West Belfast Fact Sheet

Population

• 97,395 (Based on 1991 Census data)
• 31,702 households. Average household size: 3 persons.
• 67,599 people 16 years of age and older.

Unemployment

• Only 38% of people 16 years of age and older are in employment.
• Almost one in three of the economically active population are out of employment.
• 4% of economically active persons are on Government employment or training schemes.
• In some wards only 25% of the working age population are employed.
• The highest level of employment in any West Belfast ward is 51% of persons aged 16 and over.

Health

• 14% of the population suffer from long-term illness.
• 7% of the 16+ population is economically inactive because of long-term illness or disability.
• North & West Belfast has the highest rate of infant mortality in N. Ireland.
• The rate of hospital admission for children under 5 years of age is almost twice that of South Belfast.
• 14% of all children in Belfast Urban Area live in West Belfast, but 23% of all children suffering from long-term illness or disability live in West Belfast.

Poverty

• 48% of households do not own their own home.
• Only 4.2% of the households in Falls Ward are owner occupied.
• 64% of households do not own a car.
• In 57% of wards in North & West Belfast, at least 30% of the population are significantly deprived.
• Twelve of the sixteen most deprived Belfast wards are in West Belfast.

Religion

• 74% of the population are Catholic;
• 5% Presbyterian;
• 10% Church of Ireland;
• 1.5% Methodist;
• 2.4% Other Denominations;
• 1.6% No Religion;
• 6% Not Stated.

Knowledge of Irish Language

• One-fifth of the people living in West Belfast have a knowledge of the Irish language.