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Background Information on Northern Ireland Society - Religion
Page Compiled: Martin Melaugh, Brendan Lynn, and Fionnuala McKenna
Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change
Religion in Northern Ireland
Summary
The main religious denominations in Northern Ireland are;
- Catholic
- Church of Ireland
- Presbyterian
- Free Presbyterian
- Methodist
- Baptist
- Brethren
The 1991 census returns showed that 84 per cent of people were members of one of the main Christian denominations. 11 per cent of people either refused to answer the question on religion or gave their religion as 'none'. The first table below gives a summary breakdown of the responses to the religion question. The figure of 84 per cent in Northern Ireland is significantly higher than the 56 per cent of people in Britain who consider themselves to belong to a Christian denomination.
People in Northern Ireland are also more frequent attenders at church than those in the UK. More than 50 per cent in Northern Ireland are churchgoers compared with 15 per cent in the rest of the UK. Furthermore, women in Northern Ireland are more frequent churchgoers than men, with 61 per cent of women attending church frequently, compared with just 39 per cent men.
A survey carried out in 1993 by the Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey showed that, 77 per cent of marriages in Northern Ireland are to partners of the same religion, compared with only 55 per cent in Britain.
As in most other societies a person's religion in Northern Ireland is largely determined by the religion of their parents. Whilst in Britain, the membership of churches is ageing, this is not the case in Northern Ireland where the churchgoing population is actually getting younger.
In a survey carried out in 1995 by the Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey, 90 per cent of Protestants opted to remain part of the UK, compared to just 24 per cent of Catholics, while 60 per cent of Catholics were in favour of the reunification of Ireland.
On the question of constitutional identity in Northern Ireland, 76 per cent of Protestants consider themselves to be Unionists, while 54 per cent of Catholics consider themselves to be Nationalist.
Sources:
The following tables provide further breakdowns of statistics for religion in Northern Ireland. Much of this material is based upon the Religion Reports of the Northern Ireland Census (1991), the Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts (1999), and the Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey.
List of Tables
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
The Tables
|
NI-REL-01: Population in Northern Ireland: breakdown by religious denomination (numbers and %), 1991, 2001, and 2011 |
| Year |
1991 |
2001 |
2011 |
| Religious Denomination |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
| Catholic |
605,639 |
38.40% |
678,462 |
40.26% |
738,033 |
40.76% |
| Presbyterian |
336,891 |
21.40% |
348,742 |
20.69% |
345,101 |
19.06% |
| Church of Ireland |
279,280 |
17.70% |
257,788 |
15.30% |
248,821 |
13.74% |
| Methodist |
59,517 |
3.80% |
59,173 |
3.51% |
54,253 |
3.00% |
| Baptist |
19,484 |
