual residents aged 3 and over in the Census[46][47]

Ability in Irish 2001[48] 2011[49] 2021[45]
Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion
Understands spoken Irish, but cannot speak, read, or write 36,479 2.25% 70,501 4.06% 90,801 4.94%
Can speak but cannot read or write Irish 24,536 1.52% 24,677 1.43% 37,497 2.04%
Can speak and read but cannot write Irish 7,183 0.44% 7,414 0.43% 9,683 0.53%
Can speak, read, write, and understand Irish 75,125 4.64% 64,847 3.74% 71,872 3.91%
Other combination of skills 24,167 1.49% 17,459 1.01% 18,764 1.02%
Has some knowledge of Irish 167,490 10.35% 184,898 10.65% 228,617 12.45%

Ability in Ulster Scots of all usual residents aged 3 and over in the Census[50]

Ability in Ulster Scots 2011[51] 2021[45]
Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion
Understands spoken Ulster Scots, but cannot speak, read, or write 92,040 5.30% 115,088 6.27%
Can speak but cannot read or write Ulster Scots 10,265 0.59% 26,570 1.45%
Can speak and read but cannot write Ulster Scots 7,801 0.45% 12,297 0.67%
Can speak, read, write, and understand Ulster Scots 16,373 0.94% 20,930 1.14%
Other combination of skills 13,725 0.79% 15,728 0.86%
Has some knowledge of Ulster Scots 140,204 8.08%                    190,613 10.38%

Education

[edit]

Northern Ireland has a highly educated and literate population, particularly among the younger generations.

The following shows the educational attainment, shown by highest qualification received, at different ages for adults, in the 2021 census[52]

  • Highest Qualification received - Level 1 to Level 4
  • Highest qualification received by age
    Highest qualification received by age
  • Female highest qualifications by age
    Female highest qualifications by age
  • Male highest qualifiations received by age
    Male highest qualifiations received by age
  • Apprenticeships and No qualifications
  • Apprenticeships by age
    Apprenticeships by age
  • No qualifications by age
    No qualifications by age

The census defines the levels as follows:

  • Level 1: 1 to 4 GCSEs, O levels, CSEs (any grades); 1 AS Level; NVQ level 1; or equivalent
  • Level 2: 5 or more GCSEs (A*-C or 9-4), O levels (passes) CSEs (grade 1); 1 A level, 2-3 AS Levels; NVQ level 2, BTEC General, City and Guilds Craft; or equivalent
  • Level 3: 2 or more A Levels, 4 or more AS Levels; NVQ Level 3, BTEC National, OND, ONC, City and Guilds Advanced Craft; or equivalent
  • Level 4: Degree (BA, BSc), foundation degree, NVQ Level 4 and above, HND, HNC, professional qualifications (teaching or nursing, for example), or equivalent
  • Other: Other qualifications, equivalent unknown

Younger adults, aged 18-30, are the highest ever qualified group. Just under 50% of that age group who have reached university graduation age (around 23 years old) have achieved a Level 4 or above qualification. This is about 10% higher than those aged 30-40. The number of those without qualifications is the lowest in 18-30 group.

There is a large gender gap with 10% more females than males receiving Level 4 or above qualification. About 55% of women in their 20s have achieved Level 4.

The number of young adults with no qualifications is less than 8%, compared to an overall 23.8%. There has been a decrease in the number of people with apprenticeships from about 20% of males over 70 to only 5% for 20-30 year olds.

Overall educational attainment
Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Apprenticeship Other No Qualifications
Female 35.0% 15.7% 15.0% 6.0% 1.7% 2.7% 23.9%
Male 29.1% 16.2% 12.2% 5.8% 11.3% 1.7% 23.7%
All residents NI 32.1% 16.0% 13.6% 5.9% 6.4% 2.2% 23.8%
All residents England and Wales[53] 34.7% 17.3% 12.3% 9.6% 5.4% 2.8% 17.9%
20-30 year olds NI 41.7% 29.4% 12.2% 3.7% 3.3% 1.2% 8.5%
20-30 year olds England/Wales 40.1% 28.4% 11.7% 6.9% 4.4% 1.5% 7.0%

Past Censuses

[edit]

Questions about the highest academic qualification received has been asked since the 1991 census. The categorization of results has changed since 1991, but each prior census can be mapped to 2021 categories.

Apprenticeships were not tracked as separate categories in 1991 or 2001 and it's not certain whether they were counted as "No Qualifications". About 10% of those over 50 reported holding an apprenticeship in 2021. Currently apprenticeships have a large academic component, and are separated into "Intermediate", "Advanced," and "Higher" apprenticeships, and so are included as academic qualifications.[54]

Mapping the past results to the 2021 categories, we see that the number of people with no qualifications has dropped considerably in each census, whereas the number of people with degrees or equivalent is nearly 4 times larger than in 1991.

