Population In North Of Ireland Increases To 1.75 Million

Between mid-2005 and mid-2006 the number of people living in the North of Ireland is estimated to have increased by 17,000, or about 1.0%, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

This increase brought the size of the resident population in the north at the end of June last year toabout 1.742 million people.

The increase in the population between 2005 and 2006 was a result of the many factors, including a natural increase of 8,300 people, an estimated net migration into Northern Ireland from Great Britain of 900 people, and an estimated net international migration into Northern Ireland from outside the UK of 9,000 people.

Population growth due to migration (+9,900 people) was the highest ever observed and for the first time was larger than natural growth (+8,300 people).

In the decade leading up to 2004 the annual rate of population increase was around 7,000 people (0.4%) each year.

The 2005 and 2006 increases in population are significantly larger at 14,000 people (0.8%) and 17,000 people (1.0%) respectively.

Commenting on the figures, a spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency said: "Between 2005 and 2006 it is estimated Northern Ireland's population grew by more than 17,000.

"Northern Ireland has seen significant migration since European Union expansion in May 2004 and last year for the first time migration contributed more to population growth than natural change."