Northern Ireland’s population has reached its highest level ever – at 1.903 million.

The number of people living in the area was part of a small 2021 census data release released on Tuesday.

Statistics show that over the past ten years, the population has increased by more than 90,000 people, from 1.811 million to 1.903 million or 5%. The 2021 census recorded 967,000 women and 936,000 men.

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The figures show that, according to high-profile trends, the number of older people is increasing – a factor which health service planners say will add increasing pressure on services already in demand.

Census figures show the number of people aged 65 or over rose by more than 60,000 to nearly a third of a million people, an increase of nearly 25% from 2011.

In contrast, the report shows, and in line with the recent decline in the birth rate, that the number of young children (aged 0-4) has fallen by 9% compared to the last census. Statistical experts believe that the number of people over the age of 65 could rise to a figure higher than the number of people under the age of 15 in the coming years – as early as 2026 or 2027.

What the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency calls ‘equality statistics’ – i.e. ethnicity, national identity, religion, sexual orientation, etc., will be released this fall, they announced on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland’s population could hit 2 million by the 2030s or 2040s, NISRA officials say, but it’s hard to predict as it will depend more on future birth rates than on the population already. existing and aging. The average household size in the 2021 census is 2.44, compared to 2.54 in the 2011 census.

Statisticians say the ‘baby boom’ generation of the 1950s and 1960s is reaching retirement age while, in line with recent declines in the birth rate, the number of young children (ages 0-4) decreased by 9% compared to the last census.

The 2021 census also recorded 769,000 occupied households – again the highest on record. This was 65,000 or 9% more households than in the 2011 census.

Registrar General Siobhán Carey said, “I want to thank the public for their support last year. The statistics released today help us understand our society in terms of aging and household structure. The data will inform public policy decisions for years to come.

“More census statistics on local areas and equality factors such as ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation will be released this fall.”

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