Educational attainment in past censuses
Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Apprenticeship Other No Qualifications
1991[55] 8.2% 7.2% 16.2% 3.5% - - 65.0%
2001[56] 15.8% 9.0% 16.4% 17.2% - - 41.6%
2011[57] 23.7% 12.3% 14.9% 11.5% 4.2% 4.3% 29.2%
2021[52] 32.1% 16.0% 13.6% 5.9% 6.4% 2.2% 23.8%

Religion

[edit]
  • Religious Background, in 2021
  • Percentage of population whose Religious Background is Catholic
    Percentage of population whose Religious Background is Catholic
  • Percentage of population whose Religious Background is Protestant
    Percentage of population whose Religious Background is Protestant
  • Percentage of population who profess no religion
    Percentage of population who profess no religion
  • Religious Background from the 2021 census See also: Religion in Northern Ireland and List of districts in Northern Ireland by religion or religion brought up in
    Religious Background from the 2021 census
    See also: Religion in Northern Ireland and List of districts in Northern Ireland by religion or religion brought up in
  • Population pyramid of Northern Ireland by religion brought up in 2021
    Population pyramid of Northern Ireland by religion brought up in 2021
  • Percentage by Religious Background at each age
    Percentage by Religious Background at each age
  • Population by Religious Background at each age
    Population by Religious Background at each age
  • Changes in Religious Background, between 2001 and 2021
  • Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2001.[58] Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 46 out of the 80 Electoral Areas
    Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2001.[58] Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 46 out of the 80 Electoral Areas
  • Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2011.[59] Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 44 out of the 80 Electoral Areas
    Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2011.[59] Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 44 out of the 80 Electoral Areas
  • Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2021.[60] Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 37 out of the 80 Electoral Areas
    Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2021.[60] Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 37 out of the 80 Electoral Areas

For the first century that Northern Ireland existed, the majority or plurality of its population identified with Protestantism, and with its founding, the region was intended to have a permanent Protestant majority.[61] With the 2021 census, Catholics outnumbered Protestants for the first time.

Northern Ireland is geographically polarized by religion. Catholics are concentrated in the west and border areas, and recently in Belfast. Protestants are concentrated in the east, in an east-west band across northern Armagh to northern Down, and north-south from the Antrim coast to north of Belfast. Belfast was once a majority Protestant city but became a Catholic plurality city between the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

The following table shows the religion stated by respondents to the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses.

Religious affiliation in Northern Ireland
Religion stated 2001[62] 2011[63] 2021[64]
Number % Number % Number %
Roman Catholic 678,462 40.2 738,033 40.8 805,151 42.3
Presbyterian Church in Ireland 348,742 20.7 345,101 19.1 316,103 16.6
Church of Ireland 257,788 15.3 248,821 13.7 219,788 11.5
Methodist Church in Ireland 59,173 3.5 54,253 3.0 44,728 2.4
Other Christian 102,221 6.1 104,380 5.8 130,377 6.9
(Total non-Roman Catholic Christian) 767,924 45.6 752,555 41.6 710,996 37.3
(Total Christian) 1,446,386 85.8 1,490,588 82.3 1,516,147 79.6
Other religion 5,028 0.3 14,859 0.8 25,519 1.3
No religion 183,164 10.1 330,983 17.4
Religion not stated 122,252 6.8 30,529 1.6
(No religion and Religion not stated) 233,853 13.9 305,416 16.9 361,512 19.0
Total population 1,685,267 100.0 1,810,863 100.0 1,903,175 100.0

The religious affiliations in the districts of Northern Ireland at the time of the 2011 census were as follows. Note that these boundaries changed in 2015.

