Demography of Northern Ireland

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Map of population density in Northern Ireland according to the 2011 census

Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four countries 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. The island of Ireland consists of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state independent of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland contains 28.3% of the total population and 16.5% of the total area of the island of Ireland.

Northern Ireland, as recorded by the UK Census 2011, has a population of 1,810,863, an increase of 125,800 (7.5%) over the ten-year period since the last census.[1] The population density is 133 people per km2, about half that of the United Kingdom as a whole but about twice that of the Republic.[2] The Belfast metropolitan area dominates in population terms, with over a third of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland.

Unlike most of the Republic, Northern Ireland has a large proportion of Protestants and its people speak dialects of English heavily influenced by the Scots language, largely because of the 17th century Ulster Plantation. Also unlike the Republic, a large proportion of people in Northern Ireland have a British national identity. Many people in Northern Ireland have a Northern Irish national identity, whether in addition to a British or Irish identity or by itself.

Historic population trends[edit]

Population history of northern ireland.png
Population census
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%
2015 1,850,394 +2.2%
Note: 1981, 1991 and 2015 data based on estimates[3]
Source: [4]

Place of birth[edit]

Map showing the percentage of the population born outside Northern Ireland according to the 2011 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 2011, the number of immigrants from outside the UK and Ireland had risen to 4.3%, while the number born within them fell to 6.7%. The highest number of non-British/non-Irish immigrants are in Belfast, followed by Craigavon Urban Area and Dungannon. Dungannon has a bigger share of immigrants than any town in Northern Ireland, while Strabane has the smallest share of these immigrants.[5]

Place of Birth 2001 population[6] 2001% 2011 population[7] 2011%
Northern Ireland: 1,534,268 91.04 1,608,853 88.84
England: 61,609 3.66 64,717 3.57
Scotland: 16,772 1.00 15,455 0.85
Wales: 3,008 0.18 2,552 0.14
Republic of Ireland: 39,051 2.32 37,833 2.09
Member States of the EU: 10,355 0.61
Member States of the EU joined prior to 2004 9,703 0.54
Member States of the EU joined after 2004 35,704 1.97
Other Outside the EU: 20,204 1.20 36,046 1.99
Total 1,685,267 100.00 1,810,863 100.00

Age bands broken down by place of birth in the 2011 census.[8]

Place of birth All ages 0 to 15 16 to 34 35 to 64 65 and over
Northern Ireland 88.8% 93.7% 86.3% 87.4% 90.2%
England 3.6% 2.0% 3.4% 4.7% 3.1%
Scotland 0.9% 0.4% 0.7% 1.1% 1.1%
Wales 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% 0.2%
Republic of Ireland 2.1% 0.6% 1.6% 2.4% 4.3%
Other EU: Member countries prior to 2004 expansion 0.5% 0.3% 0.8% 0.6% 0.2%
Other EU: Accession countries 2004 onwards 2.0% 1.5% 4.3% 1.4% 0.1%
Other 2.0% 1.4% 2.7% 2.3% 0.8%

Ethnicity[edit]

The following table shows the ethnic group of respondents in the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

Map showing the percentage of the population who are not white according to the 2011 census.
Ethnic group 2001 population[9] 2001% 2011 population[10] 2011%
White: 1,670,988 99.15 1,778,449 98.21
White: Irish Traveller/White Gypsy 1,710 0.10 1,301 0.07
White: Total 1,672,698 99.25 1,779,750

98.28
Asian or Asian British: Indian 1,567 0.09 6,198 0.34
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 668 0.04 1,091 0.06
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 252 0.01 540 0.03
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 4,145 0.25 6,303 0.35
Asian or Asian British: Asian Other 194 0.01 4,998 0.28
Asian or Asian British: Total 6,824 0.40 19,130 1.06
Black or Black British: Caribbean 255 0.02 372 0.02
Black or Black British: African 494 0.03 2,345 0.13
Black or Black British: Other 387 0.02 899 0.05
Black or Black British: Total 1,136 0.07 3,616

0.20
Mixed: Total 3,319 0.20 6,014 0.33
Other: Any other ethnic group:Total 1,290 0.08 2,353

0.13
Total 1,685,267 100 1,810,863 100

See also Ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland

Languages spoken[edit]

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 amongst immigrants to Northern Ireland.

Foreign languages. Map showing the percentage of people whose main language was other than English or Irish (Gaelic) in the 2011 census. Those stating Ulster Scots as their main language were negligible in number and not analysed geographically by NISRA.