1.20% |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Brethren |
12,446 |
0.80% |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Congregationist |
8,176 |
0.50% |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Unitarian |
3,213 |
0.20% |
* |
.* |
* |
* |
| Other |
79,129 |
5.00% |
102,211 1 |
6.07% |
104,380 |
5.76% |
| Other Religions |
* |
* |
5,082 2 |
0.33% |
14,859 |
0.82% |
| None |
59,234 |
3.70% |
* |
* |
183,164 |
10.11% |
| Not Stated |
114,827 |
7.30% |
233,853 3 |
13.88% |
122,252 |
6.75% |
| Total |
1,577,836 |
100.00% |
1,685,267 |
100.00% |
1,810,863 |
100.00% |
| Notes: |
| * Figures not available |
| 1. Other Christian (including Christian related) |
| 2. Other religions and philosophies |
| 3. Persons with no religion or religion not stated |
| Source: |
Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics (2002), Table KS07a
Northern Ireland Census 2011 Key Statistics (2012), Table KS211NI |
| Table also available as: |
|
Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document |
|
Table NI-REL-02: Catholic population in Northern Ireland (units as stated), 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021 |
| Census Year |
1961 |
1971 |
1981 1 |
1991 |
2001 |
2011 |
2021 |
| Total Population |
1,425,042 |
1,536,065 |
1,532,196 |
1,577,836 |
1,685,267 |
1,810,863 |
1,903,178 |
| No Religion Information 2 |
26,400 |
142,500 |
274,000 |
174,061 |
233,853 |
305,
416 |
361,512 |
| Number Stated Catholics 3 |
497,547 |
477,921 |
414,532 |
605,639 |
678,462 |
738,033 |
805,151 |
| % Stated Catholics |
34.90% |
31.40% |
28.00% |
38.40% |
40.26% |
40.76% |
42.31% |
| Estimated Number Catholics 4 |
502,800 5 |
559,800 6 |
586,400 7 |
651,700 8 |
737,472 9 |
817,385 9 |
869,753 9 |
| Estimated % Catholics |
35.3% 5 |
36.8% 6 |
38.5% 7 |
41.5% 8 |
43.76% 9 |
45.14% 9 |
45.70% 9 |
| % Increase in Catholics |
- |
1.50% |
1.70% |
3.00% |
2.26% |
1.38% |
0.56% |
|
Notes: |
|
1. There was a high level of non-enumeration during the 1981 census mainly due to protests in Catholic areas about the Republican hunger strikes. |
|
2. Since 1971 there has been a large increase in the number of people who are unwilling to state their religion (during the 1991 census people were also offered the option of answering 'none' to the question on religion in addition to simply not completing the question). |
|
3. The number of people who were willing to state that they were Catholic represents the absolute minimum figure for Northern Ireland. Adjustments on this baseline figure are required to arrive at a more accurate figure for the total number of Catholics in the region. |
|
4. Various estimates have been made over the years of the 'true' size of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland. |
|
5. The estimate for 1961 is simply based on the assumption that 20 per cent of non respondents to the question on religion are Catholic. |
|
6. The estimate for 1971 is based on Compton, P. (1978) Northern Ireland: A Census Atlas. |
|
7. The estimate for 1981 is based on Compton, P. and Power, J. (1986) Estimates of the Religious Composition of Northern Ireland Local Government Districts in 1981. |
|
8. The estimate for 1991 is based on work in progress by Compton, P. and Power, J. being carried out for the Fair Employment Commission (FEC). |
