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Background Information on Northern Ireland Society
- Population and Vital Statistics


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Page Compiled: Martin Melaugh and Fionnuala McKenna
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Population and Vital Statistics

  • Total population of Northern Ireland = 1,685,267 (Census 29 April 2001)
    Total population of Republic of Ireland = 3,917,336 (Census 28 April 2002)
    Total population of Ireland = 5,602,603

  • NISRA, Census web site {external_link}
  • Central Statistics Office Ireland, Census 2002 web site {external_link}

  • The first report based on the 2001 Census was published on 30 September 2002. According to the report the population of Northern Ireland on Census Day (29 April 2001) was 1,685,267 (1.685 million). There were 821,449 males and 863,818 females. The population of the United Kingdom on Census Day 2001 was 58.789 million. Northern Ireland therefore constitutes 2.87 per cent of the total UK population. The age structure of the Northern Ireland population is the youngest in the UK. Children aged under 16 represent 24 per cent of the Northern Ireland population compared to 20 per cent in the UK as a whole. Conversely, Northern Ireland has proportionately fewer people of pensionable age (16 per cent of the population) compared to the UK (18 per cent).
    The contents of the Census 2001 Population Report can be downloaded from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) web site {external_link}.

  • The second report of the 2001 Census was published on 19 December 2002. The report provided information on the religious breakdown of the population. Based on two census questions, religion and religion brought up, the breakdown was reported as 43.76% Catholic, 53.13% Protestant, 0.39% Other, 2.72% none. (Where 'Protestant' represented 'Protestant and other Christian, including Christian related'; and where 'Other' represented 'Other religions and philosophies'). [Following the 1991 Census it was estimated that 41.5 per cent of the population was Catholic (based on revised figures).]

  • The population in Northern Ireland has been increasing steadily for the past number of years, and according to future projections, it will continue to do so for the next 20 years or so. It has also a relatively young population, with 54.6% being under the age of 35, and 24.7% of whom are under 16 years of age.

  • In 1997, Northern Ireland had the lowest proportion of pensioners (males over 65 years and females over 60 years) of any other region in the UK, and the lowest proportion of persons aged 65 years or over. In Northern Ireland, only 12.8% of the population are aged over 65 years, compared with 15.7% for the UK as a whole, and an EU average of 15.8%.

  • Over the ten years from 1987-1997, live births per 1000 of the population in Northern Ireland fell from 17.7 in 1987 to 14.5 in 1997. This rate of 14.5 (per 1000 of the population) in Northern Ireland in 1997 compares with 14.3 in the Republic of Ireland, 12.3 in England and Wales, and 11.6 in Scotland for the same year.

  • For the same period from 1987-1997, deaths per 1000 of the population in Northern Ireland fell from 9.7 in 1897 to 8.9 in 1997. This figure of 8.9 (per 1000 of the population) in Northern Ireland in 1997 compares with 10.7 in the UK as a whole, 8.6 in the Republic of Ireland, 10.6 in England and Wales, and 11.6 in Scotland for the same year.

    Sources:
    The following tables provide further breakdowns of the populations statistics available for Northern Ireland. Much of this material has been derived from the Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics (1996, 1999, 2002), Regional Trends (1996) and the Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts (1997, 2000), the Economic Outlook and Business Review, (1999), and Census Reports.

    Population in Northern Ireland: Breakdown by Age (2001 )
    Population in Northern Ireland: Breakdown by Age (1996 estimates)
    Population in Northern Ireland: Breakdown by Religious Denomination (1991 and 2001 census returns)
    Catholic population in Northern Ireland - Census returns and estimates 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001
    Towns in Northern Ireland with 1,000 or more persons within Local Government Districts (1991 census returns)     [table on separate page]
    Breakdown of Population by District Council (1987-1996)
    Percentage of Catholics in each District Council area for 1971, 1981, 1991, and 2001 (adjusted figures based on census data)
        See also the following maps:
        Catholics and Protestants as a percentage of the population, district council areas, 1991
        Distribution of Catholics at Ward Level, Maps for Greater Belfast and Northern Ireland (2001)
    Household Sizes in Northern Ireland (compared to Britain)
    Emigration Figures for Northern Ireland, 1991-1996
    Table NI-POP-10: Migration to and from Northern Ireland, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2000
    Population Projections for Northern Ireland, 1996-2026
    Births, Deaths and Marriages in Northern Ireland, 1988-1996

