People and census in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland had 1,903,175 usual residents at the census.

Northern Ireland is the least populated of 4 in the UK.

Northern Ireland’s population was an estimated 1,928,446 in mid-2025.

The population held steady in the year to mid-2025.

Northern Ireland is least populated of 4 for population.

63.7% of residents in Northern Ireland were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

17.2% of residents in Northern Ireland were aged 65 or over at the census.

19.2% of residents in Northern Ireland were aged under 15 at the census.

8.7% of residents in Northern Ireland were born outside the UK.

24.3% of residents in Northern Ireland had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

78.7% of residents in Northern Ireland said their health was good or very good.

Northern Ireland had 768,811 households at the census.

Northern Ireland is lowest of 4 for the number of households.

19.5% of households in Northern Ireland had no car or van at the census.

65.2% of households in Northern Ireland owned their home at the census.

Northern Ireland had 133 people per square kilometre at the census.

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

17.2% of households in Northern Ireland rented privately at the census.

15.3% of households in Northern Ireland rented from a council or housing association at the census.

32.1% of residents aged 16 and over in Northern Ireland had a degree-level qualification at the census.

Northern Ireland’s estimated population changed by 0.0% in the year to mid-2025.

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.