|
9. The 2001 and 2011 Census included an additional question about community / religious background which allowed those initially recorded as 'persons with no religion or religion not stated' to be ascribed to the main religious groupings. |
|
Source: |
Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics (2002), Table KS07a and Table KS07b.
Northern Ireland Census 2011 Key Statistics (2012), Table KS211NI and Table KS212NI.
Northern Ireland Census 2021 Main statistics religion tables. |
|
Table also available as: |
|
Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document. |
|
Table NI-REL-03: Percentage of Catholics in each District Council Area, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2011 |
| District Council Area |
% Catholics 1971 1 |
% Catholics 1981 2 |
% Catholics 1991 3 |
% Catholics 2001 4 |
% Catholics 2011 4 |
| Antrim |
31.10 |
33.00 |
34.80 |
38.64 |
41.20 |
| Ards |
16.00 |
13.00 |
12.30 |
12.60 |
12.68 |
| Armagh |
44.50 |
46.50 |
48.40 |
48.70 |
48.36 |
| Ballymena |
17.70 |
19.00 |
19.40 |
20.97 |
22.55 |
| Ballymoney |
29.60 |
29.00 |
31.80 |
31.90 |
31.80 |
| Banbridge |
31.20 |
28.50 |
30.30 |
31.47 |
32.02 |
| Belfast |
34.10 |
38.00 |
42.70 |
47.19 |
48.58 |
| Carrickfergus |
16.20 |
8.00 |
7.50 |
8.66 |
9.56 |
| Castlereagh |
10.10 |
8.00 |
10.30 |
18.26 |
22.24 |
| Coleraine |
23.90 |
24.00 |
24.20 |
27.21 |
28.02 |
| Cookstown |
49.20 |
52.50 |
55.70 |
57.64 |
59.26 |
| Craigavon |
38.70 |
42.00 |
43.60 |
44.68 |
45.94 |
| Derry |
64.30 |
68.50 |
74.20 |
75.37 |
74.83 |
| Down |
54.10 |
59.50 |
62.20 |
61.95 |
62.51 |
| Dungannon |
52.30 |
53.00 |
58.60 |
60.80 |
64.11 |
| Fermanagh |
52.50 |
54.50 |
57.60 |
58.73 |
59.16 |
| Larne |
26.80 |
24.50 |
24.00 |
25.18 |
24.87 |
| Limavady |
52.40 |
54.50 |
55.80 |
56.58 |
59.68 |
| Lisburn |
16.60 |
22.50 |
29.10 |
33.35 |
36.46 |
| Magherafelt |
54.70 |
56.50 |
62.00 |
64.13 |
66.01 |
| Moyle |
48.70 |
51.00 |
55.80 |
60.29 |
59.56 |
| Newry & Mourne |
71.40 |
74.00 |
77.80 |
80.64 |
79.37 |
| Newtownabbey |
18.00 |
13.50 |
14.20 |
19.36 |
22.56 |
| North Down |
11.30 |
9.00 |
9.80 |
12.58 |
13.53 |
| Omagh |
62.10 |
65.00 |
67.70 |
69.07 |
70.34 |
| Strabane |
56.90 |
61.00 |
64.40 |
66.19 |
64.93 |
| Northern Ireland |
36.80 |
38.50 |
41.30 |
43.76 |
45.14 |
| Notes: |
|
1. Based on adjustments by Compton (Compton, Paul. 1978, Northern Ireland: A Census Atlas. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan). |
|
2. Based on adjustments by Compton and Power (Compton, Paul. Power, John. 1986, 'Estimates of the Religious Composition of Northern Ireland Local Government Districts in 1981 and Change in the Geographical Pattern of Religious Composition between 1971 and 1981'. The Economic and Social Review, 17, 2 Spring: 87-105). |
|
3. Based on adjustments by Compton (unpublished estimates supplied by The Equality Commission, 1999). |
|
4. Based on the additional question about community / religious background in the 2001 Census which allowed those initially recorded as 'persons with no religion or religion not stated' to be ascribed to the main religious groupings. |
|
Source: |
Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics (2002), Table Table KS07b.
