In the latest census, it rose to 13.5%. in the population as a . So much is blurred now.. Some 31.86% identified as British only, 29.13% identified as Irish only and 19.78% as Northern Irish only. When the State of Northern Ireland was created in 1921, leading to the partition of the island of Ireland, approximately two thirds of Northern Irish were of Protestant faith (Anglicans, Presbyterians, etc. Contents1 What is the population [] Combining current religion and religion of upbringing of people in the 2021 Census shows 45.7% of the population who were 'Catholic' and 43.5% who were 'Protestant, Other Christian or Christian. While no identity question was asked in this year's census, in 2011 40% of people identified as British, 25% as Irish only and 21% as Northern Irish only. Information was gathered on passports held by people usually resident in Northern Ireland. However, in the census, taken last year, a total of 45.7 per cent of the 1.9 million population identified as Catholic, compared to 43.5 per cent who were Protestant. A Reflection for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, by James T. Keane, Pope Francis recounts his visit to Bahrain and the interfaith dialogue that occurred there: "Meeting each other and praying together, we felt we were of one heart and one soul.". The demographic tilt was expected but will still deliver a psychological hit to unionists, who for decades relied on a supposedly impregnable Protestant majority to safeguard Northern Irelands position in the UK. Read about our approach to external linking. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. 2022 BBC. This is an increase of 1% of Catholics and a decrease of 5% in the Protestant community. Demographers have long predicted that Catholics, who tend to be younger and have higher birth rates, could become a majority of voters within a generation. The 2022 Northern Ireland census discovered that of the resident population, 45.7% are either Catholic or brought up Catholic, while 43.5% are either Protestant or were brought up Protestant. people born in the Northern Ireland and living in the Republic and vice-versa. The growth of the Catholic population has continued steadily since the first Northern Ireland census in 1926, dipping only during the early years of the 1968-1998 civil conflict known as "the Troubles," when many Catholics emigrated. People are much more likely to question whether or not they are financially better off. Table NI-REL-01: Population in Northern Ireland: breakdown by religious denomination (numbers and %), 1991, 2001, and 2011 Table NI-REL-02: Catholic population in Northern Ireland (units as stated), 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021 Table NI-REL-03: Percentage of Catholics in each District Council Area, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2011 Northern Ireland contains 27.1% of the total population and 16.75% of the total area of the island of Ireland. The Census 2021 figures, published on Thursday, show that 45.7 per cent of the population said they were either Catholic or brought up as a Catholic. Thursday September 22 2022, . Results from the 2021 census released yesterday showed that 45.7% of Northern Ireland's population are Catholic or from a Catholic background, compared with 43.5% from Protestant or other. The results of the 2021 census, published this Thursday, showed that the 45.7% of the inhabitants are Catholic or of Catholic origin, compared to 43.48% of Protestant origin and other Christians. The results of the 2021 Northern Ireland census have been released and they show that 42.3% of the population identify as Catholic and 37.3% as Protestant or other Christian. The results of the 2021 United Kingdom census poll, released on Sept. 22, show that nearly 46% of the country's 1.9 million population were raised Catholic, compared to 43% who were raised Protestant. At that time, the population split was roughly two-thirds Protestant to one-third Catholic. The Catholic population, meanwhile, stood at 45.7 percent. Meanwhile 8% of people said they were both British and Northern Irish - up from 6.2% in 2011. More recent figures from 2016 show that among those of working age 44% are now Catholic and. Copyright 2022 America Press Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Neither bloc is a majority. The most prevalent main language other than English remains Polish at 1.1%. In the current census, close to 20% of the population said they have no religion, up from approximately 10% reported in the previous census. Some critics emphasised that religious beliefs often don't reflect political beliefs and dismissed using census figures to answer constitutional questions. Since youre a frequent reader of our website, we want to be able to share even more great, As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important, Parish clusters, foreign priests and deacons: Facing the realities of a shrinking church, Pope: Every time a woman comes in to do a job in the Vatican, things get better. 2. Duncan Morrow, a politics professor at Ulster University, said: The state was set up to put a protective ring around Protestants. gives 45.7 per cent of our population who were Catholic, . The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. It is ageing, with the number of people aged over 65 increasing by nearly 25%. The new census figures published on Thursday show that there are 45.7 per cent of people in Northern Ireland with a Catholic background as opposed to 43.5 per cent who are Protestant or belong to . Eight-out-of-10 people took the online option. The 2021 census is the first since the re-organisation of local government in Northern Ireland in 2015 when 11 so-called super councils replaced the existing 26 councils. A decline which has been linked to an ageing Protestant population with high mortality. The country's Census 2021 results, which were published Thursday, show that the percentage of the population that reports being Protestant or being raised Protestant had fallen to 43.5 percent. We can all be part of shaping a better future(a) new constitutional future and