Northern Ireland Good Relations Indicators 2019 Report
The Good Relations Indicators 2019 Report was revised on 24th November 2022 to correct an error which was identified in how religion and gender breakdowns were calculated. Full details can be found in the Corrections Notice.
The Together: Building a United Community Strategy (2013) outlines a vision of a united community, based on equality of opportunity, the desirability of good relations and reconciliation.
This publication monitors indicators for the four key priorities of the T:BUC Strategy: our children and young people; our shared community; our safe community; and our cultural expression.
Click here to view guidance on the interactive figures used throughout this report
39% of adults and 44% of young people think that relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago. There was a significant decrease on the corresponding 2018 figure of 43% for adults but there was no significant difference in the change for young people.
54% of young people have ‘done projects’ with pupils from other schools; 52% have ‘shared classes’; and 26% ‘shared sports facilities or equipment’ where the pupils are from a different religious background.
76% of respondents think that the culture and traditions of Protestant communities add to the richness and diversity of Northern Ireland society; 73% think this about Catholic communities; and 61% think this about Minority Ethnic communities.
Since 2018 there has been a significant increase in the proportion of adults who feel they have an influence on decisions in their neighbourhood (6 percentage point increase to 25%) and Northern Ireland decisions (6 percentage point increase to 22%).
Percentage (%) who think that relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago
Why is this indicator important?
Improving attitudes, as perceived by young people responding to the Young Life and Times (YLT) survey, is an invaluable measure of attitudinal change. Direct comparisons can be made with adults using the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey.
Current Year (2019):
In 2019, 39% of adults and 44% of young people think that relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago.
Source: NILT/YLT
How we got here:
Since 2018, there has been a significant decrease (of 4 percentage points to 39%) in the proportion of adult respondents who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago. The proportion of young people who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago has not undergone any significant change since 2018. This is the second lowest proportion for young people since the launch of the T:BUC strategy in 2013.
From 2018 to 2019 there was no significant change in the proportion of adults identifying as Protestant who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago (2019: 42%), however there was a significant increase of 9 percentage points among young people who identify as Protestant (2019: 48%). There was no significant change in the proportion of either adults or young people who identify as neither Protestant nor Catholic who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago. Adult respondents identifying as Catholic who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago has significantly decreased (8 percentage points to 41%). There was no significant change among young people identifying as Catholic who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago.
Percentage (%) who think that relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in five years' time
Why is this indicator important?
Improving attitudes, as perceived by young people responding to the Young Life and Times (YLT) survey, is an invaluable measure of attitudinal change. Direct comparisons can be made with adults using the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey.
Current Year (2019):
In 2019, 28% of adults and 34% of young people think that relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in five years’ time.
Source: NILT/YLT
How we got here:
Since 2018, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adult respondents who think relations will be better in five years' time; the corresponding figure for young people has also not changed significantly. For adults this is the lowest proportion since the launch of the T:BUC strategy in 2013, while for young people this is the second lowest.
Percentage (%) who feel favourable towards people from: Catholic communities, Protestant communities, Minority Ethnic communities
Why is this indicator important?
Improving attitudes, as perceived by young people responding to the Young Life and Times (YLT) survey, is an invaluable measure of attitudinal change. Direct comparisons can be made with adults using the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey.
Current Year (2019):
63% of young people responded that they feel favourable towards people from Catholic communities; 57% towards people from Protestant communities; and 55% towards people from Minority Ethnic communities. This remains significantly lower than the proportion of adults who feel favourable towards people from: Catholic communities, 81%; Protestant communities, 86%; and Minority Ethnic communities, 69%.
Source: NILT/YLT
How we got here:
Young people's attitudes towards people from Catholic, Protestant, and Minority Ethnic communities have shown a significant improvement since 2018.
Young people in 2019 are more positive than their counterparts in 2013 towards Catholic communities (19 percentage points), Protestant Communities (15 percentage points) and Minority Ethnic communities (14 percentage points).
Percentage (%) of young people who regularly socialise or play sport with people from a different religious community
Why is this indicator important?
The number of young people regularly socialising or playing sport with people from a different community shows the extent of positive cross-community contact.
