DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES REGISTRAR GENERAL NORTHERN IRELAND THE NORTHERN IRELAND CENSUS 1981 SUMMARY REPORT Prepared pursuant to Section 4(1) of The Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 BELFAST HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE © Crown copyright 1983 First published 1983 Printed in Northern Ireland for Her Majesty's Stationery Office Dd.623634. CI 2/83. CONTENTS Page Synopsis of Key Results IV Programme of Census Reports vi Explanatory notes and definitions: Area and Administrative Divisions Population Households Dwellings Communal Establishments Age Usual Address Country of Birth . Religion Economic Activity Rooms .... Tenure .... Density of Occupation . Household Amenities . Cars and Vans Presentation Conventions Explanatory Note on Tables Tables: 1. Population 1821-1981 2. Population, 1971 and 1981, and Intercensal Changes . 3. Population, Dwellings, Private Households and Area (Local government districts) 4. Population, Dwellings, Private Households and Area (Wards) 4A. Population, Dwellings and Private Households (Towns) 5. Age by Single Years, Sex and Marital Status 6. Population under 25 years by individual years and 25 years and over by quinquennial groups sex and marital status . 7. Population by Sex, Marital Status, Area of Enumeration, Country of Birth, and whether visitor to Northern Ireland 8. Religions 8A. Analysis of Column Headed 'Other and not Stated Denominations' in Table 8 9. Households by Tenure and Rooms . 10. Private Households by Size, Rooms, Dwelling Type and Population .... 11. Private Households by Size, Dwelling Type and Density of Occupation (persons per room) 12. Households by Dwelling Type, Number of Rooms and Household Amenities 13. Households by main source of Heating, Insulation and Central Heating .... 14. Households by Number of Cars 15. One and Two Person Households containing persons of Pensionable Age by Sex/Condition Combination 16. Persons Enumerated in each type of Non-private Establishment . 17. Economically active persons by Sex and Status Map 'H' Form in The Summary Report—Synopsis of Key Results The subjects covered in this Report include area, population, households, age, sex, marital status, birthplace, religion, dwelling type, tenure, household size, occupational density, amenities, cars and economically active persons. The tables contain information for each of the 26 local government districts. Tables 1-4 (as in tables 1-5 of the Preliminary Report and tables 1-4 of the Belfast Report) contain two categories of figures. The first relates to the enumerated households and these should be treated as accurate in regard to the information they contain. The second relates to the estimated population effect of non-enumerated households which is based on information derived from the Census results for the particular area (i.e. Northern Ireland, district or ward). Since these are estimated figures, they must not be regarded as having the same degree of accuracy as the enumerated figures. As with all estimates, they are subject to revision in the light of information from other sources. All other tables refer to the enumerated households only. Population Present on Census Night As enumerated at midnight on 5 April 1981 the Northern Ireland population was 1,488,077. This is a decrease of 2,151 on the provisional figure of 1,490,228 stated in the Preliminary Report issued in July 1982. This does not take into account the population effect of the non-returns which is estimated at around 19,000. In the 1971 Census the total enumerated population present on census night was 1,536,065. Usually Resident Population The number of people usually resident in Northern Ireland (i.e. excluding visitors but including residents who were absent on census night) was enumerated at 1,481,959. Again this does not take into account the population effect of the non-returns, which is estimated at around 19,000, Young and Old Compared with the 1971 Census the 1981 figures reveal a higher proportion of elderly persons in the population, with 14.5 per cent of persons of pensionable age (men aged 65 or over and women aged 60 or over), and 4.4 per cent aged 75 years or more. In 1971,13.3 per cent of the population were of pensionable age and 3.8 per cent were 75 years or more. In 1981, 27.9 per cent of the population were under 16 years whereas the corresponding figure in 1971 was 31.5 per cent. Men and Women at Work The figures show that 62.8 per cent of men aged 16 and over were in employment (full-time or part-time) at some time in the week before census day (30 March to 5 April 1981). A further 14.9 per cent were out of employment in the week before census day, i.e. seeking work, prevented by temporary sickness from seeking work or waiting to take up a job already accepted. The remaining 22.3 per cent were economically inactive and, of these, 26.6 per cent were full-time students representing 6.0 per cent of the overall total. Of women aged 16 and over 36.4 per cent were in employment (full-time or part-time) at some time in the week before census day. An alternative method of measuring the unemployment rate is to express the numbers out of work as a percentage of the numbers who are economically active, rather than as a percentage of the total numbers. On this basis, the proportion of persons who were out of employment in the week before census day was 19.1 per cent for men and 12.6 per cent for women. Households There were 456,348 enumerated private households, which on the basis of usually resident population contained an average of 3.2 persons per household. In 1971 there were 427,434 households which on the basis of population present contained an average of 3.5 persons per household. Living Alone The number of households in which one person usually lives alone was 85,238 or 18.7 per cent of private households with a usual address in Northern Ireland. In 1971 the comparable figures, based on the population present, were 63,903 or 15.0 per cent. Overcrowding In 10.4 per cent of households there was more than one person per room compared with 15.9 per cent in 1971. iv Owner Occupiers and Tenants 49.4 per cent of households were in owner-occupied accommodation and 39.3 per cent in accommodation rented from a local or public authority. The comparable 1971 figures are 45.9 per cent and 34.6 per cent respectively. Household Amenities 9.6 per cent of households lacked or were forced to share with another household the use of a fixed bath or shower, compared with 28.2 per cent in 1971. Availability of Cars 40.1 per cent of households had no car available for use by members of the household, compared with 46.4 per cent in 1971. Religion There was a high level of non-response to the voluntary question on religion. The figures show that 18.5 per cent of the population in Northern Ireland failed to anwser it. This compares with 9.4 per cent in 1971. •J 1981 CENSUS Programme of Census Reports 1. Preliminary Report This report was published in July 1982 and contained provisional figures of the population and private households for each of the 26 local government districts with a brief statistical commentary. 2. Report for Belfast Local Government District This report was published in December 1982 and related to the Local Government District of Belfast. The tables contained information to Ward level. Subjects covered in this report included age distribution, sex, marital status, birthplace, religion, households, tenure, amenities, occupation density, availability of cars, communal establishments, economically active population and employment status. 3. Summary The Summary Report contains information for Northern Ireland and for each of the 26 local government districts. The subjects covered include age distribution, sex, marital status, birthplace, religion, households, tenure, amenities, occupation density, availability of cars, communal establishments, economically active population and employment status. 4. Economic Activity This report will contain tables giving the figures for the both economically active and inactive population. The employed population will be analysed by industry and occupation classifications and related to age, marital status, employment status, socio-economic groupings, area of work-place, etc. Most tables will contain informa­ tion at Northern Ireland level but certain ones will give details for local government districts. 5. Housing and Household Composition This report will give detailed information on households, tenure, occupation density, car availability, sex, age, marital status and will relate household composition to social and other economic characteristics. 6. Workplace and Transport to Work Employed population details in relation to area of workplace/residence will be contained in this report. Workplace movement by socio-economic group, occupation, industry, means of transport and times of journey will also be detailed to local government district level. 7. Migration Numbers and characteristics of the population who changed their usual address in the year before Census day will be contained in this report. Migrant households will be detailed by age, sex, marital status, etc. Some tables will refer to Northern Ireland and others will be detailed to local government districts. 8. Education This report will give details of age, sex, occupation and industry of the population who have obtained higher educational qualifications analysed to Northern Ireland level. 9. Religion Tables in this report will give, by the main religious denominations, details of the population by sex, age, marital status, occupation, industry and other characteristics. H) VI Explanatory Notes and Definitions of Terms used in the Report Area and Administrative Divisions The figures on areas have been supplied by the Ordnance Survey and rounded to the nearest hectare.