a new Ireland, he said. The 2022 midterms remind us: The two-party system is doomed to fail. How that change is shaped moving forward requires maturity to take the challenges which face our society, he said. Opinion polls consistently show more people favour staying in the UK citing taxes and the NHS, among other reasons than uniting with Ireland. According to the census numbers, some 45.7 percent of Northern Ireland's population is or was raised Catholic, while 43.5 percent are Protestant or raised in another Christian religion. Demographic trends suggest Census 2021 could be the first in the history of the region to record more Catholics than Protestants in the population. Why am I being asked to create an account? The previous census, in 2011, found that 45.1% of the population were Catholic or brought up Catholic. The 45-year-old, who plays in a pro-British marching band, said he does not think a United Ireland will happen in his lifetime. The Census 2021 . It found 48.4% were from a Protestant or other Christian background. If the findings are as big as predicted with more Catholics (who overwhelmingly identify as Irish / Northern Irish) than Protestants (who mostly identify as British / some Northern Irish) living in Northern Ireland for the first time since the state was created 100 years ago then the news tomorrow . The number of people from a Catholic background has outstripped those identifying as Protestant in Northern Ireland for the first time in the nation's 101-year history, according to 2021 census figures published Thursday. The 'hard' border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the island that was put in place in the 1920s was not just an unwelcome fact with which the Catholic population of Northern Ireland had to deal; like other international borders, it had an impact on the attitudes of the people on either side. A post-Brexit Irish Sea border has put trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. When you register, youll get unlimited access to our website and a free subscription to our email newsletter for daily updates with a smart, Catholic take on faith and culture from, A peace wall separating Catholic and Protestant communities is seen in Belfast, Northern Ireland, March 1, 2017. Its a ticking clock.. [1] Traditionally, Protestants have supported being part of Britain, whereas the Catholic community has traditionally supported unity with the rest of the island to form a single independent Ireland. However, the 1998 agreement doesn't contain any details on how such a call would be made by the Government. Northern Ireland is just 5.7 percent of the United Kingdom in terms of land size and the population of the nation is 2.9 percent of the whole UK. A recent poll found that Protestants (86%) were more likely than Catholics (64%) to say they had never changed their mind about Northern Ireland's position in the United Kingdom. Nisra plans to release the first tranche of statistics, a breakdown of. 23/09/2022. The previous census in 2011 showed Protestants outnumbered Catholics 48% to 45%. Those pushing for a border poll and united Ireland will be energised by the census figures. In 2011, during the previous census, 45.1% of the population said they were Catholic but still 48.4% declared themselves Protestant. We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. The Good Friday Agreement says that the constitutional status of Northern Ireland can only be changed with the population's consent. Figure 7.1 shows the distribution of people born in the other state to that in which they are living, e.g. It found 48.4% were from a Protestant or other Christian background. the census, the first since Brexit, showed a loosening of British identity. In the past 20 years, the number of people from a Protestant background has dropped by more than ten per cent. Northern Ireland was created in 1921, when Ireland was partitioned by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, creating a devolved government for the six northeastern counties. 22/09/2022 | 10:08 AM. No block is currently a majority. The British government is obliged to call a referendum on Irish unity if it believes there has been a shift in public opinion that would indicate a majority in favor of constitutional change. The figures for Protestants (and other Christian. Patricia McBride, a spokesperson for Irelands Future, a group that promotes a border poll, said religious background and national identity would not necessarily determine how people would vote. The Census 2021 figures, published on Thursday, show that 45.7% of the population said they were either Catholic or brought up as a Catholic. Data from the 2021 census showed 45.7% of respondents identified as Catholic or were brought up Catholic, compared with 43.5% identifying as Protestants. Election Day is coming. Before a 1998 peace deal, more than 3,000 died during three decades of fighting between mainly Catholic Irish nationalist militants seeking a united Ireland they believed would guarantee their rights, mainly Protestant pro-British loyalists and the British Army. Catholics outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time, a demographic milestone for a state that was designed a century ago to have a permanent Protestant majority. If the incumbent Northern Ireland Secretary believes there's been a shift in public opinion on the topic of constitutional change, a referendum must be called. More recent figures from 2016 show that among those of working age 44% are now Catholic and 40% . In 1969, Taoiseach Jack Lynch sought a multilateral United . The census reveals that of the resident. It comes 101 years after Northern Ireland was established in the six northeastern counties on the island of Ireland, remaining part of Britain when the 26 southern counties won independence from British rule. As far as age distribution goes, 27.2% of population (1,365,541) is 19 or younger, 57.1% of population (2,863,426) is between age 20 and 64 and 15.6% of population (779,522) is over 65. The total population was 1,903,100 with slightly more females than males. Total population