Current Year (2019):
66% of young people ‘very often’ or ‘sometimes’ socialise or play sport with people from a different religious community. A significantly lower proportion of Catholic young people report this than Protestant young people or young people with no religion. There is no significant difference in the proportions of young male people and young female people who report this.
Source: YLT
How we got here:
The proportion of young people who regularly socialise or play sport with young people from a different religious background has increased for the first time since 2015. This is a significant increase of 4 percentage points on this proportion in 2018.
Percentage (%) of young people who have: shared sports facilities or equipment; shared classes; or done projects, with pupils from other schools where the pupils are from a different religious background
Why is this indicator important?
Finding out the opinions of young people who have done projects, and shared classes or facilities with pupils from other schools where the pupils are from a different religious background helps to show what works, and where resources are best allocated.
Current Year (2019):
54% of young people have ‘done projects’ with pupils from other schools, while 52% have ‘shared classes’, and 26% ‘shared sports facilities or equipment’.
Source: YLT
Note: % of young people refers to those who took part in shared education.
How we got here:
A shared education model is included in alternating 'Young Life and Times' surveys. Data from previous years are not directly comparable due to changes in the wording and ordering of questions.
Number of hate crimes
Why is this indicator important?
An increase in good relations should result in lower numbers of hate crimes and incidents being committed.
Current Year (2019/20):
In 2019/20, 639 sectarian, and 626 racially motivated hate crimes were recorded. Sectarian and racially motivated hate crimes are each around twice the total number of all other categories of hate crimes combined.
Source: PSNI
How we got here:
Unlike last year, the number of sectarian hate crimes has surpassed that of racially motivated hate crimes. While racially motivated hate crimes have shown a decrease of 76 since 2018/19 and sectarian hate crimes have shown an increase of 17, it should be noted that increases or decreases in the number of crimes may be attributed to changes in reporting; detection; or confidence in the police.
Number of people presenting as homeless as a result of intimidation
Why is this indicator important?
The number presenting as homeless due to intimidation is an indicator of people's fears around safety, as well as allowing us to measure the prevalence of intimidation.
Current Year (2019/20):
73% of the 335 households that presented as homeless due to intimidation in 2019/20 did so because of paramilitary intimidation.
Source: NIHE
*other includes anti-social behaviour, disability, and sexual orientation
How we got here:
Between 2018/19 and 2019/20, there has been a decrease in the number of NIHE clients presenting as homeless due to paramilitary intimidation, sectarian intimidation and other intimidation (i.e. anti-social behaviour, disability, and sexual orientation). Those presenting as homeless due to paramilitary intimidation has shown the largest decrease (35%) between 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Percentage (%) of people who felt: annoyed by republican murals; intimidated by republican murals; annoyed by loyalist murals; intimidated by loyalist murals
Why is this indicator important?
A reduction in the use of murals, kerb-paintings and flags to mark territory will result in a community where people feel safe moving around, and are not inhibited by fear.
Current Year (2019):
25% of respondents said that they had been annoyed by republican murals, kerb-paintings or flags in the last year; with 10% feeling intimidated by them. Significantly more respondents said they had been annoyed by loyalist murals, kerb-paintings or flags in the last year (30%); with 14% intimidated by them.
Source: NILT
How we got here:
Since 2018 there have been no significant changes in the proportions of adults who felt annoyed by either loyalist or republican murals. There have also been no significant changes in the proportions of adults who felt intimidated by either loyalist or republican murals.
Percentage (%) of people who see town centres as safe and welcoming places for people of all walks of life
Why is this indicator important?
Town centres must be seen as places where people can feel safe in moving around, and where life choices are not inhibited by fears around safety.
Current Year (2019):
63% of respondents see town centres as safe and welcoming places for people of all walks of life. 63% of Catholic respondents, 71% of Protestant respondents, and 49% of respondents with no religion report this.
Source: NILT
How we got here:
In 2019, 63% of respondents said that they see town centres as safe and welcoming places for people of all walks of life. This is a significant decrease of 4 percentage points since 2018.
Percentage (%) of people feeling safe going to events held in: a GAA club, an Orange Hall, a Protestant secondary school, a Catholic secondary school
Why is this indicator important?
Asking people about where they feel safe helps to measure whether all communities are perceived as welcoming for everybody. This helps to identify what extra steps we can take to overcome negative perceptions.
