Introduction

This Area Profile presents a range of official statistics for the Limavady Neighbourhood Renewal Area. It provides information on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the area and brings together data from a range of sources to support evidence-based decision making and community planning.

Neighbourhood Renewal is the Department for Communities’ area-based programme for tackling deprivation and improving quality of life in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland. Introduced through the People and Place: A Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal in 2003, it takes a long-term approach to regeneration by working with local communities, public bodies and other partners. The Neighbourhood Renewal Areas were originally identified using the deprivation measures available at that time. The programme focuses on 36 designated Neighbourhood Renewal Areas and aims to reduce inequalities through community, economic, social and physical renewal. See Introduction to Neighbourhood Renewal for more information.

The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM) identifies concentrations of deprivation across Northern Ireland using information across seven domains: income; employment; health and disability; education, skills and training; access to services; living environment; and crime and disorder. This Area Profile combines data from the 2017 NIMDM with the latest available statistics from a range of official sources to provide a broader and more up-to-date picture of local conditions. The additional indicators are presented within sections aligned to the seven NIMDM domains. Data from the 2001, 2011 and 2021 Censuses are also included where they provide information on topics not covered elsewhere in the profile, helping to give a more comprehensive picture of the area and how it has changed over time.

This information allows users to understand the characteristics of the area, identify patterns and trends over time, and compare outcomes across Neighbourhood Renewal Areas and Northern Ireland as a whole.

Overall Summary

The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM) combines information from seven domains of deprivation to rank Super Output Areas (SOAs) in Northern Ireland from the most deprived to the least deprived.

For each area, the scores of the seven domains are aggregated by applying the following weights:

Income Deprivation – 25%
Employment Deprivation – 25%
Health Deprivation and Disability – 15%
Education, Skills and Training Deprivation – 15%
Access to Services – 10%
Living Environment – 5%
Crime and Disorder – 5%

7 domains MDM 2017

See NISRA NIMDM17 Results for more information.

Population

	2001	2024
Total Population: Limavady	2,831	2,030	↓ decreased

Since 2001 the population of Limavady has decreased.

Source: Mid-Year Population Estimates, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Income

Within the MDM2017, the Income domain has three indicators at NRA level:

Income Indicators	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Proportion of the population living in households whose equivalised income is below 60 per cent of the NI median	13%	20%	higher than the NI average	2015/16
Proportion of the population aged 15 and under living in households whose equivalised income is below 60 per cent of the NI median	19%	26%	higher than the NI average	2015/16
Proportion of the population aged 65 and over living in households whose equivalised income is below 60 per cent of the NI median	6%	4%	lower than the NI average	2015/16

Employment

Within the MDM2017, the Employment domain has a single indicator:

Employment Indicator	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Proportion of working-age people receiving employment-related benefits or with no employment income	21%	52%	higher than the NI average	2015/16

The following charts are related to this indicator:

Source: Department for Communities administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working-age people is being phased out by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from 2016.

Source: Department for Communities administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: Since 2017, Universal Credit has gradually replaced Income Support for working-age individuals in Northern Ireland.

Source: Department for Communities administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: Since 2017, Universal Credit has gradually replaced Jobseekers Allowance for working-age individuals in Northern Ireland.

Source: Department for Communities administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: Since 2017, Universal Credit has gradually replaced Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit for working-age individuals in Northern Ireland.

Health

Within the MDM2017, the Health domain has eight indicators at NRA level:

Health Indicators	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Standardised preventable death rate (NI=100)	100	126	higher than the NI average	2012 to 2016
Standardised physical health-related benefit ratio (NI=100)	100	208	higher than the NI average	2016
Standardised ratio of people registered as having cancer (NI=100)	100	102	higher than the NI average	2006 to 2015
Standardised emergency admission rate (NI=100)	100	112	higher than the NI average	2015/2016
Proportion of singleton births with low birth weight (%)	4%	6%	higher than the NI average	2012 to 2016
Standardised ratio of children’s dental extractions (NI=100)	100	121	higher than the NI average	2013/14 & 2015/16
Standardised proportion of people on multiple prescriptions on a regular basis (NI=100)	100	158	higher than the NI average	2015/16
Standardised proportion of people with a long-term health problem or disability (NI=100)	100	117	higher than the NI average	2011

The following charts are related to this indicator:

Source: Vital Statistics Unit, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Not routinely published.

