# People and census in Northern Ireland One of the four nations of the United Kingdom. 1,928,446 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 14,330 square kilometres. 16 layers about people and census for Northern Ireland, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. ## What is the population of Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland had 1,903,175 usual residents at the census. Northern Ireland is the least populated of 4 in the UK. ## Population Northern Ireland: **1,903,175** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Northern Ireland had 1,903,175 usual residents at the census. Northern Ireland is the least populated of 4 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-population ## Population estimate Northern Ireland: **1,928,446** (2025, nation level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. 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. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Northern Ireland: **63.7%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 63.7% of residents in Northern Ireland were aged 15 to 64 at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Northern Ireland: **17.2%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.2% of residents in Northern Ireland were aged 65 or over at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Northern Ireland: **19.2%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.2% of residents in Northern Ireland were aged under 15 at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Northern Ireland: **8.7%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 8.7% of residents in Northern Ireland were born outside the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Northern Ireland: **24.3%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 24.3% of residents in Northern Ireland had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Northern Ireland: **78.7%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 78.7% of residents in Northern Ireland said their health was good or very good. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-good-health ## Households Northern Ireland: **768,811** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Northern Ireland had 768,811 households at the census. Northern Ireland is lowest of 4 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Northern Ireland: **19.5%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.5% of households in Northern Ireland had no car or van at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Northern Ireland: **65.2%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 65.2% of households in Northern Ireland owned their home at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Northern Ireland: **133 per km²** (2021, nation level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Northern Ireland had 133 people per square kilometre at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Northern Ireland: **17.2%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.2% of households in Northern Ireland rented privately at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Northern Ireland: **15.3%** (2021, nation level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 15.3% of households in Northern Ireland rented from a council or housing association at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Northern Ireland: **32.1%** (2021, nation level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 32.1% of residents aged 16 and over in Northern Ireland had a degree-level qualification at the census. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Annual population change Northern Ireland: **0.0%** (2025, nation level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Northern Ireland’s estimated population changed by 0.0% in the year to mid-2025. - Against United Kingdom: 100% lower (0.3%) - Against the UK: 100% lower (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=N92000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/northern-ireland) · https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/housing) (7) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/deprivation) (2) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/health) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/environment) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/connectivity) (4) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/economy) (2) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/elections) (5) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/services) (1) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/sources) (12) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/N92000002/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people#l-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/northern-ireland/people