Current Year (2019):
In 2019, 70% of respondents say they feel ‘very’ or ‘quite’ safe going to events held in a GAA club; 66% to events held in an Orange Hall; 91% to events held in a Protestant secondary school; and 89% to events held in a Catholic secondary school.
Source: NILT
How we got here:
Since 2013, there have been no significant changes in feelings of safety in Protestant Secondary Schools, Catholic Secondary Schools, GAA Clubs or Orange Halls.
Percentage (%) who would like to see peace lines come down now or in the near future
Why is this indicator important?
Peace Lines impact on the delivery of services and reduce the potential for communities living in these areas to attract and benefit from inward investment. This indicator helps identify where more work is needed to create the conditions and gain the confidence of the community that will allow the peace lines to come down.
Current Year (2019):
In 2019, 54% of all respondents want the Peace Lines to come down now or in the future and 49% of those who live within a few streets of the Peace Lines want this.
Source: NILT
*residents are defined as those that indicate they live “within a few streets of the nearest Peace Lines”
How we got here:
In 2019, around a half (49%) of residents said they want the peace lines to come down now or in the future, this does not represent a significant change from 2018 (53%).
Percentage (%) who feel a sense of belonging to: their neighbourhood; Northern Ireland
Why is this indicator important?
This indicator measures people's sense of belonging towards their neighbourhood and Northern Ireland as a whole; and compares young people to adults.
Current Year (2019):
Nine in ten adult respondents (90%) say they feel a sense of belonging towards their neighbourhood, while 85% say they feel a sense of belonging to Northern Ireland. A significantly lower proportion of young people say the same (71% belonging to their neighbourhood; 70% to Northern Ireland).
Among adults, significantly more Protestant respondents (97%) than either Catholic respondents (91%) or respondents with no religion (77%) said they felt a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood. While for young people, significantly more Protestant (78%) and Catholic (81%) respondents than respondents with no religion (57%) felt a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood. Again among adults, significantly more Protestant respondents (92%) than either Catholic respondents (85%) or respondents with no religion (76%) said they felt a sense of belonging to Northern Ireland. Among young people, significantly more Protestant respondents (83%) than either Catholic respondents (69%) or respondents with no religion (55%) said they felt a sense of belonging to Northern Ireland.
Source: NILT/YLT
How we got here:
Since 2013, the proportions of adults who feel who feel a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood and to Northern Ireland has increased significantly. However, there is no significant change in these proportions for young people.
Percentage (%) of people who feel they have an influence on decisions made in: their neighbourhood; Northern Ireland
Why is this indicator important?
For people to feel like they belong to their community, it is important that they feel like they have an influence when it comes to decisions made in their neighbourhood and in Northern Ireland.
Current Year (2019):
One in four adults responded that they feel they have an influence on decisions made in their neighbourhood (25%), with an even smaller proportion of adults (22%) feeling they have an influence on decisions made in Northern Ireland. The proportion of young people who think this is significantly lower – 8% feel like they have an influence on decisions made in their neighbourhood, and 8% in decisions made in Northern Ireland.
Source: NILT/YLT
How we got here:
Since 2018, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of adults who feel they have an influence on local decisions (6 percentage points) and Northern Ireland decisions (6 percentage points).
Young people's perception of influence on their neighbourhood has seen a significant decrease since 2018, however, their perception of influence on Northern Ireland has not changed significantly. Young people feel less influential than adults at both neighbourhood and Northern Ireland level.
Percentage (%) who think the culture and traditions of: Catholic communities; Protestant communities; Minority Ethnic communities, add to the richness and diversity of Northern Ireland society
Why is this indicator important?
Embracing cultural diversity and celebrating cultural expression will be key to good relations in the future.
Current Year (2019):
Over three-quarters (76%) of respondents think that the culture and traditions of Protestant communities add to the richness and diversity of Northern Ireland society. Although a smaller number of respondents (73%) think this about Catholic communities, there is no significant difference in these amounts. However, a significantly smaller proportion (61%) think this about Minority Ethnic communities.
Source: NILT
How we got here:
There was no significant change in proportion of respondents who think the culture and traditions of Catholic and Protestant communities add to the richness and diversity of Northern Ireland society since 2018. There was a significant decrease in the proportion who think this in relation to Minority Ethnic communities (4 percentage points).
