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Background Information on Northern Ireland Society - Income
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Text and Research: Fionnuala McKenna
Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change
Income
- In regional terms, income levels in Northern Ireland tend to be
significantly lower than all other parts of the United Kingdom
(UK), with the exception of Wales. Despite this, the average household
expenditure for Northern Ireland is almost as high as that in
England, equal to Scotland, and substantially higher than that
of Wales. Households in Northern Ireland spend more money per
week on food, alcohol and tobacco, and less on housing than anywhere
else in the UK.
- Within Northern Ireland itself, further comparisons can be drawn
between levels of income in the two religious communities. Protestants
have traditionally earned higher incomes than Catholics, although
a comparison of income statistics from 1988/87 and 1990/91 show
that the gap in income levels between the two has reduced. A larger
proportion of the Catholic community has also been dependent on
state benefits, and although the figures for this are still quite
high, (35 per cent of Catholics in 1990/91, compared to 19 per
cent of Protestants) the actual gap has narrowed from a 19 per
cent difference in 1988/87 to 16 per cent in 1990/91.
Sources:
The following tables provide further breakdowns of the income
statistics available for Northern Ireland. Much of this material
has been taken from the Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of
Statistics (1996) , Regional Trends (1996), The continuous
Household Survey (1991), and the Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts
(1997).
Household Income: By Source, 1980-1981, 1994-1995 and 1996-1997
| Percentage of average gross weekly household income |
| 1980/81
| 1994/95
| 1996/97
|
| .
| N.Ireland
| England
| Scotland
| Wales
| N.Ireland
| England
| Scotland
| Wales
| N.Ireland
| England
| Scotland
| Wales
|
| Wages and Salaries
| 66.7
| 73.4 |
71.8 | 68.2
| 62.0
| 65.0 |
63.8 | 56.7
| 63.0
| 64.8 |
66.0 | 57.7
|
| Self-employ | 6.1
| 6.0 |
7.4 | 6.9
| 9.2
| 9.6 |
8.6 | 6.3
| 6.9
| 9.6 |
7.8 | 11.7
|
| Investments | 2.1
| 3.8 |
2.8 | 3.0
| 2.3
| 4.6 |
3.4 | 4.2
| 2.7
| 4.7 |
2.7 | 4.9
|
| Annuities and Pensions
| 1.9
| 3.0 |
2.7 | 3.9
| 5.1
| 6.2 |
6.8 | 9.1
| 5.1
| 6.6 |
5.7 | 6.2
|
| Social Security Benefits
| 22.7
| 12.7 |
14.1 | 17.2
| 20.0
| 12.8 |
15.2 | 22.5
| 21.2 |
13.0 | 16.1
| 18.6 |
| Other Income |
0.5
| 1.2 |
1.3 | 0.8
| 1.3
| 1.8 |
2.1 | 1.3
| 1.1
| 1.3 |
1.7 | 0.9
|
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |
| Average gross weekly household income (£)
| 119.2
| 152.7
| 144.2
| 138.6
| 326.3
| 375.6
| 363.0
| 282.7
| 326.2
| 404.1 |
367.4 | 359.0
