22,243 children in Northern Ireland were known to Social Services as a child in need at 31 March 2025
Date published:
Topics:
Health and social care
New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Health present information relating to children’s social care services in Northern Ireland during the year ending 31 March 2025.
Key findings:
Children in Need
- At 31 March 2025, 22,243 children in Northern Ireland were known to Social Services as a child in need;
Child Protection Register
- At 31 March 2025, 2,283 children were listed on the Child Protection Register;
- Neglect and physical abuse were the main reasons for a child being on the Child Protection Register and accounted for 84% of all on the Register;
Children in care
- At 31 March 2025, 4,188 children and young people were in care in Northern Ireland. This was the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;
Children’s residential homes
- At 30 June 2025, there were 58 Children’s Residential Homes in Northern Ireland, 48 homes were statutory and 10 were independent.
Children’s day care
- At 31 March 2025 there were 3,196 individuals/facilities registered as day care provision for children aged 12 and under in Northern Ireland. This was a 2% decrease on the previous year;
Foster Carers
- At 31 March 2025, there were 2,868 HSC Trust recruited foster carers and a further 261 Independent sector foster carers;
Young people subject to Leaving Care Act
- At 31 March 2025 there were 1,963 young people subject to the Leaving Care Act.
About the publication
Presents figures, collected from each of the five health and social care Trusts at 31 March and year ending 31 March. This includes children in need, children on the Child Protection Register, children in care, children’s homes, day care provision, foster carers and young people subject to the Care Leaving Act.
Further information
View the report and data tables: Children's social care statistics for Northern Ireland 2024/25