Northern Ireland Census 2011 Key Statistics (2012), Table KS211NI and Table KS212NI. |
|
Table also available as: |
|
Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document. |
Breakdown of population in Northern Ireland according to Religion, 1861-1991 (1991 figures)
| |
Roman Catholic |
Presbyterian |
Church of Ireland |
Methodist |
| Year of enumer-ation |
Total popul-ation |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
| 1861 |
1,396,453 |
571,890 |
40.9 |
457,119 |
32.7 |
320.634 |
23.0 |
27,919 |
2.0 |
| 1871 |
1,359,190 |
534,441 |
39.3 |
435,731 |
32.1 |
329,279 |
24.2 |
26,536 |
2.0 |
| 1881 |
1,304,816 |
495,559 |
38.0 |
414,236 |
31.7 |
321,998 |
24.7 |
31,179 |
2.4 |
| 1891 |
1,236,056 |
448,304 |
38.3 |
393,505 |
31.8 |
313,299 |
25.3 |
36,987 |
3.0 |
| 1901 |
1,236,952 |
430,380 |
34.8 |
396,582 |
32.0 |
318,825 |
25.8 |
44,134 |
3.6 |
| 1911 |
1,250,531 |
430,161 |
34.4 |
395,039 |
31.8 |
327,078 |
26.1 |
45,942 |
3.7 |
| 1926 |
1,256,561 |
420,428 |
33.5 |
393,374 |
31.3 |
338,724 |
27.0 |
49,554 |
3.9 |
| 1937 |
1,279,745 |
428,290 |
33.5 |
390,931 |
30.5 |
345,474 |
27.0 |
55,135 |
4.3 |
| 1951 |
1,370,921 |
471,460 |
34.4 |
410,215 |
29.9 |
353,245 |
25.8 |
66,639 |
4.9 |
| 1961 |
1,425,042 |
497,547 |
34.9 |
413,113 |
29.0 |
344,800 |
24.2 |
71,865 |
5.0 |
| 1971 |
1,519,540 |
477,921 |
31.4 |
405,717 |
26.7 |
334,318 |
22.0 |
71,235 |
4.7 |
| 1981 |
1,481,959 |
414,532 |
28.0 |
339,818 |
22.9 |
281,472 |
19.0 |
58,731 |
4.0 |
| 1991 |
1,577,836 |
605,639 |
38.4 |
336,891 |
21.3 |
279,280 |
17.7 |
59,517 |
3.8 |
Continued ...:
| |
Other Denominations |
None |
Not stated |
| Year of enumer-ation |
Total population |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
| 1861 |
1,396,453 |
18,646 |
1.3 |
|
|
445 |
0.1 |
| 1871 |
1,359,190 |
32,816 |
2.4 |
|
|
387 |
0.0 |
| 1881 |
1,304,816 |
40,317 |
3.1 |
|
|
1,527 |
0.1 |
| 1891 |
1,236,056 |
41,958 |
3.4 |
|
|
2,005 |
0.2 |
| 1901 |
1,236,952 |
47,971 |
3.9 |
|
|
1,070 |
0.1 |
| 1911 |
1,250,531 |
49,827 |
4.0 |
|
|
2,486 |
0.2 |
| 1926 |
1,256,561 |
52,177 |
4.1 |
|
|
2,304 |
0.2 |
| 1937 |
1,279,745 |
57,541 |
4.5 |
|
|
2,374 |
0.2 |
| 1951 |
1,370,921 |
63,497 |
4.6 |
|
|
5,865 |
0.4 |
| 1961 |
1,425,042 |
71,299 |
5.0 |
|
|
26,418 |
1.9 |
| 1971 |
1,519,540 |
87,838 |
5.8 |
|
|
142,511 |
18.5 |
| 1981 |
1,481,959 |
112,822 |
7.6 |
|
|
274,584 |
18.5 |
| 1991 |
1,577,836 |
122,448 |
7.8 |
58,234 |
3.7 |
114,827 |
7.3 |
(Source: 'The Northern Ireland Census 1991: Religion Report')
Breakdown of population in Republic of Ireland according to Religion, 1881-1991
|
Year |
|
Catholic |
Church of Ireland |
Presbyterian |
Methodist |
Jewish |
Other |
No Religion |
Not Stated |
|
Total |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
|
1881 |
3870020 |
3465332 |
89.54 |
317576 |
8.21 |
56498 |
1.46 |
17660 |
0.46 |
394 |
0.01 |
|
|
12560 |
0.32 |
|
|
|
1891 |
3468694 |
3099003 |
89.34 |
286804 |
8.27 |
51469 |
1.48 |
18513 |
0.53 |
1506 |
0.04 |
|
|
11399 |
0.33 |
|
|
|
1901 |
3221823 |
2878271 |
89.34 |
264264 |
8.20 |
46714 |
1.45 |
17872 |
0.55 |
3006 |
0.09 |
|
|
11696 |
0.36 |
|
|
|
1911 |
3139688 |
2812509 |
89.58 |
249535 |
7.95 |
45486 |
1.45 |
16440 |
0.52 |
3805 |
0.12 |