|
(Source: Regional Trends, 1996 and 1998, p.107)
Distribution of Household Income, 1994 - 1995 and 1996 - 1997
| 1994-1995 | % of households in each weekly income group
|
| . | Northern Ireland
| England | Scotland
| Wales |
| Under £80 | 11.8
| 10.4 | 11.4
| 15.0 |
| £80-£125 | 13.4
| 11.0 | 11.6
| 13.0 |
| £125-£175 | 11.8
| 11.0 | 11.6
| 13.0 |
| £175-£275 | 16.1
| 14.8 | 14.4
| 13.0 |
| £275-£375 | 15.0
| 13.4 | 13.5
| 13.0 |
| £375-£475 | 8.4
| 11.7 | 9.1
| 7.1 |
| £475-£650 | 14.0
| 14.0 | 15.2
| 14.2 |
| £650 or over | 9.6
| 14.2 | 13.0
| 6.2 |
| | |
| |
| Average gross weekly income per household (£)
| 326.3 | 375.6
| 363.0 | 282.7
|
| Average gross weekly income per person (£)
| 118.2 | 155.5
| 150.4 | 118.1
|
| 1996-1997 | % of households in each weekly income group
|
| . | *Northern Ireland
| England | Scotland
| Wales |
| Under £100 | 15.1
| 13.4 | 15.0
| 16.4 |
| £100-£150 | 13.9
| 10.9 | 11.5
| 11.3 |
| £150-£250 | 18.9
| 16.3 | 20.4
| 21.5 |
| £250-£350 | 15.0
| 13.2 | 10.8
| 14.1 |
| £350-£450 | 12.2
| 11.7 | 15.9
| 7.1 |
| £450-£600 | 10.8
| 13.9 | 9.9
| 11.6 |
| £600-£750 | 7.4
| 8.6 | 5.4
| 8.8 |
| £750 or over | 6.5
| 12.1 | 11.2
| 9.3 |
| | |
| |
| Average gross weekly income per household (£)
| 326.2 | 404.1
| 367.4 | 359.0
|
| Average gross weekly income per person (£)
| 123.6 | 164.7
| 151.0 | 150.6
|
| * Northern Ireland data are obtained from an enhanced sample, but the UK figures are obtained from the main Family Expenditure Survey Sample.
|
(Source: Regional Trends: 1996, p.127; 1998, p.107)
Household Expenditure: By Commodity and Service,
1994-1995
| . | 1994-1995
| 1996-1997
|
| . | N.Ireland
| England
| Scotland
| Wales
| *N.Ireland
| England
| Scotland
| Wales
|
| Housing | 27.7
| 48.0 |
41.3 | 34.2
| 29.0
| 50.8 |
39.3 | 46.2
|
| Fuel, Light and Power
| 15.6
| 12.7 |
14.1 | 13.7
| 16.0
| 13.2 |
14.1 | 14.2
|
| Food | 57.9
| 50.6 |
49.6 | 44.3
| 60.2
| 55.0 |
56.1 | 53.8
|
| Alcohol and Tobacco
| 20.3
| 17.9 |
18.5 | 16.2
| 19.4
| 18.3 |
20.1 | 18.3
|
| Clothing and Footwear
| 23.0
| 17.0 |
18.6 | 12.8
| 22.7
| 18.5 |
17.1 | 15.0
|
| Household Goods and Services
| 36.0
| 38.6 |
35.3 | 28.8
| 37.7
| 43.7 |
39.1 | 42.6
|
| Motoring and Fares
| 47.9
| 43.1 |
42.0 | 38.9
| 47.5
| 48.9 |
48.9 | 46.4
|
| Leisure Goods and Services
| 39.6
| 45.5 |
49.3 | 31.7
| 43.4
| 50.3 |
41.7 | 44.5
|
| Misc. and Personal Goods and Services
| 12.4
| 13.4 |
11.8 | 10.3
| 14.4
| 14.2 |
11.2 | 12.2
|
| | |
| | | |
| |
| Average Household Expenditure
| 280.4
| 286.9 |
280.5 | 230.7
| 290.2
| 312.8 |
287.6 | 293.2
|
| Average Expenditure per Person
| 101.6
| 118.8 |
116.3 | 96.4
| 109.9
| 127.5 |
118.2 | 123.0
|
| * Northern Ireland data are obtained from an enhanced sample, but the UK figures are obtained from the main Family Expenditure Survey Sample.
