It showed that Northern Ireland’s population had risen to a record high of more than 1.9 million. The second release of figures will also include data on ethnicity, passports held, languages spoken ...

The predicted disparity between Northern Ireland and everywhere around it – England’s population should be 15 per cent higher by 2047 – may cause unpredictable flows of people and money.

Between 2002 and 2022, the population in the Republic increased by 31 per cent to 5,149,000. In the same period, the population grew by 13 per cent in Northern Ireland to 1.9 million.

The distribution of the 2011 Census begins on Monday. Almost 800,000 homes in Northern Ireland will receive a questionnaire over the next couple of weeks in advance of Census Day on 27 March.

Overall, the population in Northern Ireland increased by 9,800 people to 1.92m last year with the rest of the increase due to "natural change", meaning there were more births than deaths.

It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Census figures outlining the religious make-up and sense of national identity of people in Northern Ireland will be published later.

Census figures outlining the religious make-up and sense of national identity of people in Northern Ireland will be published later. Long-term demographic trends suggest Census 2021 could be the ...