|
|
11913 |
0.38 |
|
|
|
1926 |
2971992 |
2751269 |
92.57 |
164215 |
5.53 |
32429 |
1.09 |
10663 |
0.36 |
3686 |
0.12 |
|
|
9730 |
0.33 |
|
|
|
1936 |
2968420 |
2773920 |
93.45 |
145030 |
4.89 |
28067 |
0.95 |
9649 |
0.33 |
3749 |
0.13 |
|
|
8005 |
0.27 |
|
|
|
1946 |
2955107 |
2786033 |
94.28 |
124829 |
4.22 |
23870 |
0.81 |
8355 |
0.28 |
3907 |
0.13 |
|
|
8113 |
0.27 |
|
|
|
1961 |
2818341 |
2673473 |
94.86 |
104016 |
3.69 |
18953 |
0.67 |
6676 |
0.24 |
3255 |
0.12 |
5236 |
0.19 |
1107 |
0.04 |
5625 |
0.20 |
|
1971 |
2978248 |
2795666 |
93.87 |
97739 |
3.28 |
16052 |
0.54 |
5646 |
0.19 |
2633 |
0.09 |
6248 |
0.21 |
7616 |
0.26 |
46648 |
1.57 |
|
1981 |
3443405 |
3204476 |
93.06 |
95366 |
2.77 |
14255 |
0.41 |
5790 |
0.17 |
2127 |
0.06 |
10843 |
0.31 |
39572 |
1.15 |
70976 |
2.06 |
|
1991 |
3525719 |
3228327 |
91.57 |
82840 |
2.35 |
13199 |
0.37 |
5037 |
0.14 |
1581 |
0.04 |
45090 |
1.28 |
66270 |
1.88 |
83375 |
2.36 |
Source: Republic of Ireland Census
Religions of the Population - Local Government Districts (1991 figures)
|
|
Roman Catholic |
Presbyterian |
Church of Ireland |
|
Area |
Total population |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
|
Northern Ireland |
1,577,836 |
605,639 |
38.4 |
336,891 |
21.4 |
279,290 |
17.7 |
|
Antrim |
44,516 |
14,117 |
31.7 |
13,614 |
30.6 |
6,384 |
14.3 |
|
Ards |
64,784 |
7,341 |
11.3 |
25,219 |
38.9 |
12,137 |
18.7 |
|
Armagh |
51,817 |
23,518 |
45.4 |
8,627 |
16.6 |
10,604 |
20.5 |
|
Ballymena |
56,641 |
10,392 |
18.3 |
26,067 |
46.0 |
8,869 |
12.1 |
|
Ballymoney |
24,198 |
7,311 |
30.2 |
9,411 |
38.8 |
3,151 |
13.0 |
|
Banbridge |
33,482 |
9,256 |
27.6 |
9,808 |
28.7 |
6,382 |
19.0 |
|
Belfast |
279,237 |
108,954 |
39.0 |
47,743 |
17.1 |
50,242 |
18.0 |
|
Carrickfergus |
32,750 |
2,269 |
8.9 |
10,166 |
31.0 |
7,698 |
23.5 |
|
Castlereagh |
60,799 |
5,743 |
9.4 |
17,445 |
28.7 |
14,638 |
24.1 |
|
Coleraine |
50,438 |
11,323 |
22.4 |
15,946 |
31.6 |
12,550 |
24.9 |
|
Cookstown |
31,082 |
16,522 |
53.2 |
4,779 |
15.4 |
5,288 |
17.0 |
|
Craigavon |
74,988 |
30,060 |
40.1 |
7,718 |
10.3 |
18,688 |
24.8 |
|
Derry |
95,371 |
66,260 |
69.5 |
10,539 |
11.1 |
8,503 |
8.9 |
|
Down |
58,008 |
32,507 |
58.0 |
9,025 |
15.6 |
6,183 |
10.7 |
|
Dungannon |
45,428 |
25,299 |
55.7 |
5,822 |
12.8 |
8,245 |
18.1 |
|
Fermanagh |
54,033 |
29,657 |
54.9 |
1,549 |
2.9 |
14,283 |
26.4 |
|
Larne |
29,419 |
6,510 |
22.1 |
11,136 |
37.9 |
4,083 |
13.9 |
|
Limavady |
29,567 |
15,281 |
51.7 |
5,683 |
19.2 |
4,899 |
15.9 |
|
Lisburn |
99,458 |
26,786 |
26.9 |
20,980 |
21.1 |
28,288 |
26.4 |
|
Magherafelt |
36,283 |
21,377 |
58.8 |
6,466 |
15.1 |
4,372 |
12.0 |
|
Moyle |
14,789 |
7,723 |
52.2 |
2,766 |
18.7 |
2,587 |
17.5 |
|
Newry and Mourne |
82,943 |
59,555 |
71.8 |
8,890 |
10.7 |
3,861 |
4.7 |
|
Newtownabbey |
74,035 |
9,635 |
13.0 |
23,610 |
31.9 |
14,976 |
20.2 |
|
North Down |
71,832 |
6,435 |
9.0 |
23,658 |
32.9 |
16,591 |
23.1 |
|
Omagh |
45,809 |
29,469 |
64.3 |
5,141 |
11.2 |
5,766 |
12.8 |
|
Strabane |
36,141 |
22,339 |
61.3 |
6,283 |
17.4 |
4,256 |
11.8 |
Continued ...:
|
|
Methodist |
Other denominations |
None |
Not stated |
|
Area |
Total population |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
|
Northern Ireland |
1,577,836 |
59,517 |
3.8 |
