Key points
- The proportion of respondents who agreed that asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland has increased significantly between 2018, the first year of the current time series, and 2023 (from 54% to 61%). This did, however, decrease significantly between 2022 and 2023 (from 70% to 61%).
- Between 2022 and 2023, there was a significant decrease (from 51% to 39%) in the proportion of respondents who agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country. The 2023 figure was the same as the figure reported for 2019, the first year of the current time series.
- The proportion of respondents who agreed that it is “our duty to
provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their
home country” has decreased significantly from 76% in 2022 to 68% in
2023. The proportion for 2023 was not significantly different to that
reported for 2019 (65%), the first year of the current time
series.
- A further seven questions were asked for the first time in 2023 and responses to these are included in the body of the report.
Background and introduction
This publication uses data from the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey to examine public attitudes to asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland. The NILT survey is an annual, representative survey of the Northern Irish population, aged 18 and above.
There are ten questions, three of which have been asked previously with a further seven added for the first time in 2023. Full details of the questions, including when they were first asked, are available in the Technical notes.
For the three questions that have been asked previously, comparisons over time are made for the full sample as far back as the data is available. In addition, analysis by Local Government District (LGD) is also provided for these questions, with the 2022 and 2023 datasets combined to ensure the sample size was sufficient for analysis.
Supplementary data tables accompanying this publication, with
breakdowns by sub-population groups, are available on the
Executive
Office website.
Technical overview
Because NILT is a representative survey, the results presented in this report can be considered to be estimates of the views of the Northern Ireland population.
Changes over time have been tested for statistical significance. Where possible, these have been mentioned in the commentary.
Further information on weights applied to the data and statistical uncertainty (confidence intervals and significance differences) have been provided in the Technical notes, with full detail provided in the supplementary data tables.
The Technical notes also include further information on the NILT survey, definitions and analysis provided.
Note: Throughout the publication, response options ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Agree’ were merged into an ‘Agree’ category. Response options ‘Strongly disagree’ and ‘Disagree’ were merged into a ‘Disagree’ category. ‘Prefer not to say’ response options were coded as missing.
Responses to the question: “Thinking about people who come to Northern Ireland to get away from persecution in their own country. How much do you agree or disagree that these asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland?”
Overall responses
Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed that “asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland”. Figure 1 shows that the proportion of all respondents who agreed increased from 54% in 2018 to 61% in 2023. This was a significant increase. This proportion did, however, decrease significantly between 2022 and 2023 (from 70% to 61%).
Figure 1. Percentage of all respondents who agreed that asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland: 2018 - 2023
Note: The survey methodology changed between 2019 and 2020, when the survey moved from a face-to-face to an online mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move to an online survey is not considered to constitute a break in the time series. For more information please see Technical notes
Figure 2 shows that in 2023, 61% of all respondents agreed that asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland, 19% neither agreed nor disagreed, 16% disagreed and 4% said they didn’t know.
Figure 2. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland: 2023
Responses by Local Government District in 2022 and 2023
This section presents the percentage of respondents who agreed that asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland, broken down by the LGD the respondents reside in. To ensure the achieved sample for each LGD is sufficient for analysis, 2022 and 2023 NILT data have been combined to produce these estimates.
As shown in Figure 3, the percentage of respondents who agreed with the statement ranged from 54% in Mid and East Antrim to 72% in Belfast and Derry City and Strabane.
The estimate for Mid and East Antrim was significantly lower than the estimates for seven other LGDs. Full details of significant differences between LGDs are available in Worksheet 11a of the supplementary data tables.
For context, when 2022 and 2023 datasets were combined, 66% of all respondents across Northern Ireland agreed with the statement. It is particularly important to consider the combined figure for this question, as the proportion who agreed decreased significantly between 2022 and 2023.
Figure 3. Map of the percentage of respondents, by Local Government District, who agreed that asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland: 2022 and 2023 combined
Responses to the statement: “It should be easier for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Northern Ireland”
Figure 4 shows that in 2023, 37% of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 28% neither agreed nor disagreed, 29% disagreed and the remaining 6% said they didn’t know.
Figure 4. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that it should be easier for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Northern Ireland: 2023
Responses to the statement: “Asylum seekers should have the same access to employment as the rest of the Northern Ireland population”
Figure 5 shows that in 2023, 57% of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 18% neither agreed nor disagreed, 21% disagreed and the remaining 3% said they didn’t know.
Figure 5. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that asylum seekers should have the same access to employment as the rest of the Northern Ireland population: 2023
Responses to the statement: “Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country”
Overall responses
Respondents were then asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed that “Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country”. The proportion of all respondents who agreed was the same in 2019 and 2023 (39%) (Figure 6). The 2023 figure was, however, significantly lower than the corresponding figure for 2022 (51%).
Figure 6. Percentage of all respondents who agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country: 2019 - 2023
Note: The survey methodology changed between 2019 and 2020, when the survey moved from a face-to-face to an online mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move to an online survey is not considered to constitute a break in the time series. For more information please see Technical notes
Figure 7 shows that in 2023, almost two-fifths (39%) of all respondents agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country, while 30% neither agreed nor disagreed, 25% disagreed and 6% said they didn’t know.
