Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom on the island of Ireland. Its capital is Belfast.

Find Northern Ireland

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Belfast
Languages: English, Irish & Ulster Scots
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Population: 1,927,900Mid-2024 · NISRA
Area: 14,130 km²5,455.62 square miles
Established: 1921Constituent part of the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland in context

Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Belfast; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

Lowland basins and rolling hills surround Lough Neagh, with uplands including the Mourne Mountains.

Languages

English is widely spoken. Irish and Ulster Scots have distinct cultural importance and legal protections.

Location

Northern Ireland occupies the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and shares a land border with Ireland.

Flag

The card shows the Ulster Banner, formerly used by the Northern Ireland government. It is a historical flag, not a current official flag for Northern Ireland. The Union Flag is the UK state flag.

Sources: NISRA · 2024 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

History & status

Northern Ireland was created in 1921 during the partition of Ireland and remained in the UK. The Troubles brought decades of conflict. The 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement established a framework for power sharing and for constitutional change by consent.

1921
Northern Ireland is established during partition
1998
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is signed
1999
Powers are transferred to devolved institutions

Sources: NISRA · 2024 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Economy

Main activities

Public and private services, manufacturing, construction and agriculture contribute to the economy. Food processing, aerospace and engineering are important industries. Trade links connect Northern Ireland with Great Britain, Ireland and wider markets.

Industry and production

Food processing, aerospace, engineering and other manufacturing are notable industries. Services and public administration employ many people.

Sources: NISRA · 2024 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Population

1,927,900 · Mid-2024 · NISRA

Sources: NISRA · 2024 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Government

A devolved part of the United Kingdom. The Northern Ireland Assembly legislates on transferred matters, and a power-sharing Executive is led jointly by the First Minister and deputy First Minister. The UK Parliament retains reserved and excepted responsibilities.

Sources: NISRA · 2024 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Knowledge check

Three questions about Northern Ireland.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland is established during partition?

Sources & notes

Sources: NISRA · 2024 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.