122,448 |
7.8 |
59,234 |
3.7 |
114,827 |
7.3 |
|
Antrim |
44,516 |
786 |
1.8 |
8,600 |
8.1 |
2,025 |
4.5 |
3,990 |
9.0 |
|
Ards |
64,784 |
3,386 |
10.9 |
7,069 |
10.9 |
3,904 |
6.0 |
5,708 |
8.8 |
|
Armagh |
51,817 |
1,236 |
7.6 |
3,964 |
7.6 |
825 |
1.6 |
3,043 |
5.9 |
|
Ballymena |
56,641 |
1,442 |
10.8 |
6,115 |
10.8 |
1,645 |
3.3 |
3,911 |
6.9 |
|
Ballymoney |
24,198 |
123 |
9.0 |
2,184 |
9.0 |
524 |
2.2 |
1,494 |
6.9 |
|
Banbridge |
33,482 |
624 |
11.8 |
3,977 |
11.9 |
929 |
2.8 |
2,728 |
6.2 |
|
Belfast |
279,237 |
14,667 |
7.2 |
20,113 |
7.2 |
14,758 |
5.3 |
22,762 |
8.1 |
|
Carrickfergus |
32,750 |
3,162 |
13.4 |
4,390 |
13.4 |
2,476 |
7.6 |
2,589 |
8.2 |
|
Castlereagh |
60,799 |
5,323 |
13.9 |
8,481 |
13.9 |
3,797 |
8.2 |
5,372 |
7.9 |
|
Coleraine |
50,438 |
784 |
8.4 |
4,214 |
8.4 |
2,104 |
4.2 |
3,517 |
8.8 |
|
Cookstown |
31,082 |
331 |
6.9 |
2,131 |
6.9 |
382 |
1.2 |
1,649 |
7.0 |
|
Craigavon |
74,988 |
3,904 |
9.6 |
7,190 |
9.6 |
1,955 |
2.6 |
5,493 |
5.3 |
|
Derry |
95,371 |
853 |
2.8 |
2,629 |
2.8 |
1,353 |
1.4 |
5,234 |
5.5 |
|
Down |
58,008 |
559 |
6.0 |
3,454 |
6.0 |
1,658 |
2.9 |
4,622 |
8.0 |
|
Dungannon |
45,428 |
912 |
5.3 |
2,416 |
5.3 |
384 |
0.8 |
2,350 |
5.2 |
|
Fermanagh |
54,033 |
2,724 |
4.7 |
2,534 |
4.7 |
745 |
1.4 |
2,541 |
4.7 |
|
Larne |
29,419 |
1,107 |
9.4 |
2,771 |
9.4 |
1,291 |
4.4 |
2,521 |
8.6 |
|
Limavady |
29,567 |
203 |
3.5 |
1,035 |
3.5 |
512 |
1.7 |
2,154 |
7.3 |
|
Lisburn |
99,458 |
4,095 |
9.2 |
9,154 |
9.2 |
4,780 |
4.8 |
7,377 |
7.4 |
|
Magherafelt |
36,283 |
185 |
7.3 |
2,632 |
7.3 |
313 |
0.9 |
1,968 |
6.4 |
|
Moyle |
14,789 |
29 |
3.1 |
452 |
3.1 |
254 |
1.7 |
978 |
6.6 |
|
Newry and Mourne |
82,943 |
314 |
4.1 |
3,375 |
4.1 |
947 |
1.1 |
6,000 |
7.2 |
|
Newtownabbey |
74,035 |
6,437 |
11.0 |
8,125 |
11.0 |
4,476 |
6.0 |
6,776 |
9.2 |
|
North Down |
71,832 |
5,077 |
10.4 |
7,500 |
10.4 |
6,140 |
8.5 |
6,431 |
9.0 |
|
Omagh |
45,809 |
785 |
4.2 |
1,910 |
4.2 |
570 |
1.2 |
2,163 |
4.7 |
|
Strabane |
36,141 |
489 |
2.9 |
1,032 |
2.9 |
289 |
0.8 |
1,453 |
4.0 |
(Source: 'The Northern Ireland Census 1991: Religion Report')
Denominational Affiliation (based on 1993 figures)
|
|
Northern Ireland
% |
Britain
% |
|
Catholic |
35 |
10 |
|
Episcopalian |
19 |
36 |
|
Presbyterian |
25 |
5 |
|
Methodist |
4 |
3 |
|
Baptist |
2 |
1 |
|
Free Presbyterian |
1 |
* |
|
Brethren |
1 |
* |
|
Other Protestant |
2 |
2 |
|
Missing/Other |
11 |
44 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1992-1993, The Third Report, p.6)
Church Attendance (based on 1993 survey results)
|
|
Northern Ireland
% |
Britain
% |
|
Frequent |
58 |
15 |
|
Regular |
10 |
7 |
|
Rare |
32 |
78 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1992-1993, The Third Report, p.7)
Church Attendance and Denomination (based on 1993 survey results)
|
|
Frequent |
Regular |
Rare |
|
NI
% |
GB
% |
NI
% |
GB
% |
NI
% |
GB
% |
|
Catholic |
84 |
44 |
6 |
11 |
11 |
46 |
|
Episcopalian |
45 |
12 |
13 |
8 |
42 |
80 |
|
Baptist |
38 |
52 |
41 |
9 |
21 |
40 |
|
Methodist |
45 |
26 |
18 |
15 |
37 |
60 |
|
Presbyterian |
52 |
20 |
13 |
14 |
35 |
66 |
|
Free Presbyterian |
53 |
- |
16 |
- |
32 |
- |
|
Brethren |
69 |
- |
19 |
- |
13 |
- |
|
Other |
77 |
55 |
0 |
4 |
23 |