    See Also:

    Counties of Ireland - Population, Major Towns/Cities, Land Area, and Rank by Area, (1996 Estimated Figures)

    Population in Northern Ireland: Breakdown by Age (2001 Census)

    Age group
    Males
    Females
    Persons
    % Persons in each age group
    0-4
    59213
    56025
    115238
    6.84
    5-9
    63147
    59903
    123050
    7.30
    10-14
    68014
    64650
    132664
    7.87
    15-19
    65598
    63603
    129201
    7.67
    20-24
    54913
    54472
    109385
    6.49
    25-29
    56628
    58076
    114704
    6.81
    30-34
    62487
    65030
    127517
    7.57
    35-39
    63430
    66209
    129639
    7.69
    40-44
    57432
    59903
    117335
    6.96
    45-49
    51686
    50778
    102464
    6.08
    50-54
    48484
    49942
    98426
    5.84
    55-59
    43585
    45147
    88732
    5.27
    60-64
    35401
    38186
    73587
    4.37
    65-69
    30406
    34935
    65341
    3.88
    70-74
    25069
    32783
    57852
    3.43
    75-79
    18562
    27980
    46542
    2.76
    80-84
    11090
    19199
    30289
    1.80
    85-89
    4707
    11409
    16116
    0.96
    90 and over
    1597
    5588
    7185
    0.43
    All Ages
    821,449
    863,818
    1,685,267
    100.00
    Under 16
    204261
    193795
    398056
    23.62
    Under 18
    231421
    220093
    451514
    26.79
    16-44
    346601
    354076
    700677
    41.58
    45-59/64*
    179156
    145867
    325023
    19.29
    60/65** and over
    91431
    170080
    261511
    15.52

    Note:
    * 45-64 for males; 45-59 for females
    ** 65 and over for males: 60 and over for females
    Source: Northern Ireland Census 2001 Population Report and Mid-Year Estimates (2002); p.7


    Population in Northern Ireland: Breakdown by Age (1996 Estimates)

    Age group
    Males
    (Thousands)
    Females
    (Thousands)
    Persons
    (Thousands)
    % in each age group
    0-4
    63.9
    61.0
    124.9
    7.5
    5-9
    66.2
    64.7
    132.7
    8.0
    10-14
    67.6
    64.2
    131.8
    7.9
    15-19
    64.1
    61.1
    125.2
    7.5
    20-24
    65.4
    60.2
    125.5
    7.5
    25-29
    64.5
    64.4
    128.9
    7.8
    30-34
    62.8
    65.5
    128.3
    7.7
    35-39
    57.2
    59.8
    117.0
    7.0
    40-44
    50.5
    50.7
    101.2
    6.1
    45-49
    48.9
    49.8
    98.7
    5.9
    50-54
    44.8
    46.1
    90.9
    5.5
    55-59
    37.2
    39.2
    76.3
    4.6
    60-64
    32.9
    36.5
    69.3
    4.2
    65-69
    29.2
    35.8
    65.0
    3.9
    > 70
    55.6
    91.9
    147.5
    8.9
    All Ages
    812.5
    850.8
    1,663.3
    100.0

    Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1998, p.9


    Population in Northern Ireland: Breakdown by Religious Denomination (1991 and 2001 census)

    Religious Denomination
    Number in 1991
    % in 1991
    Number in 2001
    % in 2001
    Catholic
    605,639
    38.4%
    678,462
    40.26%
    Presbyterian
    336,891
    21.4%
    348,742
    20.69%
    Church of Ireland
    279,280
    17.7%
    257,788
    15.30%
    Methodist
    59,517
    3.8%
    59,173
    3.51%
    Baptist
    19,484
    1.2%
    ..
    ..
    Brethren
    12,446
    0.8%
    ..
    ..
    Congregationist
    8,176
    0.5%
    ..
    ..
    Unitarian
    3,213
    0.2%
    ..
    ..
    Other
    79,129
    5.0%
    102,2211
    6.07%
    Other Religions
    ..
    ..
    5,0282
    0.33%
    None
    59,234
    3.7%
    ..
    ..
    Not Stated
    114,827
    7.3%
    233,8533
    13.88%
    Total
    1,577,836
    100%
    1,685,267
    100%

    Notes:
    .. Not available
    1. Other Christian (including Christian related)
    2. Other religions and philosophies
    3. Persons with no religion or religion not stated

    Source: Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts 1997; and
    Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics (2002), Table KS07a


