Postcode Information »
Northern Ireland

Information about Northern Ireland

Summary

Northern Ireland is the least populous country in the United Kingdom, with a population of just over 1.9 million people as of the 2021 census. Below you can find demographic data for Northern Ireland as a whole, based on the latest census.

People

Gender

Gender
Male 936,123
Female 967,045
Total 1,903,168

Age Groups

Age Groups
0-4 113,818
5-9 124,468
10-14 126,948
15-19 113,211
20-24 111,373
25-29 116,383
30-34 126,026
35-39 127,305
40-44 122,195
45-49 121,670
50-54 130,910
55-59 129,296
60-64 113,044
65-69 93,472
70-74 83,420
75-79 66,364
80-84 43,747
85+ 39,389
Total 1,903,039

Relationship Status

Figures for relationship status do not include those aged under 16, or those family members aged 16-18 who are in full-time education. Following the Civil Partnership Act that came into force in 2019, census figures for 2021/2022 no longer categorise same sex relationships as a separate category. Civil partnerships are now included within the figures for the other categories (Married, Divorced and so forth).

Relationship Status
Single 576,780
Married 693,268
Separated 57,252
Divorced 91,139
Widowed 96,417
Total 1,514,856

Culture

Ethnic Group

Ethnic Group
White 1,837,565
Irish Traveller 2,613
Roma 1,532
Mixed Ethnicity 14,370
Indian 9,909
Pakistani 1,598
Chinese 9,480
Other Asian 9,697
Black African 8,062
Other Black/African/Caribbean 2,964
Arab 1,814
Other 3,580
Total 1,903,184

Country of Birth

Country of Birth
United Kingdom 1,738,519
European Union 107,864
Rest of Europe 3,673
Africa 10,764
Middle East and Asia 29,254
The Americas (North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) 10,063
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and nearby islands) 3,093
Total 1,903,230

Length of Residence

The length of time a person has been resident in the UK has been calculated from the time a resident most recently arrived in the UK (excluding holidays/short stays outside the UK). However, residents that were born in the UK but emigrated and then later returned will still be counted as "Born in the United Kingdom".

Length of Residence
Born in The United Kingdom 1,646,282
10+ Years 151,909
5-10 Years 47,885
2-5 Years 37,964
Less Than 2 Years 19,163
Total 1,903,203

Passport(s) Held

Note that an individual may hold one or more passports, so this table does not include a total.

Passport(s) Held
None 302,128
United Kingdom 887,607
Republic of Ireland 504,542
European Union 70,814
Rest of Europe 1,035
African Countries 3,573
Middle East or Asia 12,516
The Americas (North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) 3,733
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and nearby islands) 882

Religion

Religion
No Religion 330,984
Catholic 805,190
Presbyterian 316,135
Church Of Ireland 219,784
Methodist 44,735
Other Christian 130,375
Other Religion 25,543
Not Stated 30,504
Total 1,903,250

Irish Language

Figures for Irish speaking and understanding are based on responses for all usual residents on census day 2021.

Irish Speaking Ability
Speaks, Reads, Writes and Understands Irish 71,916
Speaks and Reads but Does Not Write Irish 9,701
Speaks but Does Not Read or Write Irish 37,468
Understands but Does Not Read, Write or Speak Irish 90,805
Other Combination of Irish Skills 18,813
No Ability in Irish 1,608,001

Ulster Scots Language

Figures for Ulster Scots speaking and understanding are based on responses for all usual residents on census day 2021.

Ulster Scots Speaking Ability
Speaks, Reads, Writes and Understands Ulster Scots 20,917
Speaks and Reads but Does Not Write Ulster Scots 12,308
Speaks but Does Not Read or Write Ulster Scots 26,587
Understands but Does Not Read, Write or Speak Ulster Scots 115,116
Other Combination of Ulster Scots Skills 15,747
No Ability in Ulster Scots 1,646,005