42 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1992-1993, The Third Report, p.7)
Gender and Religious Affiliation (based on 1993 survey results)
|
|
Northern Ireland |
Britain |
|
Men
% |
Women
% |
Men
% |
Women
% |
|
Catholic |
45 |
55 |
40 |
60 |
|
Mainstream Protestant |
42 |
57 |
41 |
59 |
|
Conservative Protestant |
33 |
67 |
40 |
60 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1992-1993, The Third Report, p.15)
Gender and Church Attendance(based on 1993 survey results)
|
|
Northern Ireland |
Britain |
|
Men
% |
Women
% |
Men
% |
Women
% |
|
Frequent |
39 |
61 |
37 |
63 |
|
Regular |
57 |
43 |
35 |
65 |
|
Rare |
49 |
51 |
48 |
52 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1992-1993, The Third Report, p.16)
Age and Church attendance (based on 1993 survey results)
|
Age |
All |
Frequent |
Regular |
Rare |
|
NI
% |
GB
% |
NI
% |
GB
% |
NI
% |
GB
% |
NI
% |
GB
% |
|
18-24 |
16 |
12 |
16 |
8 |
14 |
12 |
18 |
13 |
|
25-34 |
19 |
19 |
16 |
16 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
|
35-44 |
19 |
18 |
17 |
15 |
17 |
20 |
21 |
18 |
|
45-54 |
18 |
16 |
19 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
17 |
17 |
|
55-64 |
13 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
18 |
18 |
10 |
14 |
|
65+ |
15 |
20 |
17 |
20 |
15 |
16 |
12 |
19 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1992-1993, The Third Report, p.17)
Preferred long-term policy for Northern Ireland by religion (%)(based on 1996 survey results)
| | 1989
| 1990 | 1991
| 1993 | 1994
|
| Protestants |
| Remain part of UK | 93
| 93 | 92
| 90 | 90
|
| Reunify Ireland | 3
| 5 | 4
| 5 | 6
|
| Other option | 2
| 1 | 1
| 4 | 3
|
| Don't know | 2
| 1 | 1
| 1 | 1
|
| Not answered | 0
| 0 | 1
| 0 | 0
|
| Catholics |
| Remain part of UK | 32
| 33 | 35
| 36 | 24
|
| Reunify Ireland | 56
| 55 | 53
| 49 | 60
|
| Other option | 4
| 5 | 2
| 5 | 7
|
| Don't know | 7
| 6 | 7
| 10 | 8
|
| Not answered | 1
| 1 | 2
| 1 | 1
|
| Others |
| Remain part of UK | 81
| 72 | 79
| 74 | 66
|
| Reunify Ireland | 13
| 19 | 13
| 13 | 15
|
| Other option | 4
| 5 | 4
| 6 | 14
|
| Don't know | 3
| 2 | 4
| 7 | 5
|
| Not answered | 0
| 2 | 0
| 0 | 0
|
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1995-1996, The Fifth Report, p.35)
Responses to national identity question by religion and year (%)
(based on 1996 survey results)
| | 1989
| 1991 |
1993 | 1994
|
| | P
| C | P
| C | P
| C | P
| C |
| British/Ulster | 79
| 12 | 82
| 12 | 85
| 13 | 82
| 10 |
| N.Irish/Sometimes | 18
| 29 | 16
| 27 | 13
| 26 | 15
| 28 |
| Irish | 3 |
60 | 2
| 62 | 2
| 61 | 3
| 62 |
P = Protestant; C = Catholic
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1995-1996, The Fifth Report, p.37)
Responses to constitutional identity question by religion and
year (%)(based on 1996 survey results)
| . | 1989
| 1991 |
1993 | 1994
|
| . | P
| C | P
| C | P
| C | P
| C |
| Unionist | 71
| 0 | 73
| 0 | 75
| 0 | 76
| 0 |
| Neither | 29
| 59 | 27
| 48 | 25
| 59 | 24
| 45 |
| Nationalist | 0
| 40 | 0
| 51 | 0
| 40 | 0
| 54 |
P = Protestant; C = Catholic
The above table reports another measure of identity, which we call 'constitutional
identity'. This is the response to the question:
Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Unionist,
a Nationalist or neither?