Main Language of All Usual Residents Aged 3 and Over in the 2011 Census.[11]

Main Language Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion
English 1,681,171 96.86%
Polish 17,731 1.02%
Lithuanian 6,250 0.36%
Irish (Gaelic) 4,164 0.24%
Portuguese 2,293 0.13%
Slovak 2,257 0.13%
Chinese 2,214 0.13%
Tagalog/Filipino 1,895 0.11%
Latvian 1,273 0.07%
Russian 1,191 0.07%
Malayalam 1,174 0.07%
Hungarian 1,008 0.06%
Other 13,090 0.75%
Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Irish in the 2011 census

Ability in Irish of All Usual Residents Aged 3 and Over in the Census.[12][13]

Ability in Irish 2001 2011
Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion
Can understand 133,352 8.2% 161,662 9.3%
Can speak 115,731 7.2% 104,943 6.0%
Can read 102,784 6.4% 87,871 5.1%
Can write 90,879 5.6% 76,647 4.4%
Has some ability 167,490 10.4% 184,898 10.7%
Can understand, speak, read and write 75,125 4.6% 64,847 3.7%
Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Ulster Scots in the 2011 census

Ability in Ulster Scots of All Usual Residents Aged 3 and Over in the Census.[14]

Ability in Ulster Scots 2011
Usual residents aged 3+ Proportion
Can understand 134,157 7.7%
Can speak 35,404 2.0%
Can read 37,501 2.2%
Can write 18,187 1.0%
Has some ability 140,204 8.1%
Can understand, speak, read and write 16,373 0.9%

Religion[edit]

See also Religion in Northern Ireland and List of districts in Northern Ireland by religion or religion brought up in

Map of religion or religion brought up in from the 2011 census in Northern Ireland. Stronger blue indicates a higher proportion of Catholics. Stronger red indicates a higher proportion of Protestants.

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

Religion stated 2001[15] 2011[16]
Number % Number %
Roman Catholic 678,462 40.2 738,033 40.8
Presbyterian Church in Ireland 348,742 20.7 345,101 19.1
Church of Ireland 257,788 15.3 248,821 13.7
Methodist Church in Ireland 59,173 3.5 54,253 3.0
Other Christian 102,221 6.1 104,380 5.8
(Total non-Roman Catholic Christian) 767,924 45.6 752,555 41.6
(Total Christian) 1,446,386 85.8 1,490,588 82.3
Other religion 5,028 0.3 14,859 0.8
No religion 183,164 10.1
Religion not stated 122,252 6.8
(No religion and Religion not stated) 233,853 13.9 305,416 16.9
Total population 1,685,267 100.0 1,810,863 100.0

The religious affiliations in the different districts of Northern Ireland were as follows:

Districts of Northern Ireland by predominant religion as of the 2011 census. Blue is Catholic and red is Protestant.
District 2001[17] 2011[18]
Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other
Antrim 35.2% 47.2% 17.6% 37.5% 43.2% 19.2%
Ards 10.4% 68.7% 20.9% 10.9% 65.4% 23.6%
Armagh 45.4% 45.5% 9.1% 44.8% 43.0% 12.2%
Ballymena 19.0% 67.8% 13.3% 20.4% 63.3% 16.3%
Ballymoney 29.5% 59.1% 11.3% 29.6% 56.7% 13.6%
Banbridge 28.6% 58.7% 12.7% 29.4% 55.3% 15.3%
Belfast 42.1% 40.3% 17.5% 41.9% 34.1% 24.0%
Carrickfergus 6.5% 70.4% 23.1% 7.6% 67.2% 25.2%
Castlereagh 15.8% 64.9% 19.3% 19.5% 57.3% 23.2%
Coleraine 24.1% 60.5% 15.4% 25.0% 56.8% 18.2%
Cookstown 55.2% 38.0% 6.8% 55.1% 34.0% 11.0%
Craigavon 41.7% 46.7% 11.6% 42.1% 42.1% 15.8%
Derry 70.9% 20.8% 8.4% 67.4% 19.4% 13.1%
Down 57.1% 29.2% 13.7% 57.5% 27.1% 15.4%
Dungannon 57.3% 34.9% 7.7% 58.7% 29.8% 11.5%
Fermanagh 55.5% 36.1% 8.4% 54.9% 34.3% 10.8%
Larne 22.2% 61.9% 15.9% 21.8% 59.7% 18.5%
Limavady 53.1% 36.1% 10.7% 56.0% 34.3% 9.7%
Lisburn 30.1% 53.6% 16.4% 32.8% 47.9% 19.3%
Magherafelt 61.5% 32.0% 6.5% 62.4% 28.3% 9.3%
Moyle 56.6% 33.8% 9.6% 54.4% 32.3% 13.3%
Newry and Mourne 75.9% 16.4% 7.7% 72.1% 15.2% 12.7%
Newtownabbey 17.1% 64.5% 18.4% 19.9% 57.8% 22.3%
North Down 10.0% 64.5% 25.5% 11.2% 60.3% 28.5%
Omagh 65.1% 26.3% 8.6% 65.4% 24.8% 9.8%
Strabane 63.1% 30.9% 6.0% 60.1% 30.7% 9.2%

Religions broken down by place of birth in the 2011 census.[19]

Map showing the proportion of the population in Northern Ireland who stated they had no religion in the 2011 census.
Place of birth Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Religion None or not stated
Northern Ireland 88.7% 92.9% 49.7% 81.1%
England 2.6% 3.2% 6.9% 6.7%
Scotland 0.5% 0.9% 1.1% 1.6%
Wales 0.1% 0.1% 0.4% 0.3%
Republic of Ireland 3.3% 1.1% 1.8% 1.6%
Other EU: Member countries prior to 2004 expansion 0.4% 0.3% 1.0% 1.4%
Other EU: Accession countries 2004 onwards 3.1% 0.3% 1.8% 3.5%
Other 1.4% 1.1% 37.3% 3.8%