    Catholic population in Northern Ireland - Census returns and estimates 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001

    Census Year
    1961
    1971
    19811
    1991
    2001
    Total Population
    1,425,042
    1,536,065
    1,532,196
    1,577,836
    1,685,267
    No Religion Information 2
    26,400
    142,500
    274,000
    174,061
    233,853
    Number Stated Catholics 3
    497,547
    477,921
    414,532
    605,639
    678,462
    % Stated Catholics
    34.9%
    31.4%
    28.0%
    38.4%
    40.26%
    Estimated Number Catholics 4
    502,8005
    559,8006
    586,4007
    651,7008
    737,4129
    Estimated % Catholics
    35.3%5
    36.8%6
    38.5%7
    41.5%8
    43.76%9
    % Increase in Catholics
    -
    +1.5%
    +1.7%
    +3.0%
    +2.26%

    Source: The Religion Reports of the Northern Ireland Census; and
    Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics (2002), Table KS07a and Table KS07b

    Notes:

    1. There was a high level of non-enumeration during the 1981 census mainly due to protests in Catholic areas about the Republican hunger strikes.
    2. Since 1971 there has been a large increase in the number of people who are unwilling to state their religion (during the 1991 census people were also offered the option of answering 'none' to the question on religion in addition to simply not completing the question).
    3. The number of people who were willing to state that they were Catholic represents the absolute minimum figure for Northern Ireland. Adjustments on this baseline figure are required to arrive at a more accurate figure for the total number of Catholics in the region.
    4. Various estimates have been made over the years of the 'true' size of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland.
    5. The estimate for 1961 is simply based on the assumption that 20 per cent of non respondents to the question on religion are Catholic.
    6. The estimate for 1971 is based on Compton, P. (1978) Northern Ireland: A Census Atlas.
    7. The estimate for 1981 is based on Compton, P. and Power, J. (1986) Estimates of the Religious Composition of Northern Ireland Local Government Distiricts in 1981.
    8. The estimate for 1991 is based on work in progress by Compton, P. and Power, J. being carried out for the Fair Employment Commission (FEC).
    9. The 2001 Census included an additional question about community / religious background which allowed those initially recorded as 'persons with no religion or religion not stated' to be ascribed to the main religious groupings.


    Breakdown of Population by District Council
    1987-1996 figures, usually resident home population (Thousands); and 2001 Census (Number)

    District Council
    1987
    1988
    1990
    1992
    1994
    1996
    2001
    Antrim
    45.5
    45.4
    45.3
    46.6
    47.9
    49.1
    48366
    Ards
    63.6
    63.9
    64.4
    65.6
    66.5
    67.5
    73244
    Armagh
    51.0
    50.5
    50.9
    52.0
    52.7
    53.0
    54263
    Ballymena
    55.8
    55.8
    56.0
    56.6
    57.3
    58.1
    58610
    Ballymoney
    23.9
    23.9
    24.0
    24.2
    24.5
    24.8
    26894
    Banbridge
    42.1
    32.3
    32.9
    33.7
    37.1
    37.4
    41392
    Belfast
    300.3
    298.6
    294.7
    295.6
    297.1
    297.3
    277391
    Carrickfergus
    30.0
    30.5
    32.3
    34.0
    34.7
    35.4
    37659
    Castlereagh
    60.5
    60.7
    61.3
    62.3
    63.2
    64.2
    66488
    Coleraine
    49.9
    50.7
    52.0
    53.3
    53.9
    54.5
    56315
    Cookstown
    29.3
    29.5
    30.2
    30.8
    31.0
    31.7
    32581
    Craigavon
    74.2
    74.4
    74.7
    76.3
    77.5
    78.5
    80671
    Derry
    96.1
    96.5
    97.1
    99.0
    101.6
    104.4
    105066
    Down
    56.8
    57.1
    57.8
    59.4
    60.4
    61.4
    63828
    Dungannon
    44.4
    44.4
    44.5
    45.2
    46.6
    46.9
    47735
    Fermanagh
    52.2
    52.4
    53.4
    54.9
    55.1
    55.2
    57527
    Larne
    28.8
    29.0
    29.2
    29.6
    29.9
    30.2
    30832
    Limavady
    29.5
    29.7
    29.6
    29.9
    30.6
    31.2
    32422
    Lisburn
    94.2
    95.6
    99.0
    103.4
    105.1
    108.4
    108694
    Magherafelt
    34.0
    34.2
    35.0
    36.1
    36.6
    37.5
    39780
    Moyle
    15.2
    15.2
    14.8
    14.7
    14.7
    14.9
    15933
    Newry and Mourne
    81.3
    81.6
    82.2
    83.8
    83.4
    84.5
    87058
    Newtownabbey
    74.2
    74.7
    75.3
    76.9
    78.1
    79.2
    79995
    North Down
    70.8
    71.0
    72.1
    73.1
    73.7
    74.3
    76323
    Omagh
    45.8
    44.9
    45.2
    45.9
    46.6
    47.3
    47952
    Strabane
    35.7
    35.5
    35.5
    35.5
    35.9
    36.5
    38248
    Total
    1,575.1
    1,578.0
    1,583.0
    1,601.4
    1,641.7
    1,663.3
    1,685,267

    Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 1998, p.8; and
    Northern Ireland Census 2001 Population Report (2002), Table P2


    Percentage of Catholics in each District Council area for
    1971, 1981, 1991, and 2001 (adjusted figures based on census data)
    District Council Area

    % Catholics 1971[1]

    % Catholics 1981[2]

    % Catholics 1991[3]

    % Catholics 2001[4]
    Antrim

    31.10

    33.0

    34.8

    38.64

    Ards

    16.00

    13.0

    12.3

    12.60

    Armagh

    44.50

    46.5

    48.4

    48.70

    Ballymena

    17.70

    19.0

    19.4

    20.97

    Ballymoney

    29.60

    29.0

    31.8

    31.90

    Banbridge

    31.20

    28.5

    30.3

    31.47

    Belfast

    34.10

    38.0

    42.7

    47.19

    Carrickfergus

    16.20

    8.0

    7.5

    8.66

    Castlereagh

    10.10

    8.0

    10.3

    18.26

    Coleraine

    23.90

    24.0

    24.2

    27.21

    Cookstown

    49.20

    52.5

    55.7

    57.64

    Craigavon

    38.70

    42.0

    43.6

    44.68

    Derry

    64.30

    68.5

    74.2

    75.37

    Down

    54.10

    59.5

    62.2

    61.95

    Dungannon

    52.30

    53.0

    58.6

    60.80

    Fermanagh

    52.50

    54.5

    57.6

    58.73

    Larne

    26.80

    24.5

    24.0

    25.18

    Limavady

    52.40

    54.5

    55.8

    56.58

    Lisburn

    16.60

    22.5

    29.1

    33.35

    Magherafelt

    54.70

    56.5

    62.0

    64.13

    Moyle

    48.70

    51.0

    55.8

    60.29

    Newry & Mourne

    71.40

    74.0

    77.8

    80.64

    Newtownabbey

    18.00

    13.5

    14.2

    19.36

    North Down

    11.30

    9.0

    9.8

    12.58

    Omagh

    62.10

    65.0

    67.7

    69.07

    Strabane

    56.90

    61.0

    64.4

    66.19
    Northern Ireland

    36.80

    38.5

    41.3

    43.76


    Notes:
    [1] based on adjustments by Compton (Compton, Paul. 1978, Northern Ireland: A Census Atlas. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.)
    [2] based on adjustments by Compton and Power (Compton, Paul. Power, John. 1986, 'Estimates of the Religious Composition of Northern Ireland Local Government Districts in 1981 and Change in the Geographical Pattern of Religious Composition between 1971 and 1981'. The Economic and Social Review, 17, 2 Spring: 87-105.)
    [3] based on adjustments by Compton (unpublished estimates supplied by The Equality Commission, 1999)
    [4] based on the additional question about community / religious background in the 2001 Census which allowed those initially recorded as 'persons with no religion or religion not stated' to be ascribed to the main religious groupings.

    Source of unadjusted figures:
    1971 Census Religion Report
    1981 Census Religion Report
    1991 Census Religion Report
    Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics (2002), Table Table KS07b

        See also the following maps:
        Catholics and Protestants as a percentage of the population, district council areas, 1991
        Distribution of Catholics at Ward Level, Maps for Greater Belfast and Northern Ireland (2001)

    Household Sizes in Northern Ireland
    (compared to Britain)

    .
    Northern Ireland %
    Britain %
    No. of persons in
    household (all ages)
    1996-97
    2000-01
    1996-97
    2000-01
    1
    25
    25
    27
    ..
    2
    27
    28
    35
    ..
    3
    16
    16
    16
    ..
    4
    17
    16
    15
    ..
    5
    9
    9
    5
    ..
    >6
    5
    5
    2
    ..
    Average household size
    2.75
    2.72
    2.43
    ..
    Sample base (households)
    2,892
    2,800
    9,158
    ..

