Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Press Statement -

Ireland, North and South: A Statistical Profile

The 2003 edition of Ireland, North and South: A Statistical Profile has been compiled and produced by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Ireland, North and South: A Statistical Profile presents comparable statistics for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland across a range of policy areas including health, education, agriculture and the environment.

The Profile, priced at €24 per copy, can be obtained from Information Section, Central Statistics Office, Skehard Road, Cork or Government Publications Sales Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

Some of the main statistics in the various chapters of the Profile are as follows:

Census, Population & Vital Statistics

  • In the Republic of Ireland, the 2002 Census showed a population of 3,917,203. The 2001 Census in Northern Ireland indicated that the population of the region was 1,685,267.
  • A higher proportion of those aged 15 years and over in the Republic of Ireland were single (43%) compared with Northern Ireland (35%), reflecting the younger age profile in the Republic.
  • In 2002, the birth rate per 1,000 population was 15.5 in the Republic of Ireland and 12.6 in Northern Ireland. During the last two decades, the proportion of babies born to older mothers increased in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Around one third of all births in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland occur outside marriage.
  • Death rates per 1,000 population were lower in the Republic of Ireland in 2002 at 7.5 compared with 8.6 in Northern Ireland, reflecting the older age profile of the NIpopulation.
  • In 2002, the marriage rate was higher in the Republic of Ireland at 5.1 per 1,000 population compared with 4.5 per 1,000 population in Northern Ireland.

Housing and Households

  • Almost half of households in the Republic of Ireland in 1999-2000 lived in dwellings which were owned outright compared with less than one third in Northern Ireland.
  • Average house prices in the Republic of Ireland almost doubled between 1997 and 2002, while Northern Ireland prices increased by 45%.

Health

  • Deaths from circulatory diseases represented around two-fifths of both male and female deaths in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in 2002, whilst deaths from cancer represented approximately one quarter.
  • Between 1998 and 2002, the prevalence of smoking decreased for all age groups and for both males and females in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The prevalence of drinking alcohol was higher for males and females of all age groups in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland.

Education

  • Between 1991/92 and 2001/02, the total number of pupils in schools in the Republic of Ireland decreased by 100,000. NI pupil numbers increased each year between 1991/92 and 1996/97, before falling by almost 8,000 by 2001/02.
  • In 2001/02, there were approximately 16 pupils per teacher in second level schools in the Republic of Ireland compared with 14 in Northern Ireland.
  • In 2001/02, the most popular subjects at Leaving Certificate level in the Republic of Ireland were Mathematics, English and Irish respectively. In Northern Ireland, the most popular ‘A’ level subject was Biology followed by English Literature and Mathematics.

Labour Market

  • The rate of increase in labour market participants has been significantly greater in the Republic of Ireland, reflecting both a rapid increase in the population of working age and a notable increase in the proportion of women participating in the labour force.
  • In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2003, more females were employed in the combined Education and Health sector than in any other industrial sector.
  • In 2003, the average hours worked per week in the Republic of Ireland was 37 compared with 35 in Northern Ireland.
  • Between 1998 and 2003, the unemployment rate in both jurisdictions decreased from approximately 8% to around 5%.

Agriculture

  • Cattle and milk accounted for around three-quarters of the output of livestock and livestock products in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
  • The Republic of Ireland accounted for around 80% of the total number of cattle and around three-quarters of the total number of sheep on the island of Ireland throughout the period 1997 to 2002. However, Northern Ireland had 55% of the total number of poultry over the same period.
  • Between 1997 and 2002, the total agricultural labour force decreased by 15% in the Republic of Ireland and 12% in Northern Ireland.

Transport and Tourism

  • Ford was the most popular make of car in the Republic of Ireland in 2002 with almost 18,500 registrations. Close to 11,600 Renaults were registered in Northern Ireland, making it the most popular make of car in 2002.
  • There were 10.4 road accident deaths per 100,000 population in the Republic of Ireland in 2002 compared with 8.8 in Northern Ireland.
  • The number of visitors to the Republic of Ireland increased by 17% over the past 5 years while the increase in Northern Ireland was slightly more marked at 23%.

Economy and Environment

  • Between 1991 and 2001, the estimated Gross Value Added (GVA) for the Republic of Ireland increased three-fold to € 103 billion. Estimated GVA for Northern Ireland increased by almost three-quarters to £19 billion.
  • In 2000, the manufacturing sector provided the largest contribution to GVA in both parts of Ireland – one third in the Republic of Ireland and one fifth in Northern Ireland.

The publication may be purchased from:

The Central Statistics Office, Information Section, Skehard Road, Cork
Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2
Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, McAuley House, 2-14 Castle Street, Belfast BT1 1SA
or through any bookseller

 

For further information, contact Information Section (021 - 4535036) Fax 021 4535555

E-mail: information@cso.ie

30th January 2004