The religious affiliations in the different age bands in the 2011 census were as follows:[20]

Stated religion for each age in the 2011 Northern Ireland census.
Ages attained (years) Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Religion None or not stated
0 to 4 44.3% 31.7% 0.9% 23.2%
5 to 9 45.5% 36.1% 0.7% 17.7%
10 to 14 45.9% 37.9% 0.6% 15.6%
15 to 19 44.8% 37.6% 0.6% 17.0%
20 to 24 43.4% 35.2% 0.7% 20.7%
25 to 29 44.8% 33.1% 1.1% 21.0%
30 to 34 44.0% 34.3% 1.4% 20.3%
35 to 39 41.5% 37.8% 1.2% 19.5%
40 to 44 40.4% 41.1% 0.9% 17.7%
45 to 49 40.0% 42.8% 0.8% 16.3%
50 to 54 39.2% 44.9% 0.7% 15.1%
55 to 59 38.1% 46.5% 0.8% 14.6%
60 to 64 35.8% 50.0% 0.7% 13.4%
65 to 69 33.7% 54.4% 0.7% 11.2%
70 to 74 32.9% 56.4% 0.7% 10.1%
75 to 79 32.0% 58.1% 0.6% 9.3%
80 to 84 30.0% 60.0% 0.6% 9.3%
85 to 89 28.1% 61.8% 0.5% 9.6%
90 and over 25.8% 64.0% 0.5% 9.6%
The percentage of respondents in each religious category of the census in Northern Ireland or the area that would later become Northern Ireland. Note that there was a high level of non-enumeration during the 1981 census mainly due to protests in Catholic areas about the Republican hunger strikes.[21]

National Identity[edit]

Map of predominant national identity in the 2011 census in Northern Ireland

See also List of districts in Northern Ireland by national identity

In Northern Ireland national identity is complex. Many in Northern Ireland have a British national identity seeing the English, Scots and Welsh as fellow members of their common nation while seeing those from the Republic of Ireland as foreigners. Many others in Northern Ireland see those from the Republic of Ireland as being members of their common nation encompassing the island of Ireland and see 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.

While 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 much weaker amongst Catholics than it is amongst Protestants. Amongst Catholics geography also plays an important role, with Catholics in the east of Northern Ireland being more likely to call themselves British and less likely to call themselves Irish than Catholics in the west of Northern Ireland, though Belfast is somewhat of an anomaly to that pattern. There are four of the twenty-six districts of Northern Ireland, all along the eastern coast, where more Catholics consider themselves British than consider themselves Irish.

While Protestants outnumber Catholics in only half of the districts in Northern Ireland those who consider themselves British outnumber those who consider themselves Irish in twenty of the twenty-six districts in Northern Ireland. This is partly because Catholics are more likely to see themselves as British than Protestants are to see themselves as Irish, but is also partly because those of no religion are substantially more likely to see themselves as British as see themselves as Irish.

The Northern Irish identity is almost equally held amongst Protestants as amongst Catholics, and it varies little according to geography.

In the 2011 census respondents gave their national identity as follows.

2011 Census[22]
National Identity Respondents
British
876,577
Northern Irish
533,085
Irish
513,390
English, Scottish or Welsh
29,187
Other
61,884

National Identity by Religion[23]

National Identity All Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other religions No religion
British 48.4% 12.9% 81.6% 50.1% 55.9%
Irish 28.4% 57.2% 3.9% 12.4% 14.0%
Northern Irish 29.4% 30.7% 26.9% 18.0% 35.2%
English, Scottish or Welsh 1.6% 0.8% 1.5% 2.9% 5.2%
All other 3.4% 4.4% 1.0% 29.1% 7.1%

Detail by Religion[24]

National Identity All Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other religions No religion
British only 39.9% 10.3% 68.3% 42.4% 42.9%
Irish only 25.3% 53.2% 2.1% 8.1% 9.4%
Northern Irish only 20.9% 26.9% 14.5% 12.0% 23.7%
British and Northern Irish only 6.2% 0.9% 11.1% 3.3% 7.9%
Irish and Northern Irish only 1.1% 2.0% 0.2% 0.5% 0.8%
British, Irish and Northern Irish only 1.0% 0.8% 1.0% 1.0% 2.1%
British and Irish only 0.7% 0.8% 0.5% 0.7% 1.0%
English, Scottish or Welsh only 1.0% 0.6% 0.8% 2.1% 3.5%
Other 4.0% 4.7% 1.6% 29.9% 8.7%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

National Identity by Age[22]

