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47% of adults and 37% of young people think that relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago

Date published: 16 October 2025

Topics: People and communities

New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in The Executive Office present a range of statistics relating to community relations, including numbers of hate crimes, attitudinal data on Protestant/Catholic relations and attitudes towards mixing in schools, neighbourhoods and the workplace.

Key findings:

  • 47% of adults and 37% of young people think that relations between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago.
  • 91% of adults in 2024 think that leisure centres in their area are ‘shared and open’ to both Catholics and Protestants; 90% think this about parks; 94% think this about libraries; and 96% think this about shopping centres.
  • 86% of adult respondents prefer a mixed religion workplace; 76% a mixed religion neighbourhood; and 66% mixed religion schools.
  • 66% of adult respondents feel ‘very’ or ‘quite’ safe going to events held in a GAA club; 50% to events held in an Orange Hall; 79% to events held in a Protestant Secondary School; and 79% to events held in a Catholic Secondary School.
  • 72% of adult respondents in 2024 think that the culture and traditions of Catholic communities add to the richness and diversity of Northern Ireland society; 62% think this about Protestant communities; and 65% think this about Minority Ethnic communities.

About the publication

Presents presents a range of statistics relating to community relations, including numbers of hate crimes, attitudinal data on Protestant/Catholic relations and attitudes towards mixing in schools, neighbourhoods and the workplace. 
The 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.

Further information

View the report and data tables: The Good Relations Indicators 2024 Report

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