District 2001[65] 2011[66] 2021[67]
Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other or none Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other or none Catholic Protestant and other Christian No religion/not stated Other
Antrim 35.2% 47.2% 17.6% 37.5% 43.2% 19.2% 38.1% 39.0% 21.6% 1.3%
Ards 10.4% 68.7% 20.9% 10.9% 65.4% 23.6% 10.9% 58.8% 29.2% 1.1%
Armagh 45.4% 45.5% 9.1% 44.8% 43.0% 12.2% 46.4% 41.1% 11.7% 0.9%
Ballymena 19.0% 67.8% 13.3% 20.4% 63.3% 16.3% 21.3% 58.4% 19.5% 0.7%
Ballymoney 29.5% 59.1% 11.3% 29.6% 56.7% 13.6% 30.0% 53.8% 15.5% 0.6%
Banbridge 28.6% 58.7% 12.7% 29.4% 55.3% 15.3% 31.0% 49.4% 18.6% 0.9%
Belfast 42.1% 40.3% 17.5% 41.9% 34.1% 24.0% 42.5% 29.7% 24.5% 3.3%
Carrickfergus 6.5% 70.4% 23.1% 7.6% 67.2% 25.2% 7.6% 59.5% 31.8% 1.2%
Castlereagh 15.8% 64.9% 19.3% 19.5% 57.3% 23.2% 21.8% 48.4% 28.2% 1.7%
Coleraine 24.1% 60.5% 15.4% 25.0% 56.8% 18.2% 25.3% 52.5% 21.2% 1.0%
Cookstown 55.2% 38.0% 6.8% 55.1% 34.0% 11.0% 58.2% 31.8% 9.6% 0.4%
Craigavon 41.7% 46.7% 11.6% 42.1% 42.1% 15.8% 43.4% 37.7% 17.5% 1.4%
Derry 70.9% 20.8% 8.4% 67.4% 19.4% 13.1% 70.3% 18.0% 10.6% 1.0%
Down 57.1% 29.2% 13.7% 57.5% 27.1% 15.4% 58.4% 24.8% 16.2% 0.6%
Dungannon 57.3% 34.9% 7.7% 58.7% 29.8% 11.5% 62.6% 26.9% 9.9% 0.7%
Fermanagh 55.5% 36.1% 8.4% 54.9% 34.3% 10.8% 55.8% 32.1% 11.2% 0.9%
Larne 22.2% 61.9% 15.9% 21.8% 59.7% 18.5% 21.3% 54.7% 23.3% 0.7%
Limavady 53.1% 36.1% 10.7% 56.0% 34.3% 9.7% 57.5% 31.7% 10.5% 0.3%
Lisburn 30.1% 53.6% 16.4% 32.8% 47.9% 19.3% 35.2% 41.8% 21.6% 1.4%
Magherafelt 61.5% 32.0% 6.5% 62.4% 28.3% 9.3% 65.0% 26.2% 8.1% 0.7%
Moyle 56.6% 33.8% 9.6% 54.4% 32.3% 13.3% 54.3% 32.1% 13.1% 0.5%
Newry and Mourne 75.9% 16.4% 7.7% 72.1% 15.2% 12.7% 75.1% 14.9% 9.3% 0.7%
Newtownabbey 17.1% 64.5% 18.4% 19.9% 57.8% 22.3% 22.1% 51.0% 25.6% 1.4%
North Down 10.0% 64.5% 25.5% 11.2% 60.3% 28.5% 11.6% 52.2% 34.9% 1.4%
Omagh 65.1% 26.3% 8.6% 65.4% 24.8% 9.8% 67.7% 22.9% 8.8% 0.7%
Strabane 63.1% 30.9% 6.0% 60.1% 30.7% 9.2% 63.0% 29.5% 7.0% 0.5%

"Religion" vs "Religion or Religion Raised In" (Religious Background)

[edit]
Religion and Religion Raised in by age

The census included two questions related to religion: what religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to? and what religion, religious denomination or body were you brought up in?

This produced two sets of results, where the "current religion" is in all cases less than the "religion brought up in"

The difference between the two measurements is higher for Protestants than for Catholics, and is higher among younger people.

Geographically, using Religion instead of Religious Background doesn't change the areas where Catholic outnumber Protestants, or vice versa, but results in some regions where a majority turns into a plurality.

  • 'Religion' vs 'Religion or Religion Raised In' mapped by DEA
  • Religious plurality or majority based on "religion belong to"[68]
    Religious plurality or majority based on "religion belong to"[68]
  • Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2021.
    Religious Background in each Electoral Area 2021.

National identity

[edit]
  • National Identity
  • Map of predominant national identity in the 2021 census in Northern Ireland
    Map of predominant national identity in the 2021 census in Northern Ireland
  • Predominant National Identity by District Electoral Area (DEA)[69]
    Predominant National Identity by District Electoral Area (DEA)[69]
  • Most commonly selected National Identity in 2011 census, based on 2011 Census "Small Areas". Combinations that include both British and Irish are excluded. "Other" consists of National Identity responses that don't include Irish, British, or Northern Irish in any combination.
    Most commonly selected National Identity in 2011 census, based on 2011 Census "Small Areas". Combinations that include both British and Irish are excluded. "Other" consists of National Identity responses that don't include Irish, British, or Northern Irish in any combination.
  • Most commonly selected National Identity in 2021 census, based on 2021 Census "Data Zones" so can't be directly compared to 2011[70]
    Most commonly selected National Identity in 2021 census, based on 2021 Census "Data Zones" so can't be directly compared to 2011[70]

In Northern Ireland national identity is complex. Many in Northern Ireland have a British national identity and view the English, Scots and Welsh as fellow members of their common nation while regarding people from the Republic of Ireland as foreigners. Many others in Northern Ireland view people from the Republic of Ireland as being members of their common nation encompassing the island of Ireland and regard the English, Scots and Welsh as foreigners. Co-existing with this dichotomy is a Northern Irish identity, which can be held alone or, as is also the case with Englishness, Scottishness and Welshness, alongside a British identity, or alongside an Irish identity. A small number of people see themselves as being both British and Irish.