of Northern Ireland, 2011 = 1,810,800 (Census 27 March 2011) (Figure rounded to the nearest 100) The 'first release' of information, based on the 2011 Census, was published on 16 July 2012. THE first results of the 2021 census are expected to emerge in March, however, the much-anticipated data showing the regional religious breakdown may not be published for a further six months. The Census 2021 figures, published on Thursday, show that 45.7 per cent of the population said they were either Catholic or brought up as a Catholic. If you login and register your print subscription number with your account, youll have unlimited access to the website. The founders of Northern Ireland drew the boundaries of the state along lines that they hoped would guarantee a permanent Protestant majority. Sep 21, 2022. The proportion of the resident population which is either Catholic or brought up Catholic is 45.7% compared to 43.48% Protestant. A. The entirely separate matter of the PIRA campaign notwithstanding, southern Ireland was outraged by the experience of northern Catholics. The country is the least in size among the countries in the UK. As for Ulster Scots, the percentage with some ability was 8.1% in 2011, it is now 10.4%. The largest groups were mixed ethnicities (14,400), black (11,000), Indian (9,900), Chinese (9,500) and Filipino (4,500). The growth of the Catholic population has continued steadily since the first Northern Ireland census in 1926, dipping only during the early years of the 1968-1998 civil conflict known as "the Troubles," when many Catholics emigrated. Results from the 2021 census released on Thursday showed that 45.7% of inhabitants are Catholic or from a Catholic background compared with 43.48% from Protestant or other Christian backgrounds. September 26, 2022. Almost everyone is frustrated because they want one party to finally achieve a decisive win and pull the country out of a polarization vortex but it never happens. The data show that 45.7% of people in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United . In recent elections support for nationalist and unionist parties plateaued at around 40% for each side, leaving 20% of voters in the middle who are non-aligned and reject traditional sectarian labels. In Mays assembly election, Sinn Fin overtook the Democratic Unionist party as Northern Irelands largest party, boosting its calls for a referendum on Irish unity. You can also manage your account details and your print subscription after logging in. "Today's results are another clear indication that historic change is happening across this island," said Michelle O'Neill, regional leader of Irish nationalists Sinn Fein, which became the largest party in Northern Ireland's devolved parliament for the first time this year, shocking many unionists. This is around double the 2011 figure (32,400 people) and four times the figures of 2001 (14,300 people). Christopher Lasch: the critic of American life beloved by traditionalist Catholics and Marxists alike, I have never met a real contemplative who found Merton useful: Letters reveal Sister Wendys ambivalence about Gethsemanis famous monk, Rockhurst University Religious Studies and Theology Degree, Marquette University Department of Theology, Vatican Museums 100 Works Not to Be Missed, Director of Fundraising and Donor Engagement, The Art of Controversy Hosted by Gloria Purvis Purchase Tickets, Lives are at stake: Catholic leaders react to abortion rights victories in midterm elections. At the time of the . Logging in will also give you access to commenting features on our website. Higher birth rates among Catholics had gradually closed the gap with Protestants, one historian said. 1.5 percent comes from other religions. The first prime minister of Northern Ireland, Sir James Craig, famously addressed the legislature describing it as a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people, and the Catholic minority complained of discrimination in terms of jobs, housing and voting rights. You cant take away from the symbolic significance of this change., Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning, In a referendum, Northern Irelands fate may rest with centrist voters who defy easy political categorisation, with many feeling Northern Irish as opposed to Irish or British, Morrow said. . That number has now risen to 45.7 percent, while the Protestant population fell to 43.5 percent. The figures, which are being released in stages, were due to be published on Tuesday but that was delayed due to the Queen's funeral. There is no doubt change is underway and irreversible. Stripping out religious upbringing, the proportion of people with no religion jumped to 17% from 10%. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. In 1926, Protestants made up at 66.3 percent of the population while Catholics accounted for 33.5 percent. In terms of. Reporting by Amanda Ferguson, writing by Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries, editing by Alex Richardson and Raissa Kasolowsky, UK's Rishi Sunak says he regrets making Williamson a minister, Man arrested after eggs thrown at King Charles, British nurses to hold first ever strike over pay, Analysis: Heavily discounted UK Plc may have further to fall, Aviva pledges regular investor payouts as premiums rise, Taylor Wimpey scales back home building plans due to cost-of-living crisis, Britain's M&S warns of 'gathering storm' of higher costs and weak consumer, Taiwan's President looks forward to Britain supporting its CPTPP bid, Taiwan aims for British trade deal as minister meets president, See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays, 46% identify as Catholic or brought up Catholic, Proportion of Protestants falls to 44% from 48%, Does not automatically increase United Ireland support. You can either click on the link in your confirmation email or simply re-enter your email address below to confirm it. Northern Ireland has a population of 1,903,175, an increase of 92,312 (5.1%) over the ten-year period since the last census. Demographic shift shown in census was expected but will still deliver psychological