Northern Ireland: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026

News •

Wife of jailed ex-leader of Northern Ireland's largest pro-UK party put on sex offenders register • Nov. 13, 2026, 8:36 AM ET (AP)

Ex-leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party sentenced to 15 years for sex abuse • Oct. 15, 2026, 8:20 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Head Of Government	First minister: Michelle O’Neill
Capital	Belfast
Population	(2021) 1,903,175
Official Language	English
National Religion	none
Total Area (Sq Km)	13,562
Total Area (Sq Mi)	5,236
Monetary Unit	pound sterling (£)
Legislature	Northern Ireland Assembly (108)

Photos

Northern Ireland

Map of Northern Ireland showing its borders with Ireland, major cities and towns such as Belfast, Londonderry, and Armagh, and surrounding bodies of water including the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. Scotland is shown to the northeast across the sea, and a small inset map indicates the location of Northern Ireland within the British Isles.

North Channel coast, Northern Ireland

Map of northwestern Europe highlighting the United Kingdom, with Northern Ireland and its capital Belfast marked. Surrounding countries including Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Norway are also shown for geographic context.

Map of Northern Ireland highlighting physical features such as major lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges. Key features include Lough Neagh, the Sperrin and Mourne Mountains, Lough Erne, and the Giant's Causeway. The map also shows the boundary with the Republic of Ireland, nearby bodies of water including the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea, and surrounding regions including parts of Ireland and Scotland.

Distant view of the Mourne Mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with green patchwork fields and scattered houses in the foreground, seen from Windy Gap in Banbridge, Northern Ireland.

sheep grazing on the Antrim coast, Northern Ireland

Parliament House at Stormont, a large neoclassical building with a columned portico, stands on expansive green lawns east of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

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