In the 2021 census respondents gave their national identity as follows.

2021 Census [71]
National identity Respondents
British only
606,264(31.86%)
Irish only
554,415(29.13%)
Northern Irish only
376,444(19.78%)
British and Northern Irish
151,328(7.95%)
Irish and Northern Irish
33,580(1.76%)
Other British, Irish, and/or Northern Irish
39,817(2.09%)
English, Scottish, or Welsh
40,697(2.14%)
Other
100,624(5.29%)
  • Identity in Northern Ireland in 2021 by population pyramid
  • British only identity
    British only identity
  • Irish only identity
    Irish only identity
  • Northern Irish only identity
    Northern Irish only identity

National Identity and Religion

[edit]

National Identity by Religions breaks down as follows.[72] All tables, maps, and graphs in this section use "Religion or Religion brought up in" from the census.

Catholic Protestant Other No Religion All Residents
British only 6.6% 57.8% 29.3% 35.5% 31.9%
British and Northern Irish only 0.8% 15.4% 3.9% 9.0% 8.0%
Irish only 60.0% 2.0% 8.8% 7.6% 29.1%
Irish and Northern Irish only 3.1% 0.4% 1.0% 1.5% 1.8%
Northern Irish only 20.9% 17.7% 9.9% 25.6% 19.8%
British and Irish only 0.7% 0.5% 1.1% 0.6% 0.6%
British, Irish and Northern Irish only 0.9% 1.9% 1.5% 2.3% 1.5%
Other 7.0% 4.4% 44.7% 18.0% 7.4%
British only plus British and Northern Irish only 7.4% 73.1% 33.2% 44.5% 39.9%
Irish only plus Irish and Northern Irish only 63.1% 2.4% 9.7% 9.0% 30.9%
Other combinations of British, Irish and Northern Irish 1.6% 2.4% 2.6% 2.9% 2.1%
Any choice that includes British 9.0% 75.5% 35.8% 47.4% 42.0%
Any choice that includes Irish 64.7% 4.8% 12.3% 11.9% 33.0%
Areas where less than 50% Catholics identify as Irish (green) and less than 50% Protestants identify as British (red)

Although there is a strong correlation between religion and national identity, Catholics tending to identify as Irish and Protestants tending to identify as British, this is not an absolute relationship, and the correlation is weaker amongst Catholics than it is amongst Protestants. Amongst Catholics, geography also plays an important role, with Catholics in heavily Protestant parts of Northern Ireland being more likely to call themselves British and less likely to call themselves Irish than Catholics in more Catholic areas of Northern Ireland. The reverse is true for Protestants, but to a lesser extent. However, the actual numbers are low for both those Protestants identifying as Irish and Catholics identifying as British, since it happens in areas where the respective religion is proportionally low.

In the 2021 census, Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 37 DEAs, down from 44 in 2011, while those considering themselves British outnumbered those who considered themselves Irish in 45 DEAs, down from 58 in 2011.

The majority of areas being British, despite the majority of areas being Catholic, is partly because Catholics were more likely to see themselves as British than Protestants were to see themselves as Irish (however this changed significantly between 2011 and 2021 - 9% vs. 4.8% respectively – in 2011 it was 13% vs 4% respectively), but is also partly because those of no religion were more likely to see themselves as British as see themselves as Irish. The non-religious tend to live in Protestant areas, suggesting that they are mostly of Protestant descent. In 2021, 47% of those professing no religion considered themselves British, while 12% considered themselves Irish. Members of the immigrant population, which includes many Poles, are also more likely to consider themselves Catholic.

Northern Irish identity was slightly more likely amongst Catholics than amongst Protestants, and it varied little according to geography.

