Region
Northern Ireland: local authorities in numbers
Northern Ireland has 11 local authorities and 1,928,446 residents across 14,330 km², or 135 people per km². Population: +4.0% between 2015 and 2025.
- 1,928,446 residents
- 11 local authorities
- 14,330 km²
- 135 people/km²
Map and records: Northern Ireland
Population
All local authorities in Northern Ireland
Click a column heading to sort the table.
| Local authority | Population | Population change over 10 years | Population density | Area | Share of residents aged 65 and over | Share of residents aged under 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 351,927 | +3.4% | 2,555 people/km² | 137.7 | 15.5% | 18.4% |
| Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | 223,044 | +7.1% | 155.2 people/km² | 1,437 | 17.3% | 21.1% |
| Newry, Mourne and Down | 182,884 | +3.6% | 108.7 people/km² | 1,682 | 18.4% | 21.3% |
| Ards and North Down | 165,407 | +3.8% | 292.0 people/km² | 566.5 | 23.7% | 17.3% |
| Derry City and Strabane | 152,659 | +2.1% | 122.0 people/km² | 1,251 | 17.4% | 20.4% |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | 152,367 | +8.1% | 298.5 people/km² | 510.4 | 18.9% | 19.7% |
| Mid Ulster | 152,292 | +5.5% | 77.8 people/km² | 1,957 | 16.4% | 22.3% |
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | 148,487 | +5.0% | 203.9 people/km² | 728.2 | 18.3% | 19.1% |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | 141,752 | −0.2% | 71.4 people/km² | 1,986 | 21.0% | 18.7% |
| Mid and East Antrim | 139,964 | +2.1% | 131.9 people/km² | 1,061 | 21.1% | 18.0% |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | 117,663 | +2.3% | 39.1 people/km² | 3,012 | 20.2% | 20.5% |
Northern Ireland compared with the UK
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | Northern Ireland | the United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over | 18.5% | 19.4% |
| Share of residents aged under 16 | 19.6% | 17.7% |
| Average house price | £202,360 | £308,859 |
| House price change over 12 months | 9.5% | 1.9% |
| Business sites (local units) | 96,935 sites | 3,232,440 sites |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents | 50.3 per 1,000 | 46.5 per 1,000 |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) | 81,665 businesses | 2,786,975 businesses |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 | 2.9% | 3.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How many local authorities are there in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has 11 local authorities. The most populous is Belfast, with 351,927 residents.
What is the population of Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has 1,928,446 residents (2025), or 135 people per km².
Which local authority in Northern Ireland is growing fastest?
Lisburn and Castlereagh has the fastest growth in Northern Ireland over 10 years: +8.1%.