|
(Source: Regional Trends: 1996, p.130; 1998, p.111)
Total Gross Household Income in Northern Ireland from all sources
- Breakdown by Religion
| . | 1986-1987
| 1988-1990/91
|
| Total gross income | Catholic
%
| Protestant
% |
Overall
% | Catholic
%
| Protestant
% |
Overall
% |
| Less than £2,000 | 8
| 6 | 7
| 4 | 3
| 4 |
| £2,000 - £3,999 | 31
| 24 | 26
| 26 | 24
| 24 |
| £4,000 - £5,999 | 20
| 17 | 18
| 19 | 15
| 17 |
| £6,000 - £9,999 | 21
| 20 | 20
| 20 | 19
| 19 |
| £10,000 - £14,999 | 12
| 18 | 16
| 14 | 16
| 15 |
| £15,000 and over | 9
| 16 | 14
| 17 | 23
| 22 |
(Source: PPRU Monitor, Continuous Household Survey, Religion
Report, No.1/93)
Dependence on Benefits in Northern Ireland: A
Breakdown by Religion
| . |
1985-1987
| 1988-1990/91
|
| Receipt of Benefits | Catholic
%
| Protestant
% |
Overall
% | Catholic
%
| Protestant
% |
Overall
% |
| Income Support | 37
| 20 | 26
| 30 | 16
| 21 |
| Family Credit | 4
| 2 | 2
| 4 | 2
| 2 |
| Unemployment Benefit | 2
| 2 | 2
| 1 | 1
| 1 |
(Source: PPRU Monitor, Continuous Household Survey, Religion
Report, No.1/93)
Average Gross Weekly Earnings of Adult Employees
| . | 1991
| 1992 | 1993
| 1994 | 1995
| 1996 | 1997
|
Full Time Manual
(inc O/T) | 177.5
| 191.6 | 194.4
| 198.6 | 209.35
| 216.4 | 221.25
|
Full Time Manual
(exc O/T) | 161.3
| 171.1 | 174.1
| 178.45 | 186.65
| 194.0 | 198.3
|
| | |
| | | |
|
Full Time Non-Manual
(inc O/T) | 275.75
| 304.8 | 318.5
| 324.3 | 338.5
| 343.5 | 358.7
|
Full Time Non-Manual
(exc O/T) | 261.95
| 289.05 | 302.0
| 306.95 | 324.3
| 330.8 | 343.65
|
| | |
| | | |
|
Part Time Manual
(inc O/T) | 72.5
| 75.25 | 75.0
| 81.15 | 84.15
| 92.1 | 87.85
|
Part Time Non-Manual
(inc O/T) | 79.95
| 87.5 | 89.4
| 92.2 | 111.25
| 103.0 | 132.05
|
(Figures taken from Northern Ireland annual Abstract of
Statistics, 1998, p119)
Breakdown of Average Gross Weekly Earnings, according
to Gender
| . | 1991
| 1992 | 1993
| 1994 | 1995
| 1996 | 1997
|
All Males
Full Time (inc O/T)
| 272.4 | 298.2
| 313.6 | 319.2
| 330.9 | 337.4
| 355.9 |
All Females
Full Time (inc O/T)
| 201.7 | 224.2
| 232.5 | 236.7
| 251.4 | 256.9
| 265.2 |
| | |
| | | |
|
All Males
Full Time (exc O/T)
| 246.5 | 268.3
| 283.1 | 287.3
| 300.7 | 309.3
| 325.4 |
All Females
Full Time (exc O/T)
| 197.8 | 219.2
| 227.3 | 231.6
| 246.1 | 250.8
| 259.1 |
| | |
| | | |
|
All Males
Part Time (inc O/T)
| 75.0 | 78.3
| 78.8 | 84.8
| 104.7 | 95.8
| 124.5 |
All Females
Part Time (inc O/T)
| 75.8 | 84.8
| 85.9 | 89.5
| 93.6 | 100.8
| 105.7 |
(Figures taken from Northern Ireland annual Abstract of
Statistics, 1998, p.119)
Number of People Receiving Income Support, 1988-1996
| . | 1988
| 1989 | 1990
| 1992 | 1993
| 1994 | 1995
| 1996 |
| Persons < 60 years old |
Unemployed with
contributory benefit
| 3,500 | 4,600
| 1,780 | 1,560
| 920 | 2,400
| 3,000 | 1,431
|
Unemployed without
contributory benefit
| 72,480 | 68,240
| 63,060 | 74,880
| 79,960 | 75,040
| 61,980 | 62,959
|
| Disabled | 8,940
| 12,240 | 11,400
| 16,540 | 19,660
| {75,820 | 32,900
| 37,280 |
Lone parent premium
not in other groups
| 11,980 | 12,720
| 18,160 | 13,820
| 16,980 | 35,340 | 35,440
|
| Others | 11,980
| 12,720 | 18,160
| 13,820 | 16,980
| 22,040
| 21,170 |
| Persons > 60 years old
|
| Retirement Pensions | 53,420
| 48,580 | 51,120
| 45,920 | 50,280
| 50,720 | 53,080
| 56,160 |
| Others | 12,600
| 12,820 | 7,400
| 13,360 | 14,180
| 16,840 | 17,460
| 16,820 |
| All Income Support | 184,140
| 183,400 | 179,000
| 199,820 | 214,960
| 220,820 | 70,540
| 72,980 |
Note: Based on a 5 per cent sample at May
Breakdown not available for 1994.