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1995-1996, The Fifth Report, p.35)
Support for Unionist and Nationalist parties and Alliance according
to religion (%)(based on 1996 survey results)
| | 1989
| 1990 | 1991
| 1993 | 1994
|
| Protestants |
| Unionist | 88
| 90 | 87
| 88 | 86
|
| Alliance | 12
| 10 | 12
| 11 | 14
|
| Nationalist | 0
| 0 | 1
| 1 | 0
|
| Catholics |
| Unionist | 3
| 1 | 1
| 2 | 0
|
| Alliance | 11
| 14 | 13
| 13 | 11
|
| Nationalist | 86
| 85 | 86
| 86 | 89
|
| Others |
| Unionist | 50
| 67 | 65
| 58 | 51
|
| Alliance | 34
| 26 | 29
| 24 | 25
|
| Nationalist | 16
| 7 | 6
| 19 | 24
|
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1995-1996, The Fifth Report, p.38)
Percentage who wish to retain Union with Britain (1994 data)
| | All
| Protestants | Catholics
|
| Gender |
| Men | 69 |
94 | 21
|
| Women | 71
| 94 | 36
|
| Age |
| 18-25 | 64
| 97 | 14
|
| 26-35 | 70
| 98 | 30
|
| 36-45 | 65
| 88 | 37
|
| 46-55 | 71
| 97 | 32
|
| 56+ | 77 |
93 | 30
|
| Social class |
| Salariat | 70
| 93 | 28
|
| Routine non-manual | 74
| 94 | 33
|
| Petty bourgeoisie | 68
| 88 | 24
|
| Foremen and technical workers | 83
| 96 | 23
|
| Working class | 68
| 96 | 31
|
| Education |
| None | 69
| 93 | 32
|
| CSE <grade 1 | 71
| 97 | 25
|
| 0-level or CSF grade 1 | 77
| 98 | 28
|
| A-level | 70
| 98 | 25
|
| Higher education but less than degree |
75 | 98
| 26 |
| Degree or higher | 48
| 67 | 23
|
Base: All Protestants and Catholics who prefer retention of
the Union or a united Ireland (excludes those who give any other
reply to constitutional preference question and excludes those
not recorded as either Protestant or Catholic).
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1995-1996, The Fifth Report, p.42)
Identity and party preference among Protestants, Catholics who
favour Irish unity and Catholics who favour Union with Britain (%) (based on 1996 survey results)
| |
Protestants |
Catholics preferring United Ireland |
Catholics preferring Union with Britain |
| National identity |
| British/Ulster |
82 |
3 |
22 |
| N. Irish/Sometimes British... | 15
| 28 | 38
|
| Irish | 3
| 69 | 40
|
| Constitutional identity |
| Unionist | 76
| 0 | 3
|
| Neither | 24
| 36 | 75
|
| Nationalist | 0
| 64 | 22
|
| Party preference |
| DUP | 27 |
0 | 0
|
| UUP/Other Unionist | 59
| 0 | 0
|
| Alliance |
14 |
2 |
24 |
| SDLP | 0 |
82 | 74
|
| Sinn Féin | 0
| 16 | 2
|
(Source: Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey 1995-1996, The Fifth Report, p.45)
|
