Nation · Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Discover Northern Ireland, a UK nation shaped by the Mourne Mountains, the Sperrins, the Fermanagh lakelands and the north coast's Giant's Causeway.
Quick facts
- Type of place
- Nation
- Nation
- Northern Ireland
- Official identifier
- gss:N92000002
ONS countries December 2024
Office for National Statistics · ons-countries-2024 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0 Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2024.
Overview
Northern Ireland’s landscapes include the Mourne Mountains, the Sperrins, the Fermanagh lakelands and the Giant’s Causeway. They offer different starting points for exploring its geography, from mountain country to the basalt columns of the north coast. Belfast’s Titanic Quarter provides a connection with the city’s maritime past.
Geography and administration
Northern Ireland is one of the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Population and demographics
- Population
- 1,928,446 people
-
Figures for . NISRA MYE25 Northern Ireland and LGD2014 administrative areas.
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency · nisra-mid-2025 · Flat!F56. Released 24 September 2026.
Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: NISRA. Website: https://www.nisra.gov.uk. Crown copyright; Open Government Licence v3.0.
Mountains, lakelands and coast
Slieve Donard is Northern Ireland’s highest mountain. The Sperrins, the Fermanagh lakelands and the north coast add other landscapes to explore. Each gives a different perspective on Northern Ireland, alongside the maritime history reflected in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. These are landscape examples rather than council boundaries.
The Giant's Causeway
On the north coast, the Giant’s Causeway is known for more than 40,000 basalt columns formed about 60 million years ago. Recognised as a World Heritage Site, it records an important stage in the Earth’s development.
A geopark across the border
The Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark crosses the border between County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, highlighting the cross-border character of the area's natural heritage.