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United Kingdom · nation

Northern Ireland population 2026

Northern Ireland has 1,928,446 people on the latest official figure, for mid-2025, 591 more than a year earlier (+0.03%). It is 4th of the UK’s 4 UK nations by population, home to 2.8% of the UK’s people.

If last year’s change continues: about 1.9 million by 1 July 2026. That is our arithmetic, not an official figure.

Northern Ireland in numbers

Population
1.9 million mid-2025
Change in a year
+0.03% +591 people
Change since 2020
+1.47% from 1.9 million
Share of the UK
2.8% 4th of 4 UK nations
Population density
142per km² 13,547 km²
Births in the year
19 thousand deaths: 18 thousand
International migration
+2 thousand net arrivals from abroad
Moves within the UK
−3 thousand more people left than moved in

In the latest year births outnumbered deaths by 1,441, 1,870 more people arrived from abroad than left, and 2,634 more people moved to the rest of the UK than moved in.

That is about as many people as Equatorial Guinea (2 million).

Population of Northern Ireland by year

Population of Northern Ireland
1.9M
› Show the numbers as a table
YearPopulation
20111,814,318
20121,824,603
20131,831,677
20141,843,186
20151,854,943
20161,866,042
20171,875,178
20181,886,259
20191,898,519
20201,900,523
20211,904,564
20221,910,543
20231,920,382
20241,927,855
20251,928,446
YearPopulationChange
2025 1,928,446 +591
2024 1,927,855 +7,473
2023 1,920,382 +9,839
2022 1,910,543 +5,979
2021 1,904,564 +4,041
2020 1,900,523 +2,004
2019 1,898,519 +12,260
2018 1,886,259 +11,081
2017 1,875,178 +9,136
2016 1,866,042 +11,099
2015 1,854,943 +11,757
2014 1,843,186 +11,509
2013 1,831,677 +7,074
2012 1,824,603 +10,285
2011 1,814,318 –

Northern Ireland among the UK’s UK nations

Full ranking →
UK nations of the UK by population
#
1 England58,834,812+0.39%
2 Scotland5,545,500+0.04%
3 Wales3,175,181−0.09%
4 Northern Ireland1,928,446+0.03%

Largest cities in Northern Ireland

City proper, not the wider metro area; latest figure in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), so years differ.

  1. Belfast348,005
  2. Derry83,652
  3. Lisburn77,506
  4. Newtownabbey63,860
  5. Bangor61,011
  6. Craigavon59,236

Questions

What is the population of Northern Ireland in 2026?
The latest official figure is 1,928,446, for mid-2025 (Office for National Statistics). If last year’s change continues, Northern Ireland would have about 1.9 million people by 1 July 2026; that is our arithmetic, not an official figure. The ONS publishes new mid-year estimates once a year.

Is Northern Ireland’s population growing or shrinking?
It grew by 591 people (+0.03%) in the latest year, and has changed +1.47% since 2020. In the latest year births outnumbered deaths by 1,441, 1,870 more people arrived from abroad than left, and 2,634 more people moved to the rest of the UK than moved in.

How does Northern Ireland rank in the UK?
Northern Ireland is 4th of the UK’s 4 UK nations, with 2.8% of the people. England is the largest, with 58.8 million.

What is the population density of Northern Ireland?
About 142 people per km², on 13,547 km². Standard area measurements, ONS.

What is the largest city in Northern Ireland?
Belfast, with about 348 thousand people in the city proper. Metro areas are larger, and years differ (GeoNames).

Source and method

Office for National Statistics, mid-year population estimates. Open Government Licence v3.0. Standard area measurements, ONS. The ONS publishes new mid-year estimates once a year. Ranks, shares and changes are our arithmetic on the published figures. National figures can differ from the UN’s projection for the UK, which uses a different method. The 2026 figure above carries last year’s change forward; it does not come from the source.

Cite this page: Northern Ireland population, Office for National Statistics, mid-2025. GlobeMetrics, https://globemetrics.org/world-population/united-kingdom/northern-ireland/

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