Education

Within the MDM2017, the Education domain has eight indicators:

Education Indicators	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Proportion of school leavers not achieving five or more GCSEs at A*-C (and equivalent) incl. English and maths (%)	36%	68%	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2015/16
Proportion of those leaving school aged 16, 17 and 18 not entering education, employment or training (%)	3%	7%	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2014/15
Proportion of 18-21 year olds who have not enrolled in higher education courses at higher or further education establishments (%)	64%	85%	higher than the NI average	2012/13 to 2015/16
Proportions of working age adults (25-64) with no or low levels of qualification %	36%	59%	higher than the NI average	2011
Absenteeism at primary schools (%)	5%	6%	higher than the NI average	2014/15 & 2015/16
Absenteeism at post-primary schools (%)	6%	11%	higher than the NI average	2014/15 & 2015/16
Proportion of pupils attending special schools or attending primary school with Special Education Needs Stages 3-5 (%)	9%	9%	same as the NI average	2014/15 & 2015/16
Proportion of pupils attending special schools or attending post-primary schools with Special Education Needs Stages 3-5 (%)	9%	11%	higher than the NI average	2014/15 & 2015/16

The following charts are related to this indicator:

Source: Department for Education administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: The 2021/22 school year was the first full academic year after the COVID‑19 lockdowns, and multiple structural, health‑related, and social factors contributed to a sharp rise in pupil absence across both primary and post‑primary schools. In addition no data are available for 22/23 due to industrial action/software issues in schools.

Source: Department for Education administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: Data for 2023/24 was affected by Action Short of Strike (ASOS) industrial action. See the 2023/24 Enrolments Bulletin for details.

In 2019 changes were made to the SEN register and a medical register was created. This meant pupils who had a medical need only and no SEN, were only recorded on the school’s medical register. In 2021 changes were made to SEN stages, where the five stage approach to identification, assessment and provision of SEN was replaced with three stages of SEN provision.

Source: Department for Education administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: Data for 2023/24 was affected by Action Short of Strike (ASOS) industrial action. See the 2023/24 Enrolments Bulletin for details.

In 2019 changes were made to the SEN register and a medical register was created. This meant pupils who had a medical need only and no SEN, were only recorded on the school’s medical register. In 2021 changes were made to SEN stages, where the five stage approach to identification, assessment and provision of SEN was replaced with three stages of SEN provision.

Crime

Within the MDM2017, the Crime domain has seven indicators:

Crime Indicators	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Rate of violence (including sexual offences), robbery and public order (per 1,000 population)	16	59	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2015/16
Rate of burglary (per 1,000 population)	4	11	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2015/16
Rate of theft (per 1,000 population)	7	11	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2015/16
Rate of vehicle crime (per 1,000 population)	2	2	same as the NI average	2011/12 to 2014/15
Rate of criminal damage and arson (per 1,000 population)	9	43	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2014/15
Rate of deliberate primary and secondary fires (per 1,000 population)	3	3	same as the NI average	2011/12 to 2015/16
Rate of anti-social behaviour incidents (per 1,000 population)	28	85	higher than the NI average	2011/12 to 2015/16

The following charts are related to this indicator:

Source: Police Service of Northern Ireland administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: These figures exclude vehicle crime.

Source: Police Service of Northern Ireland administrative data. Not routinely published.

Note: The introduction of lockdown measures and other restrictions relating to the Covid‑19 pandemic led to a substantial increase in levels of anti-social behaviour recorded during 2020/21.

Source: Police Service of Northern Ireland administrative data. Not routinely published.

Access to Services

Within the MDM2017, the Access to Services domain has a single indicator at NRA level:

Access to Services Indicator	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Proportion of properties with broadband speed below 10Mb/s	10%	0%	lower than the NI average	2015

Living Environment

Within the MDM2017, the Living Environment domain has nine indicators at NRA level:

Living Environment Indicators	NI Average	Limavady	Difference	Reference Year
Proportion of domestic dwellings that are unfit (%)	2%	1%	lower than the NI average	2016
Proportion of domestic dwellings in a state of disrepair (%)	16%	20%	higher than the NI average	2016
Proportion of domestic dwellings without modern boiler, or loft insulation and double glazing (%)	27%	32%	higher than the NI average	2016
Rate of household overcrowding (%)	4%	4%	same as the NI average	2011
Proportion of population with disability without adaptations to dwelling (%)	84%	84%	same as the NI average	2011
Proportion of domestic dwellings with Local Area Problem Score (%)	2%	2%	same as the NI average	2016
Standardised rate of road defects (NI = 100)	100	206	higher than the NI average	2014/15 & 2015/16
Rate of road traffic collisions (per 1,000 population)	4	2	lower than the NI average	2014/15 & 2015/16
Proportion of properties in flood risk area (%)	3%	3%	same as the NI average	2013

Census

Census data 2001, 2011 & 2021.

The following charts provide 2001 Census, 2011 Census and 2021 Census information in relation to:

Car or van availability
Household Composition
Household Tenure
Marital Status
Limiting long-term illness
General Health
Economic activity
Highest level of qualifications

Source: Census 2001, Census 2011 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Note: Civil partnerships were introduced in Northern Ireland for same-sex couples on 19 December 2005.

Source: Census 2001, Census 2011 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency