Editing Belfast (section)

== Demography ==
{{Main|Demographics of Belfast}}

{{Historical populations
|state=collapsed
|percentages=pagr
|1757|8549
|1782|13105
|1791|18320
|1806|22095
|1821|37277
|1831|53287
|1841|75308
|1851|97784
|1861|119393
|1871|174412
|1881|208122
|1891|255950
|1901|349180
|1911|386947
|1926|415151
|1937|438086
|1951|443671
|1961|415856
|1966|398405
|1971|362082
|1981|314270
|1991|279237
|2001|277391
|2006|267374
|2011|280138
|2021|293298
||footnote=2021 figure is for the city within its pre-2015 local government boundaries.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wakefield |first=Edward |title=An account of Ireland, statistical and political: in two volumes |volume=2 |publisher=Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown |location=London |pages=693–694 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YeI_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA693 |year=1812 |access-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231214225/https://books.google.com/books?id=YeI_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA693 |archive-date=31 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/census |title=Census for post 1821 figures |publisher=CSO|access-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920090814/http://cso.ie/census |archive-date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org |title=Home |publisher=Histpop.Org |date=2 April 2007 |access-date=13 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |title=Northern Ireland Census of Population |publisher=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency |access-date=12 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404114651/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/ |archive-date=4 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Lee |first=J. J. |editor-last=Goldstrom |editor-first=J. M. |editor2-last=Clarkson |editor2-first=L. A. |title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell |year=1981 |publisher=[[Clarendon Press]] |location=Oxford, England |chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mokyr |first1=Joel |author-link=Joel Mokyr |last2=Ó Gráda |first2=Cormac |title=New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850 |journal=The Economic History Review |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=473–488 |date=November 1984 |url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2012 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x |hdl=10197/1406 |hdl-access=free |issn=0013-0117 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/factsandfigures/demographics.asp |title=Belfast City Council. Belfast: A Profile of the City. Demographics |publisher=Belfastcity.gov.uk |access-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925231740/http://belfastcity.gov.uk/factsandfigures/demographics.asp |archive-date=25 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="2021 populations">{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151+N11000243+N11000438+N11000447+N11000218+N11000564+N11000559+N11000099+N11000040+N11000537+N11000153 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820072644/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151+N11000243+N11000438+N11000447+N11000218+N11000564+N11000559+N11000099+N11000040+N11000537+N11000153 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
In 2021, there were 345,418 residents within the expanded 2015 Belfast local government boundary<ref name=":2"/> and 634,600 in the [[Belfast Metropolitan Area]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest UK cities 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/294645/population-of-selected-cities-in-united-kingdom-uk/ |access-date=24 January 2024 |website=Statista |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313091122/https://www.statista.com/statistics/294645/population-of-selected-cities-in-united-kingdom-uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> approximately one third of Northern Ireland's 1.9 million population.

As with many cities, Belfast's inner city is currently characterised by the elderly, students and single young people, while families tend to live on the periphery. Socio-economic areas radiate out from the [[Belfast City Centre|Central Business District]], with a pronounced wedge of affluence extending out the Malone Road and Upper Malone Road to the south.<ref name="Geography in Action Urban Growth">{{cite web |last=Stephen |first=Roulston |year=2006 |title=Urban Structure: Growth of Belfast |url=http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Urban_structure/Urban_growth.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070415203906/http://geographyinaction.co.uk/Urban_structure/Urban_growth.html |archive-date=15 April 2007 |access-date=18 May 2007 |website=Geography in Action |publisher=National Grid for Learning }}</ref> Deprivation levels are notable in the inner parts of the north and the west of the city. The areas around the [[Falls Road, Belfast|Falls Road]], [[Ardoyne]] and [[New Lodge, Belfast|New Lodge]] (Catholic nationalist) and the [[Shankill Road]] (Protestant loyalist) experience some of the highest levels of social deprivation including higher levels of ill health and poor access to services. These areas remain firmly segregated, with 80 to 90 percent of residents being of the one religious designation.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 July 2018 |title=Revealed: Northern Ireland's 10 most deprived areas |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/revealed-northern-irelands-10-most-deprived-areas-37157128.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708191202/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/revealed-northern-irelands-10-most-deprived-areas-37157128.html |archive-date=8 July 2019 |access-date=8 July 2019 |newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anusiak |first=Julia |date=2021 |title=The Effects of Segregation and Deprivation in the Peace-Line Area of Belfast: Mental Health |url=https://thegraticule.wixsite.com/journal/post/the-effects-of-religious-segregation-and-deprivation-on-mental-health-a-peace-line-area-case-study |access-date=24 January 2024 |website=The Graticule |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124184111/https://thegraticule.wixsite.com/journal/post/the-effects-of-religious-segregation-and-deprivation-on-mental-health-a-peace-line-area-case-study |url-status=live }}</ref>{{bar box
|title = National Identity of Belfast City residents (2021)
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Nationality |right1=Per cent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|Irish|DarkOrchid|39.4}}
{{bar percent|British|Blue|37.0}}
{{bar percent|Northern Irish|grey|27.5}}
}}
Consistent with the trend across all of Northern Ireland, the Protestant population within the city has been in decline, while the non-religious, other religious and Catholic population has risen. The 2021 census recorded the following: 43% of residents as Catholic, 12% as Presbyterian, 8% as Church of Ireland, 3% as Methodist, 6% as belonging to other Christian denominations, 3% to other religions and 24% as having either no religion or no declared religion.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Belfast Census Data |url=https://explore.nisra.gov.uk/area-explorer-2021/N09000003/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927133256/https://explore.nisra.gov.uk/area-explorer-2021//N09000003/ |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=explore.nisra.gov.uk }}</ref>