  • Protestant National Identity
  • Percentage of Protestants identifying as British
    Percentage of Protestants identifying as British
  • Percentage of Protestants identifying as Irish
    Percentage of Protestants identifying as Irish
  • Percentage of Protestants identifying as Northern Irish
    Percentage of Protestants identifying as Northern Irish
  • Catholic National Identity
  • Percentage of Catholics identifying as British
    Percentage of Catholics identifying as British
  • Percentage of Catholics identifying as Irish
    Percentage of Catholics identifying as Irish
  • Percentage of Catholics identifying as Northern Irish
    Percentage of Catholics identifying as Northern Irish
  • No Religion National Identity
  • Percentage of professing no religion identifying as British
    Percentage of professing no religion identifying as British
  • Percentage of those professing no religion identifying as Irish
    Percentage of those professing no religion identifying as Irish
  • Percentage of those professing no religion identifying as Northern Irish
    Percentage of those professing no religion identifying as Northern Irish

Changes from 2011 to 2021

[edit]
  • National Identity between 2011 and 2021
  • National Identity in Northern Ireland by Electoral Area 2011. British outnumbered Irish in 58 out of the 80 Electoral Areas.[73] British is total of British Only plus British and Northern Irish, Irish is total of Irish Only plus Irish and Northern Irish
    National Identity in Northern Ireland by Electoral Area 2011. British outnumbered Irish in 58 out of the 80 Electoral Areas.[73] British is total of British Only plus British and Northern Irish, Irish is total of Irish Only plus Irish and Northern Irish
  • National Identity in Northern Ireland by Electoral Area 2021. British outnumbered Irish in 45 out of the 80 Electoral Areas[74]
    National Identity in Northern Ireland by Electoral Area 2021. British outnumbered Irish in 45 out of the 80 Electoral Areas[74]
  • Swing from British to Irish identity by DEA (2014) from 2011 to 2021 censuses
    Swing from British to Irish identity by DEA (2014) from 2011 to 2021 censuses
  • National identity by age in 2011 (solid line) and 2021 (dotted line) showing a narrowing in the gap from 2011[75][76]
    National identity by age in 2011 (solid line) and 2021 (dotted line) showing a narrowing in the gap from 2011[75][76]

The following metrics account for over 90% of the population in both 2011 and 2021. National Identity showed a large shift from British to Irish of 10% between 2011 and 2021.

2011 2021 Change
British Only 39.9% 31.9% -8.0%
British And Northern Irish 6.2% 8.0% +1.8%
Irish Only 25.3% 29.1% +3.9%
Irish And Northern Irish 1.1% 1.8% +0.7%
Northern Irish Only 20.9% 19.8% -1.1%

All DEAs showed an increase in Irish National Identity relative to British, with the lowest increase (3%) in the Court DEA, and the largest increase (22%) in the Castlereagh South DEA. Generally the largest increases were in the east, in and around Belfast.

Between 2011 and 2021, Catholics seeing themselves as British fell from 13% to 9%, while Protestants seeing themselves as Irish increased from 4% to 4.8%.

The shift from British to Irish can be seen from the plot comparing the age groups from the 2011 census with the same age cohort in the 2021 census. There was a swing towards Irish across all age cohorts, but it was 12-13% among younger adults (under 35 in 2021), approximately 2-6% among 35-64 (in 2021) year olds, and a much smaller 0.8% in the oldest age cohort.

  • Age cohort changes between 2011 and 2021
  • National Identity in 2011 and 2021, by same age cohort. For example, those in the 16-24 age group in 2011 are compared to the 26-34 age group in 2021[77]
    National Identity in 2011 and 2021, by same age cohort. For example, those in the 16-24 age group in 2011 are compared to the 26-34 age group in 2021[77]
  • Swing from British to Irish by age cohort.
    Swing from British to Irish by age cohort.

Passports held

[edit]
  • Passports held. Red is British and green is Irish.
  • The most commonly held passport according to the 2011 census. 1,070,413 British and 375,826 Irish passports were held.[78]
    The most commonly held passport according to the 2011 census. 1,070,413 British and 375,826 Irish passports were held.[78]
  • The most commonly held passport according to the 2021 census. 1,000,207 British and 614,251 Irish passports were held.[79]
    The most commonly held passport according to the 2021 census. 1,000,207 British and 614,251 Irish passports were held.[79]

People born in Northern Ireland have automatic British citizenship on the same basis and with the same provisions as those born elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Despite the Irish Government's withdrawal of its constitutional claim to Northern Ireland in 1999, those born in Northern Ireland are entitled to Irish citizenship, should they so choose. Because of this entitlement most people in Northern Ireland are able to get both a British passport and an Irish Passport. Through an agreement between the Irish Government and Post Office Ltd, post offices in Northern Ireland provide a service where customers can apply for an Irish passport, alongside their service where customers can apply for a British passport.