National Identities in each age band in the 2011 census.
Ages attained (years) British Irish Northern Irish English, Scottish or Welsh All other
0 to 15 45.1% 31.4% 30.5% 0.9% 3.6%
16 to 24 44.2% 32.3% 29.6% 1.5% 3.3%
25 to 34 40.5% 31.0% 30.0% 1.7% 8.6%
35 to 44 47.3% 28.7% 29.3% 2.1% 4.5%
45 to 54 50.8% 28.3% 28.0% 1.9% 2.2%
55 to 64 54.5% 24.9% 28.8% 1.9% 1.1%
65 to 74 57.5% 21.3% 29.8% 1.7% 0.4%
75 to 84 58.6% 19.6% 29.1% 1.6% 0.3%
85 and over 61.7% 18.0% 26.5% 2.0% 0.2%

National Identity by District[25]

Map of districts of Northern Ireland colour coded to show the predominant national identity. Stronger green indicates a higher proportion of people describing themselves as Irish. Stronger blue indicates a higher proportion of people describing themselves as British. Percentages show the difference between the proportion of people describing themselves as Irish and the proportion of people describing themselves as British. Data from 2011 census
District British Irish Northern Irish English, Scottish or Welsh All Other
Antrim 55.2% 20.1% 30.4% 2.3% 3.9%
Ards 73.6% 7.5% 31.9% 1.9% 1.5%
Armagh 44.4% 32.4% 27.1% 1.1% 3.9%
Ballymena 69.0% 11.1% 27.9% 1.4% 3.8%
Ballymoney 60.6% 16.4% 30.9% 1.7% 1.7%
Banbridge 61.1% 16.2% 31.8% 1.5% 1.8%
Belfast 43.2% 34.8% 26.8% 1.5% 5.1%
Carrickfergus 76.5% 5.3% 30.3% 2.1% 1.8%
Castlereagh 66.2% 14.7% 31.3% 1.5% 2.6%
Coleraine 62.4% 14.5% 31.6% 2.0% 3.2%
Cookstown 37.3% 33.5% 32.1% 1.2% 3.7%
Craigavon 48.3% 25.6% 28.7% 1.4% 6.4%
Derry 23.7% 55.0% 24.6% 1.4% 2.0%
Down 40.2% 32.2% 34.1% 1.9% 2.0%
Dungannon 30.9% 38.8% 27.1% 0.9% 9.6%
Fermanagh 37.2% 36.1% 29.5% 1.7% 3.1%
Larne 69.8% 10.1% 31.4% 2.1% 1.2%
Limavady 42.2% 32.0% 30.7% 1.5% 1.4%
Lisburn 55.6% 24.7% 28.7% 2.0% 2.4%
Magherafelt 31.4% 42.7% 29.8% 1.0% 2.8%
Moyle 38.6% 34.1% 32.1% 2.2% 1.4%
Newry and Mourne 20.2% 53.0% 27.6% 1.2% 4.3%
Newtownabbey 66.5% 13.4% 31.2% 1.3% 2.4%
North Down 71.1% 9.1% 33.0% 3.0% 2.4%
Omagh 28.6% 40.9% 32.7% 1.1% 3.4%
Strabane 33.0% 39.2% 31.8% 1.4% 1.3%

National identity by religion or religion brought up in for each district[25]

District Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Religion or None
British Irish Northern Irish All Other British Irish Northern Irish All Other British Irish Northern Irish All Other
Antrim 23.1% 43.7% 34.2% 7.1% 80.6% 3.1% 27.8% 3.3% 60.4% 6.5% 26.8% 19.0%
Ards 34.1% 31.7% 38.2% 6.4% 80.9% 3.7% 30.4% 2.2% 67.7% 6.0% 35.1% 9.1%
Armagh 7.1% 62.5% 28.7% 6.2% 81.6% 3.6% 25.7% 2.3% 49.3% 10.5% 25.1% 25.3%
Ballymena 24.6% 38.9% 34.7% 11.0% 83.6% 2.7% 25.7% 2.5% 62.3% 6.5% 28.4% 14.4%
Ballymoney 19.0% 44.5% 38.8% 4.1% 81.1% 2.9% 27.2% 2.2% 65.1% 8.4% 28.0% 13.3%
Banbridge 22.6% 41.7% 39.4% 4.5% 81.2% 3.8% 27.7% 2.0% 59.1% 8.3% 33.8% 11.5%
Belfast 11.7% 64.3% 25.0% 5.6% 78.3% 5.5% 28.7% 3.6% 47.7% 13.3% 27.5% 26.3%
Carrickfergus 41.1% 24.6% 35.6% 10.7% 82.0% 3.0% 29.2% 2.4% 68.3% 5.3% 33.7% 8.5%
Castlereagh 22.1% 50.0% 34.5% 6.3% 81.3% 3.9% 29.9% 2.3% 61.9% 8.9% 33.7% 11.8%
Coleraine 25.0% 39.2% 36.5% 8.4% 79.1% 4.3% 29.3% 2.6% 56.5% 10.3% 33.4% 16.8%
Cookstown 8.1% 53.8% 37.7% 5.2% 82.5% 3.6% 24.0% 2.1% 44.2% 9.1% 24.4% 31.5%
Craigavon 12.2% 51.2% 31.5% 10.6% 82.5% 3.2% 26.3% 2.7% 49.9% 9.1% 26.7% 26.4%
Derry 7.3% 70.5% 24.3% 2.5% 76.7% 7.2% 25.9% 3.5% 39.4% 24.7% 21.9% 26.2%
Down 20.1% 47.4% 37.1% 2.9% 77.4% 5.6% 28.7% 3.6% 52.1% 14.4% 32.1% 16.7%
Dungannon 5.7% 57.6% 28.6% 13.0% 79.6% 4.5% 24.5% 3.0% 33.3% 12.0% 22.8% 42.1%
Fermanagh 11.4% 56.2% 32.4% 4.8% 77.1% 6.2% 25.5% 3.0% 43.4% 16.8% 24.0% 28.1%
Larne 38.8% 30.6% 37.7% 3.0% 81.7% 3.0% 28.6% 2.5% 64.1% 6.5% 35.4% 12.1%
Limavady 18.1% 50.5% 34.4% 2.5% 79.8% 4.1% 24.9% 2.5% 51.4% 10.9% 28.8% 18.7%
Lisburn 16.5% 58.6% 27.8% 4.3% 80.2% 4.7% 29.0% 3.2% 62.2% 8.8% 30.3% 13.9%
Magherafelt 6.5% 62.1% 33.0% 3.8% 82.4% 4.2% 23.1% 2.3% 46.9% 13.4% 30.2% 22.1%
Moyle 14.6% 53.1% 35.3% 2.8% 76.3% 5.0% 27.8% 3.3% 49.4% 17.8% 23.8% 19.8%
Newry and Mourne 7.1% 64.7% 28.0% 5.0% 76.3% 5.8% 26.8% 3.8% 34.6% 22.8% 22.1% 28.9%
Newtownabbey 24.7% 46.1% 34.1% 5.7% 80.9% 3.4% 30.1% 1.7% 63.1% 7.3% 32.1% 12.3%
North Down 37.1% 31.5% 36.1% 9.7% 78.8% 5.2% 31.9% 3.4% 63.7% 7.9% 35.7% 11.6%
Omagh 8.7% 55.7% 36.0% 4.4% 78.5% 4.9% 25.0% 2.5% 40.6% 15.9% 23.7% 28.9%
Strabane 8.9% 57.4% 35.4% 2.6% 79.2% 4.7% 25.2% 1.9% 40.9% 21.1% 25.5% 26.4%

National identity by place of birth.[26]

Map of districts of Northern Ireland colour coded to show the predominant national identity amongst Catholics. Stronger green indicates a higher proportion of Catholics describing themselves as Irish. Blue indicates more Catholics describing themselves as British than as Irish. Percentages show the difference between the proportion of Catholics describing themselves as Irish and the proportion of Catholics describing themselves as British. Data from 2011 census
Place of birth British Irish Northern Irish English, Scottish or Welsh All Other
Northern Ireland 49.8% 28.8% 31.9% 0.3% 0.4%
Republic of Ireland 15.9% 77.6% 10.9% 0.2% 0.5%
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 58.4% 19.9% 12.6% 2.5% 17.2%
Great Britain 60.7% 13.5% 10.7% 29.0% 0.7%
England 64.4% 14.8% 11.2% 22.8% 0.8%
Scotland 46.6% 8.7% 9.0% 51.3% 0.4%
Wales 50.2% 7.5% 7.8% 51.4% 0.7%
EU countries excluding the UK and Ireland 12.4% 7.4% 6.4% 1.1% 80.4%
EU member countries prior to 2004 expansion excluding the UK and Ireland 35.5% 10.1% 12.1% 2.8% 52.7%
Germany 62.4% 8.0% 17.3% 5.3% 21.9%
Portugal 8.2% 9.6% 5.2% 0.6% 85.8%
EU accession countries 2004 onwards 6.2% 6.6% 4.8% 0.6% 88.0%
Poland 5.1% 6.0% 4.6% 0.6% 89.9%
Lithuania 5.2% 7.7% 4.5% 0.5% 87.7%
Slovakia 6.0% 5.1% 4.3% 0.2% 89.0%
Latvia 7.8% 7.7% 4.9% 0.7% 84.9%
Romania 12.3% 9.1% 6.8% 0.5% 79.5%
Other Europe: Non EU countries 34.2% 11.3% 10.5% 1.7% 30.3%
Africa 44.6% 17.1% 13.6% 1.9% 41.7%
South Africa 51.5% 14.6% 15.4% 2.1% 35.4%
Middle East and Asia 42.3% 7.4% 6.4% 0.9% 53.6%
China 30.5% 6.3% 4.8% 0.9% 65.2%
Hong Kong 76.1% 3.5% 6.9% 1.3% 21.4%
India 38.5% 5.3% 4.8% 0.8% 57.8%
Pakistan 46.1% 7.7% 7.7% 0.6% 47.9%
Bangladesh 52.8% 9.4% 3.9% 0.6% 42.8%
Philippines 46.8% 5.1% 4.0% 0.2% 56.9%
North America and Caribbean 29.2% 32.1% 18.2% 1.0% 45.3%
United States of America 18.3% 39.1% 17.1% 0.7% 52.4%
Canada 46.7% 21.5% 20.7% 1.2% 34.6%
Central America 35.6% 11.3% 16.0% 2.1% 62.9%
South America 33.7% 15.7% 9.0% 1.3% 62.1%
Antarctica and Oceania 36.1% 23.2% 18.5% 1.6% 42.8%
Australia 36.3% 26.5% 20.7% 0.9% 38.2%
New Zealand 40.1% 15.8% 14.2% 3.9% 48.1%
All outside Northern Ireland 37.6% 24.5% 9.8% 12.4% 27.3%
All outside the UK and Ireland 24.3% 11.0% 8.5% 1.1% 66.6%