Percentage (%) who feel their own cultural identity is respected by society
Why is this indicator important?
If our society is to be based on mutual respect, then everyone must feel that their own cultural identity is respected by the society in which they live.
Current Year (2019):
Over three-fifths of adult respondents (62%) feel that their own cultural identity is respected by society. 64% of Catholic respondents feel this, and 66% of Protestant respondents. A significantly lower proportion of those with no religion think that their own cultural identity is respected by society (52%).
Source: NILT
How we got here:
Since 2018, there has been no significant change in the proportion of those who feel their own cultural identity is respected by society.
NB: Data points and event lines are shown at mid-year points, rather than exact dates when data collection and/or events happened.
Statistics and Research Branch
The Executive Office
Block 2
Knockview Buildings
Belfast
BT4 3SL
Email:
teostatisticsresearch@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
Telephone: (028) 90522644
Why are good relations indicators needed?
Good Relations Indicators are needed to measure the progress of the ‘Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Strategy’.
What is the Together: Building a United Community Strategy?
The T:BUC Strategy was published by the Northern Ireland Executive in May 2013. The strategy reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. This strategy represents a major change in the way that good relations will be delivered across government.
The vision of the strategy is:
“a united community, based on equality of opportunity, the desirability of good relations and reconciliation - one which is strengthened by its diversity, where cultural expression is celebrated and embraced and where everyone can live, learn, work and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance.”
The strategy sets out a range of actions and commitments for government departments, communities and individuals who will work together to build a united community and achieve change against four key strategic priorities:
Each of these key priorities is supported by the following shared aims:
How were the indicators decided?
The good relations indicators were developed by NISRA statisticians with input from an expert advisory group. Based on the T:BUC vision and four key strategic priorities, a set of outcomes that would be expected if the strategy is successful were outlined;
More information about how the outcomes and indicators were chosen can be found in the technical notes.
Are the indicators monitored?
The indicators are monitored on an annual basis using a range of robust data sources. More information about these data sources can be found in the technical notes at the back of this document, or within the associated data files available on The Executive Office website.
More information about how the outcomes and indicators were chosen can be found in the technical notes.
What are the strengths of the indicators?
The T:BUC strategy and Good Relations indicators have been developed and agreed through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The data sources used to monitor progress are robust and known to collect data in accordance with best practice.
The criteria for selecting the indicators as agreed by an expert advisory group (comprised of key stakeholders from departments, District Councils and the community and voluntary sector) are that indicators should be:
A draft set of outcomes and indicators was agreed by the Advisory Group and consulted on more widely between 22nd January and 31st March 2014. Consultees were invited to provide comments on the indicators via an online survey on the OFMdFM website, or by hardcopy. OFMdFM is the precursor to The Executive Office; renamed as part of departmental restructure in May 2016.
The indicators are measured using a range of data sources. The data from each source are not available at the same time, but those contained within this report are the most current at the time of this publication.
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey was launched in the autumn of 1998. Its mission is to monitor the attitudes and behaviour of people across Northern Ireland annually to provide a time-series and a public record of how our attitudes and behaviour develop on a wide range of social policy issues. The Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) Survey is a direct descendent of the Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey (NISA) which ran from 1989 to 1996.
The 2019 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, where the survey coordinator is based. The survey involved 1,203 face-to-face interviews with adults aged 18 years or over from a systematic random sample of 2,167 eligible addresses selected from the Postcode Address File database, resulting in a 56% response rate.
All analyses of the adult data are weighted in order to allow for disproportionate household size. As only one individual is sampled at an address, this means that the probability of selection for the survey is inversely related to the size of the household. In other words individuals living in large household have a lower chance of being included in the sample than individuals living in small households. Before analysis the data are weighted in relation to the number of eligible adults at the address, derived from the details of the household structure recorded by interviewers on the questionnaire. This weighting process adjusts the results to those which would have been achieved if the sample had been drawn as a systematic random sample of adults rather than of addresses. (ARK)
From 1998 to 2000, the Young Life and Times (YLT) survey sought the views of all 12 to 17 year olds living in the same household as the respondent to the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey. However, in 2003, the aims and methodology of the survey were changed. From 2003 onwards, the Young Life and Times survey recorded the attitudes of 16 year olds only. The YLT sample is drawn from the Child Benefit Register and usually contains the names and addresses of all young people resident in Northern Ireland who celebrated their 16th birthday during February and March.