Significantly more Irish passports (+11.4%) and fewer British passports (-6.5%) were held in 2021 compared to 2011. Catholics in particular gave up their British passports (-10.9%) and now hold Irish passports (+16.7%), but there was also a small drop in the percentage of Protestants with British passports (-0.4%) and large increase in Protestants with Irish passports (+6.5%). Similarly "Other" and "No religion" British passport holders fell by 8.3% and 4.9% respectively, and Irish passport holder increased by 5.6% and 6.9% respectively.

In the 2021 census, respondents stated that they held the following passports,[80] compared to 2011.[81][82]

Passport All usual residents Religion or religion brought up in
Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Religions None
2021 Change 2021 Change 2021 Change 2021 Change 2021 Change
No passport 15.9% -3.0 % 15.1% -4.1% 16.0% -2.5% 12.5% -6.0% 19.6% -0.6%
EU/EEA Countries 83.0% +0.9% 84.3% +1.9% 83.5% +1.1% 64.8% -4.5% 77.6% -0.8%
United Kingdom 52.6% -6.5% 27.5% -10.9% 77.4% -0.4% 47.7% -8.3% 60.3% -4.9%
Ireland 32.3% +11.4% 57.2% +16.7% 10.6% +6.5% 15.6% +5.6% 14.1% +6.9%
Poland 1.3% +0.3% 2.4% 0.4% 0.1% 0.0% 0.7% +0.1% 0.9% 0.0%
Lithuania 0.6% +0.2% 1.0% +0.3% 0.1% +0.1% 0.4% +0.2% 1.2% +0.4%
Other EU/EEA 1.9% +1.1% 1.5% +0.6% 1.3% +0.9% 5.5% +3.1% 5.7% +1.5%
Other 1.1% -0.1% 0.5% -0.4% 0.6% -0.1% 22.7% -3.3% 2.8% -0.7%

The following table shows the number of passport applications from within Northern Ireland since the 2021 census. 2024 numbers are up to 26 August 2024, and are not yet available broken down into first time or renewals.

In 2022, 34.8% of Irish passport applications were first time applications. In 2023 this rose to 38.2% of applications.

Irish passport applications from Northern Ireland
Year First time applications Renewals Total
2021[83] 56,700
2022[84] 32,719 61,423 94,142
2023[85] 33,849 54,858 88,707
2024[86] 78,799

Age

[edit]
Population pyramid from 1971 to projections to 2050

According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Authority the average (median) age increased from 34 years to 37 years between the 2001 and 2011 censuses. Over the same period, the share of the population represented by children aged under 16 years fell from 24 per cent to 21 per cent, while the proportion of people aged 65 years and over rose from 13 per cent to 15 per cent.[87]

  • Population pyramids of each of Northern Ireland's Local Government Districts
  • Ards and North Down
    Ards and North Down
  • Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
  • Antrim and Newtownabbey
    Antrim and Newtownabbey
  • Belfast
    Belfast
  • Causeway Coast and Glens
    Causeway Coast and Glens
  • Derry City and Strabane
    Derry City and Strabane
  • Fermanagh and Omagh
    Fermanagh and Omagh
  • Mid and East Antrim
    Mid and East Antrim
  • Mid Ulster
    Mid Ulster
  • Newry, Mourne and Down
    Newry, Mourne and Down
  • Lisburn and Castlereagh
    Lisburn and Castlereagh

