Belfast population, 2001–2024
Belfast has an estimated population of 352,390 (mid-2024), up 7.2% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the Belfast local authority area.
352,390
population, mid-2024
+7.2%
since 2001
+4.3%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (352,390)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 352,390 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 350,533 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 348,005 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 344,992 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 344,994 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 345,391 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 343,690 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 341,915 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 341,111 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 340,194 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 337,872 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 335,881 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 334,322 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 333,895 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 333,489 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 331,763 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 330,052 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 327,383 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 325,985 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 325,483 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 326,268 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 327,176 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 328,471 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 328,695 | — |
High street businesses
Belfast has 280 hairdressers and beauty salons, 100 pubs and bars, 155 licensed restaurants, 300 takeaways on the ONS business register (2025). Compare across the UK.
Rounded to the nearest 5, which is how ONS protects individual businesses from being identified.
Figures are ONS mid-year population estimates for the Belfast local authority area (code N09000003), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of Belfast?
352,390, on the NISRA mid-2024 estimate for the Belfast local authority area. This page charts the full annual series back to 2001, so the figure sits in its twenty-year context rather than alone.
Is Belfast growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 7.2% since 2001, from 328,695 to 352,390. The peak year in the series so far is 2024. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.