Analysis unit

Persons and households

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: no - Vacant Units: no - Households: yes - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: no

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: A dwelling has a distinct outer door and shall be considered as one house, although it may be occupied by several families living in separate apartments, or what are known as tenements, under the same roof. - Households: A "distinct family" is defined as (a) a man and his wife or a man and his and children living together, and no other person residing with them or family such as either of the foregoing, with their relatives, servants, and visitors residing with them. (b) All persons occupying the same house common and boarding at the same table, and their servants. (c) A person living alone whether occupying the whole or a part of a house, with servants, if any. (d) Two or more lodgers boarding together distinct from the family and their servants, if any. - Group quarters: A non-private household is a boarding house, hotel, guest house, barrack, hospital, nursing home, boarding schools, religious institution, welfare institution, prison, or ship, etc.

Universe

All persons present in Ireland at the time of census, including visitors and those in residence.

Kind of data

Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: The National Archives of Ireland

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 4381387.

SAMPLE DESIGN: Full count

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The information is based on Form A- Household Schedule. Form B reports summary tables of population figures.

This is a collection of the Irish Census data at County level as per 2016. Every 5 years a census is taken and the data is made available for public use. Hopefully it can help you learn more about Ireland!

All credit goes to the Central Statistics Office and the Census team, neither of whom I am affiliated with.

I've cleaned the data a little bit but the general meaning of each column should be clear. The next step would be to shorten the column names while still making them descriptive, but that's for another day.

I've also attached both the original dataset and the glossary from the CSO website. They should help clear up any further confusion you may have with the data. They are also available for free on the website, along with boundary shapefiles and statistics for different area sizes.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents in Northern Ireland by sex. The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

Analysis unit

Persons, households, and dwellings Age is grouped into categories

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: yes - Vacant Units: no - Households: yes - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: yes

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: A dwelling unit is living accommodation which is occupied or, if vacant, is intended for occupation, by one or more households. - Households: A private household comprises either one person living alone or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping arrangements - that is, sharing at least one meal a day or sharing a living room or sitting room. - Group quarters: Examples of non-private households are establishments or institutions. These include hotels, country clubs, guest houses, B

Universe

All persons present in Ireland on the census night, including visitors and those in residence. Usual residents who were temporarily absent were excluded.

Kind of data

Population and Housing Census [hh/popcen]

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: Central Statistics Office

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 365323.

SAMPLE DESIGN: A 10% random sample of the recoded household records from each county was selected. The records within each county were sorted randomly before output to the sample file.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

There are 2 forms to be completed by households or individuals: (1) Form A - Census Form (or Schedule); and (2) Form A(P) - Personal Form. The information from Form A is used here.

IPUMS-International is an effort to inventory, preserve, harmonize, and disseminate census microdata from around the world. The project has collected the world's largest archive of publicly available census samples. The data are coded and documented consistently across countries and over time to facillitate comparative research. IPUMS-International makes these data available to qualified researchers free of charge through a web dissemination system. The IPUMS project is a collaboration of the Minnesota Population Center, National Statistical Offices, and international data archives. Major funding is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Additional support is provided by the University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research, the Minnesota Population Center, and Sun Microsystems.

The Northern Ireland Grid-Square Product comprises population counts for a regular grid of 1km and 100m cells for 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001. It is a unique data resource, which has previously been under-utilised because it has been held in an inaccessible format, where data have had to be extracted by the manual entry of each cell's co-ordinates. The data are valuable because they permit the analysis of change through time using geographical units that are consistent between censuses. The Linking Northern Ireland Census of Population Data project sought to make these data more widely available by extracting all counts for all years and subsequently reformatting the data to make them more amenable for general analysis with commonly used software. Linkages between variables through time have been documented, and basic look-up tables linking the 1km and 100m cell counts to Census 2001 output geographies have been provided. All variable counts for all years are given. The data make it possible to trace local patterns of social, demographic and economic change in Northern Ireland through time, using a consistent geography between 1971 and 2001. The data comprise variables covering economic and labour markets, housing conditions, migration, religion and other topics, and population counts. Users should note that the data files are for use with ArcInfo software.

From 1821 until 2011, the male and female populations of the 26 counties of the modern-day Republic of Ireland grew at a relatively similar rate, however some fluctuations did occur. During this time, the entire island of Ireland was a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, after both islands were united by the Acts of Union in 1800. This graph shows the populations of the 26 counties that would later form the Republic of Ireland in 1921, and does not include the six counties that became known as Northern Ireland.

As we can see, both populations follow a relatively similar trend throughout their respective histories. In the first three entries, women outnumber men by 70,000 to 120,000, although these figures do not include military personnel which would narrow this margin. Both populations fall at a similar rate during and after the famine, however the male population does fall slightly faster, possibly due to an increased rate of emigration among males. Another point where both populations differ is in the early twentieth century, where the female population declines in a relatively smooth curve, although the male populations peak in the census data before and after both world wars. From 1956 onwards both populations follow a very similar trend, and grow at the same rate. The difference in population sizes never exceeds 30,000 people, until the final entry in 2011 where the population of men is 2.27 million and the population of women is 2.31 million.

These statistics contain the first phase of main statistics results from Census 2021. This phase provides estimates for a number of census topics, including passports held, ethnic group, national identity, language, and religion.

Data are available for Northern Ireland and the 11 Local Government Districts.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents in Northern Ireland by single year of age, and by sex. The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates for the number of households in Northern Ireland by accommodation type. The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

This spreadsheet contains 3 worksheets: a cover sheet; 1 sheet containing the data tables; and a notes sheet.

Data are available for Northern Ireland and the 11 Local Government Districts.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

Issues and corrections

DI002: Accommodation type

Census Office has noted differences in classification declared by a small number of respondents for accommodation type when compared to the accommodation type recorded by Land and Property Services (LPS) for the address. This can be explained by census respondents favouring selecting ‘semi-detached’ instead of ‘terraced (including end-terrace)’ for end-terrace properties.

Full details can be found on the NISRA website

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates for the number of households in Northern Ireland. The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

To find out how Data Zones and Super Data Zones have been developed, and how other Northern Ireland geographies can be approximated, please read the notes here

The quality assurance report can be found here

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 3 and over in Northern Ireland by main language.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

This table reports the categories for which there are 10 or more usual residents. Where there are fewer than 10 usual residents for any category, these have been reported in a residual group which may or may not contain 10 or more usual residents in total.

Main language is reported as provided by respondents; those who stated 'Chinese' are recorded as 'Chinese (not otherwise specified)'. If a specific Chinese language has been stated, it is recorded separately.

Quality assurance report can be found here

Population aged 3 years and over by ability to speak Irish by Small Area. (Census 2022 Theme 3 Table 1 )Census 2022 table 3.1 is population aged 3+ by ability to speak Irish. Details include population counts by ability to speak Irish. Census 2022 theme 3 is Irish Language.Census Small Areas are the lowest level of geography for the dissemination of Census data and typically contain between 50 and 200 dwellings. They are generally comprised of complete neighbourhoods or townlands and they nest within CSO Electoral Divisions.Census 2022 Small Areas have been redrawn to ensure they remain consistent with the principle of data protection and are relatively comparable in size. This redraw was necessary following changes in population size and distribution between 2016 and 2022 and was done by the CSO with support from Tailte Éireann.Small Areas were first published for Census 2011 following work undertaken by the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) on behalf of Tailte Éireann and in consultation with the CSO.Coordinate reference system: Irish Transverse Mercator (EPSG 2157). These boundaries are based on 20m generalised boundaries sourced from Tailte Éireann Open Data Portal. CSO Small Areas 2022.This Census 2022 table is available at other levels of geography from Ireland Census Data Hub.

Permanent private households by year built by Small Area. (Census 2022 Theme 6 Table 2 )Census 2022 table 6.2 is permanent private households by year built. Details include private households by year built, number of households and number of persons. Census 2022 theme 6 is Housing.Census Small Areas are the lowest level of geography for the dissemination of Census data and typically contain between 50 and 200 dwellings. They are generally comprised of complete neighbourhoods or townlands and they nest within CSO Electoral Divisions.Census 2022 Small Areas have been redrawn to ensure they remain consistent with the principle of data protection and are relatively comparable in size. This redraw was necessary following changes in population size and distribution between 2016 and 2022 and was done by the CSO with support from Tailte Éireann.Small Areas were first published for Census 2011 following work undertaken by the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) on behalf of Tailte Éireann and in consultation with the CSO.Coordinate reference system: Irish Transverse Mercator (EPSG 2157). These boundaries are based on 20m generalised boundaries sourced from Tailte Éireann Open Data Portal. CSO Small Areas 2022.This Census 2022 table is available at other levels of geography from Ireland Census Data Hub.

The UK censuses took place on 27 March 2011. They were run by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA), National Records of Scotland (NRS), and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for both England and Wales. The UK comprises the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.Statistics from the UK censuses help paint a picture of the nation and how we live. They provide a detailed snapshot of the population and its characteristics and underpin funding allocation to provide public services. This is the home for all UK census data. The 2011 Census Microdata Individual Safeguarded Sample (Local Authority): Northern Ireland data collection forms part of the statistical outputs from the 2011 Northern Ireland Census. A safeguarded microdata sample of individuals has been identified as a key Census user requirement, and was highlighted as part of a report specifying microdata products from the 2011 Census written by an expert user, Dr. Jo Wathan from the University of Manchester.

The purpose of a safeguarded sample of individuals is to be able to disseminate a detailed microdata file without onerous licensing conditions, by reducing the overall amount of detail compared to the secure samples. Whilst supplying sufficient detail on core variables to fulfil the intended aim of the microdata products, the safeguarded sample is a valuable multi-purpose research file that will be used on a wide range of projects. (For Censuses prior to 2011, these data may have been referred to as 'Samples of Anonymised Records', or SARSs.)

This safeguarded sample is of 5% of the total population at Local Authority level (Northern Ireland), and contain a similar level of detail to the equivalent End User Licence Census 2001 Microdata samples. A similar Northern Ireland dataset at Regional level is held under SN 7769. These samples have a low risk of disclosure; but not nil. Registered UK Data Service Census users can download the data to their laptops after agreeing terms and conditions that include constraints on data management under remote storage conditions.

Further information can be found on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Census microdata webpage.

Corresponding Regional and Local Authority level data for England and Wales are held under SNs 7605 and 7682, and for Scotland under SNs 7834 and 7835.

Accommodation designed or adapted for health conditions; Central heating; Household size; Nature of communal establishment; Number of cars and vans; Pensioner household; Student accommodation; Tenure; Type of accommodation; Type of Establishment; Type of landlord; Whether accommodation is self-contained; Ability in Irish; Ability in Ulster Scots; Age of individual; Alternative Household Composition; Approximated social grade; Comparison of where you live and work; Country of birth; Distance moved from address one year ago; Done voluntary work without pay in the last year; Economic Activity; Employment type; English proficiency; Ethnicity; Ever worked; Exact pension age (on Census Day) indicator; Family status; General health; Hours worked per week; Household language; Age of Households Reference Person (HRP); Country of birth of HRP; National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SeC) of HRP; Social grade of HRP; Industry of business; Intention to stay in the UK; Last year worked; Level of highest qualifications; Lived outside Northern Ireland for more than one year; Living arrangements; Long-term health problem; Main language; Marital Status; National identity; NS-SeC; Number of individuals in household with long-standing illness/disability; Number of people in household who provide care; Number of persons per room; Number of visitors on census night; Occupation; Passports held; Person of pensionable age indicator; Position within communal establishment; Provision of unpaid care; Relationship to HRP; Religion; Schoolchild or student in full-time education; Sex; Travel to work; Unemployment history; Usual address one year ago; Whether concealed family; Workers in generation one of family; Workplace or place of study; Year of Arrival in Northern Ireland.