In 2019, 5,092 names of eligible respondents were received. 1,132 completed questionnaires were received by the end of the fieldwork period, resulting in a response rate of 22%. The YLT data does not require weighting. (ARK)
The School Omnibus Survey is a multi-purpose survey of all Principals in grant-aided schools, designed to collect a range of required information as determined by DE policy teams. The questions produced both quantitative and qualitative data, generally using yes/no and multiple response questions as well as open-ended response types. The survey was web-based, with the option to complete in either English or Irish, and each school received the link to the survey via email, along with a unique username and password to maximise security. The survey was issued in September 2018, with a four week period given for survey returns. A reminder was issued one week prior to the closing date of the survey period.
The shared education section received 254 responses out of a total of 404 responses to the online survey. (Dept. of Education)
The 2016 Northern Ireland House Condition Survey (HCS) was based on a random sample of 3,000 dwellings completed in two stages.
The first stage involved including all the full surveys completed as part of the 2011 HCS (resample: 1,434 surveys). Consideration had to be given to the location of addresses because the 2011 HCS eleven council areas were approximations only, based on the grouping of existing LGDs, as boundaries were not finalised at the time of the 2011 HCS sampling. Consequently, this meant there were some sample variations in the final totals by the eleven council areas in the 2016 HCS sample.
The second stage was a fresh random sample of 1,566 properties selected by council area to ensure that each area total (fresh and resample) added to approximately 200. In Belfast Council Area, a total of 635 households were selected (150 in North, 151 in East, 171 in South and 163 in West Belfast). In addition the Causeway Coast Council area was divided into two areas to allow for more detailed information on holiday homes in Northern Ireland.
The fresh sample frame, in 2016, was Pointer (see ‘Sample frame’). This database (Pointer) contained a subset of the computerised records for domestic residential property maintained by the LPS and had been subject to extensive quality assurance and validation since 2011.
Addresses were selected at random and no substitution of addresses was allowed. In instances where surveyors encountered a multi-dwelling address and there was no sub-number on their contact sheet, there were processes in place to ensure the correct address was selected. In the case of a fresh sample address a kish grid was used to randomly select the sub-number. In the case of a resample address the statistics team looked up the details of the previous survey in order to identify which sub number had been surveyed, and the same sub-number was surveyed in 2016. If the address was a single-dwelling address in the previous survey, but had subsequently changed to a mutli-dweling address, a kish grid was used to randomly select the sub-number. (NIHE)
Information on pupil enrolments is collected annually from schools, as part of what is commonly known as the schools census. This data collection exercise is an annual snapshot of pupil and school level data for each pre-school centre, nursery, special, primary, post-primary, hospital and independent school in Northern Ireland. As well as data relating to school enrolments and numbers, information in relation to attendance is collected as part of the overall school return. (Dept. of Education)
Data on numbers of first preference applicants admitted to post-primary schools is collated each year at the end of the annual admissions process by the regional offices of the Education Authority. The figures for integrated post-primary schools have been extracted from this. (Dept. of Education)
Unlike the Northern Ireland Crime Survey (NICS), police recorded crime figures do not include crimes that have not been reported to the police or those that the police decide not to record, but they do cover crimes against those aged under 16, organisations such as businesses, and crimes ‘against the state’ i.e. with no immediate victim (e.g. possession of drugs). Like any administrative data, police recorded crime statistics are affected by the rules governing the recording of data, systems in place and operational decisions in respect of the allocation of resources. More proactive policing in a given area could lead to an increase in crimes recorded without any real change in underlying crime trends. These issues need to be taken into account when using these data. (PSNI)
Statistics on Homelessness are sourced from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). They are published in the DfC’s annual Housing Statistics report. The figures reported for each reason for presentation from 2011-12 onwards are not fully comparable with other published figures. Data migration issues and coding variations following the introduction of a new operational Housing Management System (HMS) in July 2011 meant that no data on reason for presentation was recorded for 3,731 cases in 2011-12 and 835 cases during April-June 2012. (NIHE)