Demographics of Northern Ireland | |
---|---|
Population | 1,903,175 (2021 census) |
Density | 133 per km2 |
Life expectancy | |
• male | 78.4 years[1] |
• female | 82.3 years |
Age structure | |
0–14 years | 19% |
15–64 years | 64% |
65 and over | 17% |
Nationality | |
Major ethnic | White 97% |
Minor ethnic | other ethnic groups 3% |
Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four components 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.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
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% |
Note: 1981 and 1991 data[11]
Data for years prior to 1926 are from the Census of Ireland, for those counties that became Northern Ireland in 1920. 2019 estimates[12] |
Cities and towns by population[13] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Settlement | Population | Metro
population |
|||
1 | Belfast | 334,420 | 671,559 | |||
2 | Derry | 84,750 | 237,000 | |||
3 | Lisburn [14] | 71,403 | ||||
4 | Greater Craigavon | 68,890 | ||||
5 | Newtownabbey [14] | 66,120 | ||||
6 | Bangor [14] | 62,650 | ||||
7 | Ballymena | 30,590 | ||||
8 | Newtownards | 28,860 | ||||
9 | Newry | 28,080 | ||||
10 | Carrickfergus [14] | 27,640 |
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.[15]
Place of Birth | 2001[16] | 2011[17] | 2021[18] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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.[19]
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 |
The following table shows the ethnic group of respondents for the following censuses
Ethnic group | 2001[20][21] | 2011[22][23] | 2021[24][25] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
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.[26]
Main language of all usual residents aged 3 and over
Main language | 2011[27] | 2021[28] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
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[29][30]
Ability in Irish | 2001[31] | 2011[32] | 2021[28] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[33]
Ability in Ulster Scots | 2011[34] | 2021[28] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
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[35]
The census defines the levels as follows:
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.
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[36] | 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% |
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.[40] 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.
Religion stated | 2001[41] | 2011[42] | 2021[43] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[44] | 2011[45] | 2021[46] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
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 Religion raised in doesn't change the areas where Catholic outnumber Protestants, or vice versa, but results in some regions where a majority turns into a plurality.
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.
National identity | Respondents |
---|---|
British only | |
Irish only | |
Northern Irish only | |
British and Northern Irish | |
Irish and Northern Irish | |
Other British, Irish, and/or Northern Irish | |
English, Scottish, or Welsh | |
Other |
National Identity by Religions breaks down as follows.[52] 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% |
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.
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.
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,[60] compared to 2011.[61][62]
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.
Year | First time applications | Renewals | Total |
---|---|---|---|
2021[63] | 56,700 | ||
2022[64] | 32,719 | 61,423 | 94,142 |
2023[65] | 33,849 | 54,858 | 88,707 |
2024[66] | 78,799 |
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.[67]
Average population [68][69][70][71] | 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 | 19,977 | 17,254 | 2,723 |
Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
---|---|---|---|
January–August 2023 | 13,350 | 11,462 | +1,888 |
January–August 2024 | 13,143 | 12,241 | +902 |
Difference | -207 (-1.55%) | +779 (+6.80%) | -986 |
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