Overview of Northern Ireland business

Northern Ireland's population is one of the youngest in Europe, with 50.4% of the population under the age of 40. This young population can offer you a skilled, highly educated labour market.

Belfast is the capital and largest city. It is home to 345,400 people (NI Census 2021). Other Council areas in NI include: 

• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
• Ards and North Down Borough Council
• Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council
• Belfast City Council
• Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
• Derry City and Strabane District Council
• Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
• Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
• Mid & East Antrim Borough Council
• Mid Ulster District Council
• Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Find your local council in NI.

Economic figures in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the local labour market continues to improve throughout 2020-21.  Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) provide information on the Northern Ireland labour market.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) also provide a monthly economic update on Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland exports

A number of industries in Northern Ireland have been identified as having high potential to trade in services internationally, ie export outside the UK. The breakdown of these services is as follows (DfE, Exporting NI Services Study):

• computer and related activities
• research and development
• market research
• business and management consultancy
• architectural and engineering
• technical testing and analysis
• advertising
• creative entertainment

Total sales by companies in Northern Ireland (NI) were estimated to be worth £77.1 billion in 2021. (Northern Ireland Broad Economy Sales and Exports Statistics 2021 - published December 2022).

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) provides further information on economy sales and exports statistics.