    Note: .. not available
    Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1998, p.18; and
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002, Table 2.1


    Emigration Figures for Northern Ireland, 1991-1996
    (to the nearest 1,000)

    Leaving Northern Ireland for:
    1991
    1993
    1994
    1995
    1996
    Other parts of the UK
    9,000
    12,000
    12,000
    12,000
    12,000
    Outside of the UK
    2,000
    1,000
    1,000
    2,000
    1,000
    Total
    11,000
    13,000
    13,000
    14,000
    13,000

    Source: Regional Trends, 1998, p.46


    Table NI-POP-10: Migration to and from Northern Ireland, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2000

    Interregional Migration (thousands)

    Inflow

    Outflow

    1991

    1996

    1999

    2000

    1991

    1996

    1999

    2000

    12

    11

    12

    11

    9

    12

    12

    12

    International Migration (thousands)

    Inflow

    Outflow

    1991

    1996

    1999

    2000

    1991

    1996

    1999

    2000

    4

    3

    5

    5

    5

    4

    5

    5
    Notes:
    1. Based on patients re-registering with NHS doctors in other parts of the United Kingdom. See Notes and Definitions. Figures have been adjusted for minor changes caused by database realignment during Health Authority reorganisation.
    2. Subject to relatively large sampling errors where estimates are based on small numbers of contacts.
    3. The figures in this table combine migration data from three sources to provide Total International Migration.
    Sources:
    Table 3.15 Migration, Regional Trends 37: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=5951&More=Y
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document

    Population Projections for Northern Ireland, 1997 - 2026

    Age
    1996
    (thousand)
    2001
    (thousand)
    2006
    (thousand)
    2011
    (thousand)
    2016
    (thousand)
    2021
    (thousand)
    2026
    (thousand)
    0-4
    125
    121
    111
    104
    102
    99
    95
    5-9
    133
    125
    121
    111
    104
    102
    99
    10-14
    132
    132
    124
    121
    110
    104
    101
    15-19
    125
    129
    129
    121
    117
    107
    101
    20-24
    126
    114
    118
    118
    110
    107
    96
    25-29
    129
    123
    112
    115
    116
    108
    104
    30-34
    128
    127
    121
    110
    113
    114
    106
    35-39
    117
    127
    126
    120
    109
    112
    113
    40-44
    101
    116
    126
    124
    119
    107
    111
    45-49
    99
    100
    115
    124
    123
    118
    106
    50-54
    91
    97
    99
    113
    123
    122
    116
    55-59
    76
    89
    95
    97
    111
    120
    119
    60-64
    69
    73
    85
    91
    93
    107
    116
    65-69
    65
    64
    68
    80
    86
    88
    101
    70-74
    58
    57
    57
    61
    72
    78
    80
    75-79
    43
    46
    46
    47
    52
    61
    66
    80-84
    28
    30
    33
    33
    35
    39
    46
    85-89
    13
    16
    17
    19
    20
    22
    24
    > 90
    5
    7
    8
    9
    10
    12
    13
    All Ages
    1,663
    1,694
    1,711
    1,720
    1,725
    1,724
    1,715

    Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1998, p.13


    Births, Deaths and Marriages in Northern Ireland, 1988-1996
    (Registered)

    .
    1988
    1989
    1990
    1991
    1992
    1993
    1994
    1995
    1996
    2001
    Live Births
    27,767
    26,080
    26,499
    26,265
    25,572
    24,909
    24,289
    23,860
    24,582
    21,962
    Still Births
    139
    133
    116
    124
    127
    130
    154
    147
    155
    ..
    Perinatal Deaths
    259
    214
    202
    222
    212
    220
    236
    250
    232
    ..
    Infant Deaths
    248
    180
    198
    194
    153
    176
    147
    169
    142
    ..
    All Deaths
    15,813
    15,844
    15,426
    15,096
    14,988
    15,633
    15,114
    15,310
    15,218
    14,513
    Marriages
    9,960
    10,019
    9,588
    9,221
    9,392
    9,060
    8,683
    8,576
    8,297
    7,281

    Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1998, p.10; and
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002, Table 1.7

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