Figure 7. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country: 2023
Responses by Local Government District in 2022 and 2023
This section presents the percentage of respondents who agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country, broken down by the LGD the respondents reside in. To ensure the achieved sample for each LGD is sufficient for analysis, 2022 and 2023 NILT data have been combined to produce these estimates.
Figure 8 shows that the percentage of respondents who agreed with the statement ranged from 40% in Fermanagh and Omagh, to 55% in Derry City and Strabane.
The estimate for Derry City and Strabane was significantly higher than the corresponding figures for seven other LGDs (Ards and North Down, Belfast, Causeway Coast and Glens, Fermanagh and Omagh, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mid Ulster, and Newry, Mourne and Down). No other significant differences existed in the proportions who agreed with this statement across LGDs.
For context, when 2022 and 2023 datasets were combined, 45% of all respondents agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country. It is particularly important to consider the combined figure for this question, as the proportion who agreed decreased significantly between 2022 and 2023.
Figure 8. Map of the percentage of respondents by Local Government District, who agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country: 2022 and 2023 combined
Responses to the statement: “I think it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”
Overall responses
Respondents were also asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with the statement: “I think it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”. Figure 9 shows that the proportion of all respondents who agreed increased from 65% in 2019 to 68% in 2023 - this difference was not significant. The 2023 figure was, however, significantly lower than the corresponding figure for 2022 (76%).
Figure 9. Percentage of all respondents who agreed that “it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”
Note: The survey methodology changed between 2019 and 2020, when the survey moved from a face-to-face to an online mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move to an online survey is not considered to constitute a break in the time series. For more information please see Technical notes
Figure 10 shows that in 2023, just over two-thirds (68%) of all respondents agreed that “it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”. A further 18% neither agreed nor disagreed, 12% disagreed and the remaining 3% said they didn’t know.
Figure 10. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that “it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”: 2023
Responses by Local Government District in 2022 and 2023
This section presents the percentage of respondents who agreed that “it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”, broken down by the LGD the respondents reside in. To ensure the achieved sample for each LGD is sufficient for analysis, 2022 and 2023 NILT data have been combined to produce these estimates.
As shown in Figure 11, the percentage of respondents who agreed with the statement ranged from 68% in Fermanagh and Omagh and Mid and East Antrim, to 78% in Lisburn and Castlereagh.
The estimate for Lisburn and Castlereagh was significantly higher than the estimates for three other LGDs (Causeway Coast and Glens, Fermanagh and Omagh and Mid and East Antrim). No other significant differences existed in the proportions who agreed with this statement across LGDs.
For context, when 2022 and 2023 datasets were combined, 72% of all respondents across Northern Ireland agreed with the statement. It is particularly important to consider the combined figure for this question, as the proportion who agreed decreased significantly between 2022 and 2023.
Figure 11. Map of the percentage of respondents by Local Government District, who agreed that “it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country”: 2022 and 2023 combined
Responses to the statement: “Refugees contribute to society”
Figure 12 shows that in 2023, over one-half (53%) of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 26% neither agreed nor disagreed, 15% disagreed and the remaining 7% said they didn’t know.
Figure 12. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that refugees contribute to society: 2023
Responses to the statement: “Refugees and asylum seekers are not respected in Northern Ireland”
Figure 13 shows that in 2023, one-half (50%) of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 31% neither agreed nor disagreed, 13% disagreed and the remaining 7% said they didn’t know.
Figure 13. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that refugees and asylum seekers are not respected in Northern Ireland: 2023
Responses to the statement: “I would like more opportunities to get to know asylum seekers or refugees”
Figure 14 shows that in 2023, 44% of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 38% neither agreed nor disagreed, 15% disagreed and the remaining 3% said they didn’t know.
Figure 14. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that they would like more opportunities to get to know asylum seekers or refugees: 2023
Responses to the statement: “People’s perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers are negatively affected by the media”
Figure 15 shows that in 2023, approximately two-thirds (66%) of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 21% neither agreed nor disagreed, 9% disagreed and the remaining 4% said they didn’t know.
Figure 15. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that people’s perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers are negatively affected by the media: 2023
Responses to the statement: “People fleeing the war in Ukraine should be allowed to come to Northern Ireland”
Figure 16 shows that in 2023, over three-quarters (78%) of all respondents agreed with this statement. A further 15% neither agreed nor disagreed, 6% disagreed and the remaining 1% said they didn’t know.
Figure 16. Percentage of all respondents who agreed or disagreed that people fleeing the war in Ukraine should be allowed to come to Northern Ireland: 2023
Technical notes
Methodology
Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) is an annual survey run by Access Research Knowledge (ARK). ARK is a social policy hub, established in 2000 by researchers at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast. Every year, ARK administer the survey to a representative sample of adults, aged 18 years or over, living in Northern Ireland.