Population by sex and social class by Small Area. (Census 2022 Theme 9 Table 1 )Census 2022 table 9.1 is population aged 15+ by sex and social class. Attributes include population breakdown by social class and sex. Census 2022 theme 9 is Social Class and Socio-Economic Group. The methodology has changed for SOC and SEG so comparisons cannot be made with 2016 data. See Background Notes - CSO - Central Statistics Officehttps://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpp7/census2022profile7-employmentoccupationsandcommuting/backgroundnotes/Census Small Areas are the lowest level of geography for the dissemination of Census data and typically contain between 50 and 200 dwellings. They are generally comprised of complete neighbourhoods or townlands and they nest within CSO Electoral Divisions.Census 2022 Small Areas have been redrawn to ensure they remain consistent with the principle of data protection and are relatively comparable in size. This redraw was necessary following changes in population size and distribution between 2016 and 2022 and was done by the CSO with support from Tailte Éireann.Small Areas were first published for Census 2011 following work undertaken by the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) on behalf of Tailte Éireann and in consultation with the CSO.Coordinate reference system: Irish Transverse Mercator (EPSG 2157). These boundaries are based on 20m generalised boundaries sourced from Tailte Éireann Open Data Portal. CSO Small Areas 2022.This Census 2022 table is available at other levels of geography from Ireland Census Data Hub.

Database containing meter information from Gas Networks Ireland with Census of Population characteristics.

Population aged 5 years and over by means of travel to work, school or college by Small Area. (Census 2022 Theme 11 Table 1 )Census 2022 table 11.1 is population aged 5+ by means of travel to work, school or college. Attributes include a breakdown of population by means of travel to work, school or college. Census 2022 theme 11 is Commuting, Working from Home and Childcare.Census Small Areas are the lowest level of geography for the dissemination of Census data and typically contain between 50 and 200 dwellings. They are generally comprised of complete neighbourhoods or townlands and they nest within CSO Electoral Divisions.Census 2022 Small Areas have been redrawn to ensure they remain consistent with the principle of data protection and are relatively comparable in size. This redraw was necessary following changes in population size and distribution between 2016 and 2022 and was done by the CSO with support from Tailte Éireann.Small Areas were first published for Census 2011 following work undertaken by the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) on behalf of Tailte Éireann and in consultation with the CSO.Coordinate reference system: Irish Transverse Mercator (EPSG 2157). These boundaries are based on 20m generalised boundaries sourced from Tailte Éireann Open Data Portal. CSO Small Areas 2022.This Census 2022 table is available at other levels of geography from Ireland Census Data Hub.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents in Northern Ireland by their national identity (person based). The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021. The national identity classification used is an 8-category classification corresponding to selected tick box options on the census questionnaire. This dataset is mutually exclusive; respondents are included in one group only (for example, this classification includes a 'British only' group, 'Irish only' group, and 'British and Irish only' group).

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

Usually resident population aged 1 year and over by usual residence 1 year before Census Day by Small Area. (Census 2022 Theme 2 Table 3 )Census 2022 table 2.3 is the population usually resident in Ireland by usual residence 1 year before Census Day. Details include population by usual residence 1 year before Census Day. Census 2022 theme 2 is Migration, Ethnicity, Religion and Foreign Languages.Census Small Areas are the lowest level of geography for the dissemination of Census data and typically contain between 50 and 200 dwellings. They are generally comprised of complete neighbourhoods or townlands and they nest within CSO Electoral Divisions.Census 2022 Small Areas have been redrawn to ensure they remain consistent with the principle of data protection and are relatively comparable in size. This redraw was necessary following changes in population size and distribution between 2016 and 2022 and was done by the CSO with support from Tailte Éireann.Small Areas were first published for Census 2011 following work undertaken by the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) on behalf of Tailte Éireann and in consultation with the CSO.Coordinate reference system: Irish Transverse Mercator (EPSG 2157). These boundaries are based on 20m generalised boundaries sourced from Tailte Éireann Open Data Portal. CSO Small Areas 2022.This Census 2022 table is available at other levels of geography from Ireland Census Data Hub.