Vital statistics since 1900

[edit]
Average population [88][89][90][91] Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate
1901 30,782 23,954 6,828
1902 30,707 23,171 7,536
1903 31,290 23,096 8,194
1904 31,550 23,536 8,014
1905 31,405 22,949 8,456
1906 31,389 23,039 8,350
1907 30,969 23,754 7,215
1908 30,600 23,133 7,467
1909 30,640 22,275 8,365
1910 1,246,000 30,219 22,576 7,643 24.3 18.1 6.1
1911 1,249,000 30,407 21,326 9,081 24.3 17.1 7.3
1912 1,248,000 30,301 21,698 8,603 24.3 17.4 6.9
1913 1,243,000 29,880 22,510 7,370 24.0 18.1 5.9
1914 1,242,000 29,704 21,671 8,033 23.9 17.4 6.5
1915 1,210,000 28,082 22,438 5,644 23.2 18.5 4.7
1916 1,205,000 26,623 20,764 5,859 22.1 17.2 4.9
1917 1,208,000 24,949 21,011 3,938 20.7 17.4 3.3
1918 1,214,000 26,212 25,013 1,199 21.6 20.6 1.0
1919 1,250,000 27,496 22,836 4,660 22.0 18.2 3.8
1920 1,258,000 32,521 21,017 11,504 25.8 16.7 9.1
1921 1,264,000 29,710 19,301 10,409 23.7 15.4 8.3
1922 1,269,000 29,531 19,795 9,736 23.2 15.6 7.6
1923 1,259,000 30,097 18,790 11,307 23.9 14.9 9.1
1924 1,258,000 28,496 20,299 8,197 22.7 16.1 6.5
1925 1,257,000 27,686 19,784 7,902 22.0 15.8 6.3
1926 1,254,000 28,162 18,827 9,335 22.5 15.1 7.4
1927 1,250,000 26,676 18,216 8,460 21.4 14.6 6.8
1928 1,247,000 25,963 18,004 7,959 20.9 14.4 6.4
1929 1,240,000 25,410 19,822 5,588 20.5 16.0 4.4
1930 1,237,000 25,879 17,148 8,731 20.9 13.9 7.0
1931 1,243,000 25,673 18,049 7,624 20.7 14.5 6.2
1932 1,251,000 25,107 17,812 7,295 20.1 14.2 5.8
1933 1,258,000 24,601 18,154 6,447 19.6 14.5 5.1
1934 1,265,000 25,365 17,521 7,844 20.1 13.9 6.2
1935 1,271,000 24,742 18,592 6,150 19.5 14.6 4.8
1936 1,276,000 25,909 18,429 7,480 20.3 14.4 5.9
1937 1,281,000 25,412 19,282 6,130 19.8 15.1 4.8
1938 1,286,000 25,742 17,649 8,093 20.0 13.7 6.3
1939 1,295,000 25,240 17,542 7,698 19.5 13.5 5.9
1940 1,299,000 25,363 18,941 6,422 19.5 14.6 4.9
1941 1,308,000 26,887 20,034 6,853 20.6 15.3 5.2
1942 1,329,000 29,645 17,570 12,075 22.3 13.2 9.1
1943 1,341,000 31,521 17,720 13,801 23.5 13.2 10.3
1944 1,357,000 30,900 16,980 13,920 22.8 12.5 10.3
1945 1,359,000 29,007 16,432 12,575 21.3 12.1 9.3
1946 1,350,000 30,134 16,706 13,428 22.3 12.4 9.9
1947 1,350,000 31,254 16,944 14,310 23.2 12.6 10.6
1948 1,362,000 29,532 15,145 14,387 21.7 11.1 10.6
1949 1,371,000 29,106 15,670 13,436 21.2 11.4 9.8
1950 1,377,000 28,794 15,839 12,955 20.9 11.5 9.4
1951 1,373,000 28,477 17,628 10,849 20.7 12.8 7.9
1952 1,375,000 28,760 14,812 13,948 20.9 10.8 10.1
1953 1,384,000 28,984 14,813 14,171 20.9 10.7 10.2
1954 1,387,000 28,803 15,124 13,679 20.8 10.9 9.9
1955 1,394,000 28,965 15,407 13,558 20.8 11.1 9.7
1956 1,397,000 29,489 14,858 14,631 21.1 10.6 10.5
1957 1,399,000 30,108 15,187 14,921 21.5 10.9 10.7
1958 1,402,000 30,301 15,132 15,169 21.6 10.8 10.8
1959 1,408,000 30,809 15,403 15,406 21.9 10.9 10.9
1960 1,420,000 31,989 15,296 16,693 22.5 10.8 11.8
1961 1,427,000 31,915 16,108 15,807 22.4 11.3 11.1
1962 1,435,000 32,565 15,226 17,339 22.7 10.6 12.1
1963 1,446,000 33,414 15,899 17,515 23.1 11.0 12.1
1964 1,458,000 34,345 15,354 18,991 23.6 10.5 13.0
1965 1,469,000 33,890 15,551 18,339 23.1 10.6 12.5
1966 1,478,000 33,228 16,441 16,787 22.5 11.1 11.4
1967 1,491,000 33,415 14,671 18,744 22.4 9.8 12.6
1968 1,502,000 33,173 15,933 17,240 22.1 10.6 11.5
1969 1,513,000 32,428 16,338 16,090 21.4 10.8 10.6
1970 1,525,000 32,086 16,551 15,535 21.0 10.9 10.2
1971 1,540,000 31,765 16,202 15,563 20.6 10.5 10.1