National identity by ethnic group[27]

Shows the most common national identity stated in the 2011 census in Northern Ireland. Red is British, blue is Northern Irish and green is Irish.
Ethnic Group British Irish Northern Irish English, Scottish or Welsh All Other
White: 48.5% 28.6% 29.8% 1.6% 2.7%
White: Irish Traveller/White Gypsy 12.2% 68.0% 22.3% 2.8% 0.3%
White: Total 48.5% 28.6% 29.8% 1.6% 3.4%
Asian or Asian British: Indian 41.1% 7.6% 5.3% 0.7% 53.5%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 58.9% 8.5% 10.7% 0.9% 32.0%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 63.5% 8.3% 4.4% 0.4% 31.3%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 52.6% 7.0% 7.3% 1.0% 41.5%
Asian or Asian British: Asian Other 42.2% 7.7% 4.8% 0.3% 59.6%
Asian or Asian British: Total 46.8% 7.5% 6.1% 0.7% 49.3%
Black or Black British: Caribbean 44.4% 9.9% 7.8% 6.7% 43.5%
Black or Black British: African 25.8% 15.5% 7.7% 1.1% 69.1%
Black or Black British: Other 29.1% 20.5% 12.6% 2.3% 54.2%
Black or Black British: Total 28.6% 16.2% 8.9% 2.0% 62.7%
Mixed: Total 47.3% 24.6% 26.6% 3.0% 18.7%
Other: Any other ethnic group:Total 29.8% 22.8% 13.9% 3.4% 48.4%

Passports held[edit]

Map of the most commonly held passport according to the 2011 census. Red is British and green is Irish.

As Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom those born in Northern Ireland have automatic British citizenship on the same basis and with the same provisos as those born elsewhere in the United Kingdom. As well as this, and despite the withdrawal of its constitutional claim to Northern Ireland in 1999, the Irish government also grants the right to Irish citizenship to those born in Northern Ireland on the same basis and with the same provisos as those born on its own territory. This means that most people in Northern Ireland are entitled to a British passport, an Irish passport or both, as they so choose. By agreement between the Irish government and Royal Mail post offices in Northern Ireland provide a service whereby customers can apply for an Irish passport, operating alongside their service whereby customers can apply for a British passport. In the 2011 census respondents stated that they held the following passports.[28][29]

Passport All usual residents Religion or religion brought up in
Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Religions None
No passport 18.9% 19.2% 18.5% 9.9% 20.2%
EU/EEA Countries 82.1% 82.4% 82.4% 69.3% 78.4%
United Kingdom 59.1% 38.4% 77.8% 56.0% 65.2%
Ireland 20.8% 40.5% 4.1% 10.0% 7.2%
Poland 1.0% 2.0% 0.1% 0.6% 0.9%
Lithuania 0.4% 0.7% 0.0% 0.2% 0.8%
Other EU/EEA 0.8% 0.9% 0.4% 2.4% 4.2%
Other 1.2% 0.9% 0.7% 26.0% 3.5%
Passport All usual residents Religion or religion brought up in
Catholic Protestant and other Christian Other Religions None
No passport 18.9% 19.2% 18.5% 9.9% 20.2%
United Kingdom only 57.2% 36.1% 76.3% 51.6% 63.3%
Ireland only 18.9% 38.1% 2.7% 7.4% 5.9%
United Kingdom and Ireland only 1.7% 2.1% 1.3% 1.8% 1.1%
United Kingdom and other (not Ireland) 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 2.4% 0.7%
Ireland and other (not United Kingdom) 0.1% 0.2% 0.0% 0.6% 0.2%
EU/EEA (not United Kingdom or Ireland) 2.2% 3.5% 0.4% 3.1% 5.9%
Other 0.8% 0.6% 0.4% 23.0% 2.7%

Age[edit]

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.[30]

Population pyramid for Northern Ireland as at the 2011 census.
Ages attained
(years)		 Population[31]  % of total
population
0–4 124,382 6.9
5–9 111,287 6.1
10–14 119,034 6.6
15–19 126,241 7.0
20–24 126,013 7.0
25–29 124,099 6.9
30–34 119,839 6.6
35–39 122,260 6.8
40–44 131,848 7.3
45–49 131,645 7.3
50–54 116,933 6.5
55–59 99,272 5.5
60–64 94,290 5.2
65–69 82,121 4.5
70–74 63,479 3.5
75–79 50,358 2.8
80–84 36,366 2.0
85–89 21,165 1.2
90+ 10,231 0.6

