Skip to main content
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Statistics and Research
  • Release Calendar
  • News
  • Selected for a survey
  • About Us

Inter Departmental Business Register 2018

Date published: 18 December 2018

Topics: Inter Departmental Business Register

NI businesses: industry, size, location, foreign ownership and demography

This bulletin provides an overview of the Northern Ireland business population as of 16 March, 2018. The number of businesses are provided by industry, size, location and foreign ownership.  The number of business births and deaths over the year to 2017 are also provided. 

Key Points

  • The number of Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) registered businesses operating in Northern Ireland in 2018 is estimated to have risen by 2,445 (3.4%) since 2017 to 74,060.  This marked the fourth consecutive year of increase following a period of decline from 2008 to 2014.
  • The largest increases in the number of businesses over the year were in the construction (535 businesses) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (440) industries.
  • All District Council areas in Northern Ireland saw an increase in the number of businesses.  Newry, Mourne and Down saw the largest increase with 410 more businesses which amounts to an increase of 5.1%.  Antrim and Newtownabbey saw the smallest growth (85).
  • The business birth rate in Northern Ireland continues to grow steadily but remains lower than birth rates in the other UK countries.  The business death rate in Northern Ireland also increased over the year and remains lower than death rates in the other UK countries.
  • Of the 74,060 businesses operating in Northern Ireland in 2018, 2.4% were non-Northern Ireland owned.  However, these businesses accounted for almost one quarter (24%) of employees.
  • Full publication.

Latest news

  • ‘Census-based statistics UK: 2021’ released.

    27 June 2025

  • Provisional number of deaths occurring in week ending 20 June 2025 was 309

    27 June 2025

  • Over a quarter of offenders in Northern Ireland are first-time entrants to the criminal justice system

    26 June 2025

  • Increase in Northern Ireland prescription items reaches 45.7 million in 2024/25

    26 June 2025

More news

Last updated: 03 March 2025

Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Links

  • Official Statistics producer – Upholding Trust, Quality and Value
  • General Register Office - registration and certification of life events relating to births, deaths and marriages
  • nidirect.gov.uk – the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens
  • Website feedback

Follow NISRA

  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Linkedin
  • Follow us on Youtube

Footer

  • © Crown Copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Statement