In terms of community background, 47.93% were deemed to belong to, or to have been brought up in, the Catholic faith and 36.45% in a Protestant or other Christian-related denomination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=NISRA |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131849/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |url-status=live }}</ref> The comparable figures in 2011 were 48.60% Catholic and 42.28% Protestant or other Christian-related denomination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2011 Population Statistics for Belfast City Settlement |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Belfast%20City@Partial%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Partial%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Belfast%20City@23? |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=NISRA }}</ref>

With respondents free to indicate more than one national identity, in 2021 the largest national identity group was "Irish only" with 35% of the population, followed by "British only" 27%, "Northern Irish only" 17%, "British and Northern Irish only" 7%, "Irish and Northern Irish only" 2%, "British, Irish and Northern Irish only" 2%, British and Irish less than 1% and Other identities with 10%.<ref name=":02" />

Insofar as the city's two indigenous minority languages (Irish and [[Ulster Scots dialect|Ulster Scots]]) are concerned, figures are made available from the decennial UK census. On census day, 21 March 2021, 14.93% (43,798) in Belfast claimed to have some knowledge of the Irish language, whilst 5.21% (15,294) claimed to be able to speak, read, write and understand spoken Irish.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |title=UK Census 2021 Population Statistics for Irish (Ability) in Belfast City Settlement |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803135201/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |url-status=live }}</ref> 3.74% (10,963) of residents claimed to use Irish daily and 0.75% (2,192) claimed Irish is their main language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_SPEAK_FREQUENCY&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |title=UK Census 2021 Population Statistics for Irish (Speak Frequency) in Belfast City Settlement |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819151203/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_SPEAK_FREQUENCY&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=MAIN_LANGUAGE_1000&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |title=UK Census 2021 Population Statistics for Main Language in Belfast City Settlement |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819151201/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=MAIN_LANGUAGE_1000&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |url-status=live }}</ref> 7.17% (21,025) of people in the city claimed to have some knowledge of Ulster Scots, whilst 0.75% (2,207) claimed to be able to speak, read, write and understand spoken Ulster Scots.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |title=UK Census 2021 Population Statistics for Ulster-Scots (Ability) in Belfast City Settlement |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819151203/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |url-status=live }}</ref> 0.83% (2,430) claimed to use Ulster Scots daily.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_SPEAK_FREQUENCY&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |title=UK Census 2021 Population Statistics for Ulster-Scots (Speak Frequency) in Belfast City Settlement |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819151202/https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_SPEAK_FREQUENCY&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000151 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From the mid to late 19th century, there was a community [[Belfast Jewish Community|of central European Jews]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Belfast Community – Irish Jewish Museum |url=https://jewishmuseum.ie/jews-of-ireland/the-belfast-community/ |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124115417/https://jewishmuseum.ie/jews-of-ireland/the-belfast-community/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (among its distinguished members, two-time          Lord Mayor [[Otto Jaffe]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jewish history in Northern Ireland |url=https://belfastjewishheritage.org/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=belfastjewishheritage.org |archive-date=10 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110115335/https://belfastjewishheritage.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and of Italians<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC – Legacies – Immigration and Emigration – Northern Ireland – Italians – Radio, Pokes and Marble – Article Page 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/northern_ireland/ni_4/article_2.shtml#:~:text=By%20the%20end%20of%20the,is%20revealed%20in%20census%20statistics. |access-date=24 January 2024 |website=bbc.co.uk |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124115416/https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/northern_ireland/ni_4/article_2.shtml#:~:text=By%20the%20end%20of%20the,is%20revealed%20in%20census%20statistics. |url-status=live }}</ref> in Belfast. Today, the largest immigrant groups are Poles, Chinese and Indians. The 2011 census figures recorded a total non-white population of 10,219 or 3.3%, while 18,420 or 6.6% of the population were born outside the UK and Ireland. Almost half of those born outside the British Isles lived in [[Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)|south Belfast]], where they comprised 9.5% of the population.<ref name="QS208NI%20(a)">{{cite web |title=Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service |url=http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/Download/Census%202011_Excel/2011/QS208NI%20(a).xls |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612120812/http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/Download/Census%202011_Excel/2011/QS208NI%20(a).xls |archive-date=12 June 2015 |access-date=11 June 2015}}</ref> The majority of the estimated 5,000 Muslims<ref>{{cite web |year=2007 |title=About Us |url=http://belfastislamiccentre.org.uk/about_us/about_us.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707070907/http://www.belfastislamiccentre.org.uk/about_us/about_us.htm |archive-date=7 July 2007 |access-date=24 May 2007 |publisher=Belfast Islamic Centre }}</ref> and 200 [[Hindu]] families<ref>{{cite web |title=Hinduism |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/4_11/pfocus/citizenship/spring2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313133102/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/4_11/pfocus/citizenship/spring2001/ |archive-date=13 March 2007 |access-date=8 October 2007 |website=Primary Focus: Programme 1 – Indian Community |publisher=BBC }}</ref> living in Northern Ireland resided in the [[Greater Belfast]] area. In the 2021 census the percentage of the city's residents born outside the United Kingdom had risen to 9.8.<ref name=":5" />

{{clear}}
<gallery class="center" widths="220" heights="220" caption="The Belfast City Council area in the 2011 census">
File:Religion Belfast City Council 2011 Census.png|Percentage Catholic or brought up Catholic
File:National Identity Belfast City Council 2011 Census.png|Most commonly stated national identity
File:Born Outside UK And Ireland Belfast City Council 2011 Census.png|Percentage born outside the UK and Ireland
</gallery>