Ards and North Down: population and statistics
Ards and North Down has a population of 165,407 (2025) across 566.5 km², or 292 people per km². It ranks 150 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +3.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 165,407 residents
- 566.5 km²
- 292 people/km²
Ards and North Down in numbers
Population of Ards and North Down over time
Ards and North Down had 159,362 residents in 2015 and 165,407 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 163,206 |
| 2021 | 163,827 |
| 2022 | 164,223 |
| 2023 | 164,913 |
| 2024 | 165,415 |
| 2025 | 165,407 |
All indicators for Ards and North Down
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | Ards and North Down | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 23.7% | 18.5% | 20.4% | ranked 96 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 17.3% | 19.6% | 17.4% | ranked 188 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ards and North Down | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £227,275 | £202,360 | £272,474 | ranked 238 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 7.0% | 9.5% | 2.2% | ranked 28 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ards and North Down | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,005 sites | 96,935 | 3,232,440 | ranked 209 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 36.3 per 1,000 | 50.3 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 279 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 5,015 businesses | 81,665 | 2,786,975 | ranked 215 of 361 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Ards and North Down | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.2% | ranked 238 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 11 local authorities in Northern Ireland, Ards and North Down ranks 4 by population.
House price change over 12 months: 7.0% in Ards and North Down, compared with an average of 9.5% in Northern Ireland and 1.9% across the UK.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 36.3 per 1,000 in Ards and North Down, compared with an average of 50.3 per 1,000 in Northern Ireland and 46.5 per 1,000 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 20.4% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Northern Ireland for “Share of residents aged 65 and over”.
- “House price change over 12 months”: higher than in 92% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 79,338 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Belfast, 19.2 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Belfast (351,927 residents), 19 km away.
Business sectors: Ards and North Down
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade20.4% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical10.6% ×0.8
- Construction9.8% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.7% ×2.2
- Accommodation and food services6.7% ×1.0
- Health and social work6.1% ×1.1
- Other service activities5.5% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services5.0% ×0.6
Where is Ards and North Down?
Neighbouring local authorities
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ards and North Down?
Ards and North Down has 165,407 residents (2025), ranking 150 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Ards and North Down?
Ards and North Down covers 566.5 km², with a density of 292 people per km².
Is the population of Ards and North Down growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Ards and North Down went from 159,362 to 165,407, a change of +3.8%.
Where is Ards and North Down?
Ards and North Down is in Northern Ireland (region). Latitude 54.562, longitude −5.637.
House price change over 12 months: what is the figure for Ards and North Down?
In Ards and North Down, “House price change over 12 months” stands at 7.0% (2026), ranking 28 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is 2.2%.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for Ards and North Down?
In Ards and North Down, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 36.3 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 279 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Which local authorities border Ards and North Down?
The nearest to Ards and North Down are Belfast (19 km), Lisburn and Castlereagh (22 km), Mid and East Antrim (41 km), Antrim and Newtownabbey (41 km), Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (60 km).