blow to unionists. John Finucane described the census results as another clear indication that historic change is happening across this island and of the diversity of society which enriches us all.. Mid Year Population Estimates Estimates of the. The growth of the Catholic population has continued steadily since the first Northern Ireland census in 1926, dipping only during the early years of the 1968-1998 civil conflict known as the Troubles, when many Catholics emigrated. The latest census figures show that for the first time there are more people from a Catholic background in Northern Ireland than Protestant. Sinn Fein said the shift was a further reason why planning should begin for a referendum on a united Ireland. Its not as simple as voting with the heart, people will be voting with the head as well, she said. However. Like Great Britain (but unlike most of the Republic of Ireland), Northern Ireland has a plurality of Protestants (48% of the resident population are either Protestant, or brought up Protestant, while 45% of the resident population are either Catholic, or brought up Catholic, according to the 2011 census) and its people See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Results from the 2021 census released on Thursday showed that 45.7% of inhabitants are Catholic or from a Catholic background compared with 43.48% from Protestant or other Christian. By The Newsroom . The party has increased calls for a poll since Britain's decision to leave the EU in 2016, which 56% of Northern Irish voters opposed. BELFAST, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Northern Ireland has more Catholics than Protestants for the first time, census results showed on Thursday, a historic shift that some see as likely to help drive support for the region to split from Britain and join a united Ireland. The previous census, in 2011, found that 45.1% of the population were Catholic or brought up Catholic. For decades after the creation of Northern Ireland, Catholics made up about 35 per cent of the population, their above-average fertility rate offset by a high emigration rate. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. The differing age profiles of Northern Ireland's Protestant and Catholic communities are key to understanding the region's shifting demography, the head of the census has said. These population figures are for mid-2020. As well as total figures, the latest statistics have been broken down at council level. The 2011 census figures were 45% Catholic and 48% Protestant. Compared with the previous census in 2011, the proportion of people with a British-only identity has decreased. The last census in 2011 put the Protestant population at 48%, just 3% more than Catholics at 45%. The 2022 Northern Ireland census discovered that of the resident population 45.7% are either Catholic or brought up Catholic, while 43.5% are either Protestant or were brought up Protestant. NI population almost 2m, census results show, Ireland's population hits record levels in census, Georgia race goes to run-off as fight for US Senate neck-and-neck, Russia to withdraw troops from key city of Kherson, Trepidation as Russians prepare Kherson pullout, Once a comfort, rain is now ruining Australia's mood, 'One of the hottest start-up spaces in the US' Video'One of the hottest start-up spaces in the US', Warnings over growing 3D printed gun threat, India shocked as men sentenced to death for rape freed, Kenya embraces GM crops amid crippling drought. "On all the demographic indicators and indeed political indicators, unionism is up against it and longer term things do not look good for Northern Ireland's place within the UK," said Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool. A man walks past a Catholic religious mural on the day that the Northern Ireland census was released on September 22, 2022 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Sean ODriscoll. Data from the 2021 census showed 45.7% of respondents identified as Catholic or were brought up Catholic, compared with 43.5% identifying as Protestants, the first time in more than a century that Catholics outnumber Protestants. #1. The Catholic community now makes up the majority of Belfast's population, with many Protestants having moved away to live in other parts of Co Down and Co Antrim. this helps us promote a safe and accountable online community, and allows us to update you when other commenters reply to your posts. Table 13.1 shows the religious affiliation as reported in the censuses of population between the establishment of Northern Ireland in 1921 and the most recent census in 2001. This means that at some point in the future, Catholics will outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's population is at its highest level since it was established in 1921, 'One of the hottest start-up spaces in the US' Video, 'One of the hottest start-up spaces in the US', Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), Who is winning, losing and what it means so far, $1m for shopkeeper who sold record Powerball ticket, Trump warns DeSantis against presidential bid, Senior Russian Kherson official 'dies in car crash', Control of Congress hangs in balance after midterms, Twitter lays off staff at its only Africa office. Among usual residents aged three years and over, English was not the main language for 4.6%. Northern Ireland is one of the countries in United Kingdom with population over 1.8 million. Fig 7.1: Percentage of the population at county level born in the northern six counties of Ireland and resident in the southern twenty-six counties, or vice-versa in (a) 1926 and (b) 1946/51. A vote on Irish unification is at the discretion of the British government, and opinion polls have consistently shown a clear majority favour remaining part of the United Kingdom. This led to what is viewed by some as the catalyzing event of the Troubles: a march in Derry on October 5, 1968, organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) to protest this. The population data was last updated on June 24, 2021. 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