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 1998, p.34)
Unemployment : Entitlement to Benefit (Thousands)
| Thousand
|
| .
| 1990
| 1991
| 1992
| 1993
| 1994
| 1995
| 1996
|
| Claimants | May
| Nov
| May
| Nov
| May
| Nov
| May
| Nov
| May
| Nov
| May
| Nov
| May
| Aug
|
| Unemployment Benefit Only
| 11.5 |
11.3 | 13.1
| 14.0 |
14.6 | 14.1
| 12.9 |
12.4 | 10.7
| 8.2 |
.. | 6.8
| 9.8 |
12.7 |
Unemployment Benefit
and Income Support
| 2.0 |
1.8 | 2.1
| 2.2 |
2.1 | 2.1
| 1.6 |
2.1 | 2.7
| 3.8 |
.. | 4.0
| 1.4 |
1.5 |
| Income Support only |
75.4 | 75.1
| 78.2 |
78.8 | 82.4
| 82.3 |
78.6 | 73.7
| 71.5 |
7.0 | ..
| 64.7 |
63.0 | 69.6
|
| Neither Unemployment Benefit or Income Support Payment
| 7.9 |
6.6 | 5.9
| 6.4 |
6.0 | 6.9
| 5.0 |
11.1 | 10.2
| 9.3 |
.. | 8.7
| 8.5 |
9.4 |
| All Entitled |
96.8
| 94.8
| 99.3
| 101.5
| 105.1
| 105.4
| 98.1
| 99.4
| 95.2
| 91.3
| .. |
84.2
| 82.7
| 93.3
|
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics
1996, 1998, p.35)
People Receiving Other Non-Contributory Benefits, 1988-1997
| . | 1988
| 1989 | 1990
| 1991 | 1992
| 1993 | 1994
| 1995 | 1996
| 1997 |
| Non-Contributory Retirement Pension |
3,264 | 3,152
| 3,027 | 2,614
| 2,668 | 2,514
| 2,431 | 2,284
| 2,091 | 1,941
|
| Family Credit | 13,774
| 13,695 | 14,037
| 15,112 | 17,346
| 18,996 | 22,952
| 23,990 | 25,407
| 27,075 |
| Attendance Allowance | 29,394
| 32,374 | 36,456
| 38,877 | 32,977
| 54,787 | 56,111
| 63,137 | 64,060
| 45,269
23,266 |
| Mobility Allowance | 12,616
| 14,385 | 15,968
| 17,880 | 18,614
| - | -
| - | -
| - |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 11,000
| 11,190 | 11,655
| 12,145 | 12,465
| 12,870 | 13,300
| 14,700 | 14,845
| 15,373 |
| Invalid Care Allowance | 5,728
| 7,133 | 8,117
| 8,249 | 10,395
| 16,971 | 22,299
| 28,242 | 33,254
| 29,356 |
*Mobility Allowance extinct after 1992
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1998, p.34)
|