1972 1,539,000 29,994 17,032 12,962 19.5 11.1 8.4
1973 1,530,000 29,200 17,669 11,531 19.1 11.5 7.5
1974 1,527,000 27,160 17,327 9,833 17.8 11.3 6.4
1975 1,524,000 26,130 16,511 9,619 17.2 10.8 6.4
1976 1,524,000 26,361 17,030 9,331 17.3 11.2 6.1
1977 1,523,000 25,437 16,921 8,516 16.7 11.1 5.6
1978 1,523,000 26,239 16,153 10,086 17.2 10.6 6.6
1979 1,528,000 28,178 16,811 11,367 18.4 11.0 7.4
1980 1,533,000 28,582 16,835 11,747 18.6 11.0 7.7
1981 1,543,000 27,166 16,256 10,910 17.6 10.5 7.1 2.79
1982 1,545,000 26,872 15,918 10,954 17.4 10.3 7.1 2.59
1983 1,551,000 27,026 16,039 10,987 17.4 10.3 7.1 2.53
1984 1,557,000 27,477 15,692 11,785 17.6 10.1 7.5 2.51
1985 1,565,000 27,427 15,955 11,472 17.5 10.2 7.3 2.50
1986 1,574,000 27,975 16,065 11,910 17.8 10.2 7.6 2.45
1987 1,582,000 27,653 15,334 12,319 17.5 9.7 7.8 2.44
1988 1,585,000 27,514 15,813 11,701 17.4 10.0 7.4 2.39
1989 1,590,000 25,831 15,844 9,987 16.2 10.0 6.2 2.35
1990 1,596,000 26,251 15,426 10,825 16.5 9.7 6.8 2.19
1991 1,607,000 26,028 15,096 10,932 16.2 9.4 6.9 2.21
1992 1,623,000 25,354 14,988 10,366 15.6 9.2 6.4 2.16
1993 1,636,000 24,722 15,633 9,089 15.1 9.6 5.5 2.08
1994 1,644,000 24,098 15,114 8,984 14.7 9.2 5.5 2.01
1995 1,649,000 23,693 15,310 8,383 14.4 9.3 5.1 1.95
1996 1,662,000 24,382 15,218 9,164 14.7 9.2 5.5 1.91
1997 1,671,000 24,087 14,971 9,116 14.4 9.0 5.4 1.95
1998 1,678,000 23,668 14,993 8,675 14.1 8.9 5.2 1.93
1999 1,679,000 22,957 15,663 7,294 13.7 9.3 4.3 1.90
2000 1,683,000 21,512 14,903 6,609 12.8 8.9 3.9 1.86
2001 1,689,000 21,962 14,513 7,449 13.0 8.6 4.4 1.75
2002 1,697,000 21,385 14,586 6,799 12.6 8.6 4.0 1.81
2003 1,703,000 21,648 14,462 7,186 12.7 8.5 4.2 1.76
2004 1,710,000 22,318 14,354 7,964 13.0 8.4 4.7 1.79
2005 1,724,000 22,328 14,224 8,104 12.9 8.2 4.7 1.84
2006 1,742,000 23,272 14,532 8,740 13.4 8.3 5.0 1.84
2007 1,759,000 24,451 14,649 9,802 13.9 8.3 5.6 1.90
2008 1,775,000 25,631 14,907 10,724 14.4 8.4 6.0 1.98
2009 1,789,000 24,910 14,413 10,497 13.9 8.1 5.8 2.05
2010 1,799,000 25,315 14,457 10,858 14.1 8.0 6.1 2.02
2011 1,809,000 25,273 14,204 11,069 14.0 7.8 6.2 2.02
2012 1,820,000 25,269 14,756 10,513 14.0 8.1 5.9 2.03
2013 1,830,000 24,277 14,968 9,309 13.3 8.2 5.1 1.95
2014 1,840,000 24,394 14,678 9,716 13.3 8.0 5.3 1.96
2015 1,851,000 24,215 15,553 8,662 13.1 8.4 4.7 1.94
2016 1,862,000 24,076 15,430 8,646 12.9 8.3 4.6 1.93
2017 1,871,000 23,075 16,036 7,039 12.3 8.6 3.7 1.85
2018 1,882,000 22,829 15,923 6,906 12.1 8.5 3.6 1.83
2019 1,893,700 22,447 15,758 6,689 11.9 8.3 3.6 1.80
2020 1,896,000 20,815 17,614 3,201 11.0 9.3 1.7 1.68
2021 1,903,175 22,071 17,558 4,513 11.6 9.2 2.4 1.79
2022 1,910,500 20,837 17,159 3,678 10.9 9.0 1.9 1.71
2023 1,920,400 19,977 17,254 2,723 10.4 9.0 1.4

Current vital statistics

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[92][93]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January–September 2023 15,200 12,843 +2,357
January–September 2024 14,825 13,516 +1,309
Difference Decrease -375 (-2.46%) Negative increase +673 (+5.24%) Decrease -1,048

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ New category for the 2021 census
  2. ^ Categorised within 'Other Asian' in the 2011 census

References

[edit]
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Further reading

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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Demographics_of_Northern_Ireland&oldid=1259140961"