Summary of vital statistics since 1900[edit]

Average population (x 1000)[32][33][34] 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 30 219 22 576 7 643 24.3 18.1 6.1
1911 1 249 30 407 21 326 9 081 24.3 17.1 7.3
1912 1 248 30 301 21 698 8 603 24.3 17.4 6.9
1913 1 243 29 880 22 510 7 370 24.0 18.1 5.9
1914 1 242 29 704 21 671 8 033 23.9 17.4 6.5
1915 1 210 28 082 22 438 5 644 23.2 18.5 4.7
1916 1 205 26 623 20 764 5 859 22.1 17.2 4.9
1917 1 208 24 949 21 011 3 938 20.7 17.4 3.3
1918 1 214 26 212 25 013 1 199 21.6 20.6 1.0
1919 1 250 27 496 22 836 4 660 22.0 18.2 3.8
1920 1 258 32 521 21 017 11 504 25.8 16.7 9.1
1921 1 264 29 710 19 301 10 409 23.7 15.4 8.3
1922 1 269 29 531 19 795 9 736 23.2 15.6 7.6
1923 1 259 30 097 18 790 11 307 23.9 14.9 9.1
1924 1 258 28 496 20 299 8 197 22.7 16.1 6.5
1925 1 257 27 686 19 784 7 902 22.0 15.8 6.3
1926 1 254 28 162 18 827 9 335 22.5 15.1 7.4
1927 1 250 26 676 18 216 8 460 21.4 14.6 6.8
1928 1 247 25 963 18 004 7 959 20.9 14.4 6.4
1929 1 240 25 410 19 822 5 588 20.5 16.0 4.4
1930 1 237 25 879 17 148 8 731 20.9 13.9 7.0
1931 1 243 25 673 18 049 7 624 20.7 14.5 6.2
1932 1 251 25 107 17 812 7 295 20.1 14.2 5.8
1933 1 258 24 601 18 154 6 447 19.6 14.5 5.1
1934 1 265 25 365 17 521 7 844 20.1 13.9 6.2
1935 1 271 24 742 18 592 6 150 19.5 14.6 4.8
1936 1 276 25 909 18 429 7 480 20.3 14.4 5.9
1937 1 281 25 412 19 282 6 130 19.8 15.1 4.8
1938 1 286 25 742 17 649 8 093 20.0 13.7 6.3
1939 1 295 25 240 17 542 7 698 19.5 13.5 5.9
1940 1 299 25 363 18 941 6 422 19.5 14.6 4.9
1941 1 308 26 887 20 034 6 853 20.6 15.3 5.2
1942 1 329 29 645 17 570 12 075 22.3 13.2 9.1
1943 1 341 31 521 17 720 13 801 23.5 13.2 10.3
1944 1 357 30 900 16 980 13 920 22.8 12.5 10.3
1945 1 359 29 007 16 432 12 575 21.3 12.1 9.3
1946 1 350 30 134 16 706 13 428 22.3 12.4 9.9
1947 1 350 31 254 16 944 14 310 23.2 12.6 10.6
1948 1 362 29 532 15 145 14 387 21.7 11.1 10.6
1949 1 371 29 106 15 670 13 436 21.2 11.4 9.8
1950 1 377 28 794 15 839 12 955 20.9 11.5 9.4
1951 1 373 28 477 17 628 10 849 20.7 12.8 7.9
1952 1 375 28 760 14 812 13 948 20.9 10.8 10.1
1953 1 384 28 984 14 813 14 171 20.9 10.7 10.2
1954 1 387 28 803 15 124 13 679 20.8 10.9 9.9
1955 1 394 28 965 15 407 13 558 20.8 11.1 9.7
1956 1 397 29 489 14 858 14 631 21.1 10.6 10.5
1957 1 399 30 108 15 187 14 921 21.5 10.9 10.7
1958 1 402 30 301 15 132 15 169 21.6 10.8 10.8
1959 1 408 30 809 15 403 15 406 21.9 10.9 10.9
1960 1 420 31 989 15 296 16 693 22.5 10.8 11.8
1961 1 427 31 915 16 108 15 807 22.4 11.3 11.1
1962 1 435 32 565 15 226 17 339 22.7 10.6 12.1
1963 1 446 33 414 15 899 17 515 23.1 11.0 12.1
1964 1 458 34 345 15 354 18 991 23.6 10.5 13.0
1965 1 469 33 890 15 551 18 339 23.1 10.6 12.5
1966 1 478 33 228 16 441 16 787 22.5 11.1 11.4
1967 1 491 33 415 14 671 18 744 22.4 9.8 12.6
1968 1 502 33 173 15 933 17 240 22.1 10.6 11.5
1969 1 513 32 428 16 338 16 090 21.4 10.8 10.6
1970 1 525 32 086 16 551 15 535 21.0 10.9 10.2
1971 1 540 31 765 16 202 15 563 20.6 10.5 10.1
1972 1 539 29 994 17 032 12 962 19.5 11.1 8.4
1973 1 530 29 200 17 669 11 531 19.1 11.5 7.5
1974 1 527 27 160 17 327 9 833 17.8 11.3 6.4
1975 1 524 26 130 16 511 9 619 17.1 10.8 6.3
1976 1 524 26 361 17 030 9 331 17.3 11.2 6.1
1977 1 523 25 437 16 921 8 516 16.7 11.1 5.6
1978 1 523 26 239 16 153 10 086 17.2 10.6 6.6
1979 1 528 28 178 16 811 11 367 18.4 11.0 7.4
1980 1 533 28 582 16 835 11 747 18.6 11.0 7.7
1981 1 543 27 302 16 256 11 046 17.7 10.5 7.2
1982 1 545 27 025 15 918 11 107 17.5 10.3 7.2
1983 1 551 27 225 16 039 11 186 17.6 10.3 7.2
1984 1 557 27 693 15 692 12 001 17.8 10.1 7.7
1985 1 565 27 635 15 955 11 680 17.7 10.2 7.5
1986 1 574 28 152 16 065 12 087 17.9 10.2 7.7
1987 1 582 27 865 15 334 12 531 17.6 9.7 7.9
1988 1 585 27 767 15 813 11 954 17.5 10.0 7.5
1989 1 590 26 080 15 844 10 236 16.4 10.0 6.4
1990 1 596 26 499 15 426 11 073 16.6 9.7 6.9
1991 1 607 26 265 15 096 11 169 16.3 9.4 7.0
1992 1 623 25 572 14 988 10 584 15.8 9.2 6.5
1993 1 636 24 909 15 633 9 276 15.2 9.6 5.7
1994 1 644 24 289 15 114 9 175 14.8 9.2 5.6
1995 1 649 23 860 15 310 8 550 14.5 9.3 5.2
1996 1 662 24 582 15 218 9 364 14.8 9.2 5.6
1997 1 671 24 277 14 971 9 306 14.5 9.0 5.6
1998 1 678 23 668 14 993 8 675 14.1 8.9 5.2
1999 1 679 22 957 15 663 7 294 13.7 9.3 4.3
2000 1 683 21 512 14 903 6 609 12.8 8.9 3.9
2001 1 689 21 962 14 513 7 449 13.0 8.6 4.4
2002 1 697 21 385 14 586 6 799 12.6 8.6 4.0
2003 1 703 21 648 14 462 7 186 12.7 8.5 4.2
2004 1 710 22 318 14 354 7 964 13.0 8.4 4.7
2005 1 724 22 328 14 224 8 104 12.9 8.2 4.7
2006 1 742 23 272 14 532 8 740 13.4 8.3 5.0
2007 1 759 24 451 14 649 9 802 13.9 8.3 5.6
2008 1 775 25 631 14 907 10 724 14.4 8.4 6.0
2009 1 789 24 910 14 413 10 497 13.9 8.1 5.8
2010 1 799 25 315 14 457 10 858 14.1 8.0 6.1
2011 1 809 25 273 14 204 11 069 14.0 7.8 6.2
2012 1 820 25 270 14 756 10 514 14.0 8.1 5.9 2.03
2013 1 830 24 280 14 968 9 312 13.3 8.2 5.1

