Northern Ireland

Population in Northern Ireland increased by almost 11,000 people to nearly 1.9m

New estimates show the population in Northern Ireland has increased by almost 11,000 people
New estimates show the population in Northern Ireland has increased by almost 11,000 people New estimates show the population in Northern Ireland has increased by almost 11,000 people

THE population in Northern Ireland had increased by almost 11,000 people in a year, new figures reveal.

Statistics released yesterday also show a continuing ageing population in the north with the number of people aged 65 or more increasing by almost two per cent over the year.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) said that by June 2018, an estimated 1.882 million people lived in the north - an increase of 0.6 per cent on the 2017 estimate.

It said the annual increase was driven by 23,100 births and 16,400 deaths.

It also included a net inward migration of 4,100 people - 23,600 moving here to live and 19,400 leaving to live elsewhere.

The statistics also revealed that the number of children in the north aged under 16 had increased, but by a lower rate of 0.7 per cent (up to 393,500 children).

The population in all local council areas also increased over the year, ranging from 1.2 per cent in Lisburn and Castlereagh LGD to 0.1 per cent in Derry City and Strabane.

Annual population growth rates, to mid-2018, were the same in Northern Ireland as they were in the UK as a whole - 0.6 per cent.

The UK population grew from 66.04 million in mid-2017 to 66.44 million in mid-2018.

In the Republic, the population grew significantly faster up by 1.3 per cent to 4.857million, which means that the number of people living in the island of Ireland was around 6.739 million in mid-2018.