In the questionnaire, an asylum seeker was defined as “someone seeking refugee status who has not yet received a decision from the Immigration Authorities on whether their application has been successful or not.” Refugees were defined as “people who have been given permission to stay in the UK because they have been persecuted in their home country.”
After being provided with these definitions, respondents were asked: ‘Thinking about people who come to Northern Ireland to get away from persecution in their own country. How much do you agree or disagree that these asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland?’ (Question also asked each year since 2018)
They were then asked how much they agree or disagree with the following statements:
- It should be easier for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Northern Ireland (Question asked for the first time in 2023)
- Asylum seekers should have the same access to employment as the rest of the Northern Ireland population (Question asked for the first time in 2023)
- Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country (Question asked each year since 2019)
- I think it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country (Question asked each year since 2019)
- Refugees contribute to our society (Question asked for the first time in 2023)
- Refugees and asylum seekers are not respected in Northern Ireland (Question asked for the first time in 2023)
- I would like more opportunities to get to know asylum seekers or refugees (Question asked for the first time in 2023)
- People’s perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers are negatively affected by the media (Question asked for the first time in 2023)
Respondents were then asked: ‘How much do you agree or disagree that people fleeing the war in Ukraine should be allowed to come to Northern Ireland?’ (Question asked for the first time in 2023).
The response options for all ten questions were: Strongly agree; Agree; Neither agree nor disagree; Disagree; Strongly disagree; I don’t know; Prefer not to say.
This publication presents findings for the overall sample and LGD (where applicable). Further breakdowns by sex, age, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, urban/rural area and TEO Racial Equality Variable (where applicable) are available in the supplementary data tables.
Move to online survey
Prior to 2020, the survey was administered face-to-face. This changed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now conducted online. This change is marked on the relevant time series charts throughout the publication. The move to an online survey was fully tested and is not considered to constitute a break in the time series.
Sample
The 2023 NILT survey sample was a systematic random sample of
addresses selected from the Postcode Address File (PAF). The PAF is the
most up-to-date and complete list of addresses in the UK. Prior to
sample selection, private business addresses were removed from the list.
A total of 8,000 addresses, stratified proportionately by LGD, were
selected and issued with an invitation letter. The letter indicated that
only the person with the next birthday within the household was eligible
for participation. The survey was conducted online, and the letter
contained a URL survey link, unique to each household. Of the 8,000
addresses, 1,200 completed the survey, which is a response rate of 15%.
The asylum seeker and refugee questions were answered by between 1,190
and 1,197 respondents.
2023 NILT data collection period
Data for the 2023 NILT survey was collected between September 2023 and January 2024.
Variable coding
Refugee and asylum seeker questions
Response options ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Agree’ were merged into an
‘Agree’ category. Response options ‘Strongly disagree’ and ‘Disagree’
were merged into a ‘Disagree’ category. ‘Prefer not to say’ response
options were coded as missing.
Statistics
When interpreting the findings in this publication, please note the following:
Rounding
Percentages within this publication have been rounded to the nearest
integer and may therefore not sum to 100%.
Sampling error and weights
As NILT is a sample survey, there is a certain level of sampling
error. This means that the characteristics of the group sampled will
differ from the population as a whole. To account for this sampling
error, and to ensure that reported estimates better represent the
population, the data have been weighted by age, gender, and location,
based on information from the Northern Ireland Census.
Confidence intervals and statistical significance
The supplementary data tables include detail on the 95% confidence intervals for each estimate. A confidence interval gives an indication of the degree of uncertainty of an estimate and helps to explain how precise it is. The wider a confidence interval is, the less precise the associated estimate is.
Statistically significant differences over time have been highlighted throughout the report, with full detail presented in worksheets 11a to 11j in the supplementary data tables. If two groups are significantly different from each other, it means that the difference between them is unlikely to have occurred by chance. All tests were conducted at .05 significance level. This means that if a difference between two groups is reported as significant, there is less than (<) 5% probability that the result was due to chance. The unweighted base numbers and weighted percentage estimates have an effect on statistical significance. Therefore, on occasion, a difference between two groups may be statistically significant while the same difference in percentage points between two other groups may not be statistically significant. The reason for this is that the larger the unweighted base numbers or the closer the percentages are to 0 or 100, the smaller the standard errors. This leads to increased precision of the estimates which increases the likelihood that the difference is significant.
More information on statistical uncertainty can be found on the
ONS
website.
Publication threshold
It is the nature of sampling variability that the smaller the group
whose size is being estimated, the less precise (proportionately) that
estimate is. Estimates for groups where the sample base is less than 50
have been omitted from the report, as they are likely to be unreliable.
This is denoted by ‘[u]’ in the supplementary data tables.
Disclosure control
Statistical disclosure control has been applied to instances of small cell counts (less than five). Data are not presented for confidentiality purposes. This is denoted by ‘[c]’ in the supplementary data tables.
These official statistics are produced in compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. Our Statistical policies and statements provide further details of how we apply the principles and practices of the Code in the production and publication of our official statistics.
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Reader information
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