Population of NI up by nearly 100,000 in decade, figures show

Only England had a higher percentage increase in UK

NORTHERN Ireland has seen the second highest percentage increase in population across the UK between 2011 and mid-2022.

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that Northern Ireland’s population increased by 5.3%, or an additional 96,225 people.

The figures are the first Ukwide estimates for mid-2022, making them the most up-todate snapshot of the population.

Overall, the UK population stood at an estimated 67.6m people in mid-2022, up by 4.3m since mid-2011.

England saw the biggest percentage increase across the period, with its population jumping by 7.5% — the equivalent of 4m people.

After Northern Ireland, Scotland was third (2.8% or 147,800 people), followed by Wales (2.2% or 67,882 people).

The figures also show the median average age of people in the

UK in the year to June 2022 was 40.7 years, up from 39.6 years in June 2011.

All four nations now have a median age in the 40s, with Scotland recording the oldest at 43 years, followed by Wales (42.9), England (40.5) and Northern Ireland (40).

Despite being the lowest of the countries in the UK, the increase in median age over this period was highest in Northern Ireland.

The figures also show Northern Ireland recorded a population density per square kilometre of 141 in mid-2022, up from 134 in mid-2011.

They also revealed that Northern Ireland had the highest proportion of children aged under 16 of any country of the UK in mid2022 (20.4%).

Scotland had the lowest proportion of people of this age group (16.4%).

Population estimates for Scotland for the years before 2022 have yet to be revised to account for the latest Census, which took place here in March 2022 — a year later than in the rest of the UK.

This means there are currently no comparable Uk-wide estimates for the period 2012 to 2021 and is why the new figures are compared with 2011, when the Census took place in all four nations on the same day.

A full set of updated population estimates for the UK will be published after Scotland has revised its data for 2012-21, the ONS said.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency also plans to release mid-2023 population estimates for the country this summer.

The figures for England and Wales were first published last November and showed the combined population of the two nations grew by an estimated 1% in the 12 months to June 2022, the fastest rate for 60 years.

The increase was driven mostly by international migration, rather than natural change, unlike the baby boom which fuelled the growth in the early 1960s.