Belfast: population and statistics
Belfast has a population of 351,927 (2025) across 137.7 km², or 2,555 people per km². It ranks 35 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +3.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 351,927 residents
- 137.7 km²
- 2,555 people/km²
Belfast in numbers
Population of Belfast over time
Belfast had 340,194 residents in 2015 and 351,927 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 344,994 |
| 2021 | 344,992 |
| 2022 | 348,005 |
| 2023 | 350,533 |
| 2024 | 352,390 |
| 2025 | 351,927 |
All indicators for Belfast
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 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 15.5% | 18.5% | 20.4% | ranked 306 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.4% | 19.6% | 17.4% | ranked 125 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Belfast | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £184,768 | £202,360 | £272,474 | ranked 315 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 7.7% | 9.5% | 2.2% | ranked 18 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Belfast | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 15,745 sites | 96,935 | 3,232,440 | ranked 45 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 44.7 per 1,000 | 50.3 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 176 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 11,485 businesses | 81,665 | 2,786,975 | ranked 60 of 361 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Belfast | Northern Ireland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.9% | 2.9% | 3.2% | ranked 98 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 11 local authorities in Northern Ireland, Belfast ranks 1 by population.
House price change over 12 months: 7.7% in Belfast, compared with an average of 9.5% in Northern Ireland and 1.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.5% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Northern Ireland for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Northern Ireland for “Population density”.
- “House price change over 12 months”: higher than in 95% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 19,289 football pitches.
- 9.0 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Lisburn and Castlereagh, 8.4 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Glasgow City (654,330 residents), 176 km away.
Business sectors: Belfast
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 trade18.5% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical14.3% ×1.0
- Health and social work8.8% ×1.6
- Accommodation and food services8.0% ×1.1
- Information and communication6.5% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services6.5% ×0.8
- Other service activities6.4% ×1.6
- Construction6.2% ×0.5
Where is Belfast?
Neighbouring local authorities
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Belfast?
Belfast has 351,927 residents (2025), ranking 35 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Belfast?
Belfast covers 137.7 km², with a density of 2,555 people per km².
Is the population of Belfast growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Belfast went from 340,194 to 351,927, a change of +3.4%.
Where is Belfast?
Belfast is in Northern Ireland (region). Latitude 54.594, longitude −5.929.
House price change over 12 months: what is the figure for Belfast?
In Belfast, “House price change over 12 months” stands at 7.7% (2026), ranking 18 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is 2.2%.
Business sites (local units): what is the figure for Belfast?
In Belfast, “Business sites (local units)” stands at 15,745 sites (2026), ranking 45 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 6,830 sites.
Which local authorities border Belfast?
The nearest to Belfast are Lisburn and Castlereagh (8.4 km), Ards and North Down (19 km), Antrim and Newtownabbey (23 km), Mid and East Antrim (28 km), Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (45 km).