Other miscellaneous statistics[edit]

Life expectancy at birth:[35]
Men: 77.2 years
Women: 80.8 years

Infant mortality rate:[35]
6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999)

Total Period Fertility Rate (TPFR)[www.nisra.gov.uk/demography]: 2.06 children born/woman (2011)

HIV/AIDS prevalence rate:[36]
0.024% (2005 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS:[36]
408 (2005)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Population at Census Day 2011: Usually resident population by single year of age and sex -Table 1 NISRA September 2012, Accessed 16 August 2013
  2. ^ Country Profiles: Key Statistics - Northern Ireland, August 2012, Accessed 5 February 2014
  3. ^ NISRA Population Clock
  4. ^ "NISRA: Historic Population Trends" (PDF). Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  5. ^ "NI migrant population triples in decade, says study". BBC News. 26 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  7. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  8. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  9. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  10. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  11. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  12. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  13. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  14. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  15. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  16. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  17. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  18. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  19. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  20. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  21. ^ "CAIN Web Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  22. ^ a b "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  23. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  24. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  25. ^ a b "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  26. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  27. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  28. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  29. ^ "Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  30. ^ Census 2011: Key Statistics for Northern Ireland Statistics Bulletin December 2012, Accessed 22 December 2012
  31. ^ "ONS: 2011 Census: Usual resident population by five-year age group and sex, United Kingdom and constituent countries". Retrieved 22 July 2014. 
  32. ^ B.R. Mitchell. European historical statistics, 1750–1975
  33. ^ http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dybsets/1948%20DYB.pdf United nations. Demographic Yearbook 1948
  34. ^ Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency
  35. ^ a b Eastern Health and Social Services Board
  36. ^ a b http://www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Resources/sexual/pdfs/shi2007/stis.pdf
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