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Annual Business Inquiry

Details on the conduct and results of the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry.  

Headline results

Latest Reporting Unit results – published 11th December 2024 are highlighted below:

Key Points

  • In 2023, the income generated by non-financial businesses in Northern Ireland (NI), less the cost of goods and services used to create this income, was estimated to be £37.2 billion. This amount represents the approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA) at basic prices of the NI non-financial business economy, excluding farming and financial services.
  • aGVA at basic prices represents the income generated by businesses, out of which is paid wages and salaries, the cost of capital investment and financial charges before arriving at a figure for profit.

Change between 2022-23

  • The NI non-financial business economy, as measured by the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NIABI), recorded an increase of £5.0 billion (15.4%) in aGVA from 2022 to 2023.
  • The key driver of aGVA growth was the NI Services Industries sector (industry Sections H-S) which increased by £1.6 billion (12.5%). The majority of aGVA growth in this sector is attributable to the Transport and Storage services section (Section H) which increased by £525 million (28.7%). The Distribution sector (Section G) increased by £1.5 billion (19.0%) between 2022 and 2023.
  • The Construction sector (Section F) also increased by £624 million (16.7%).
  • The Production sector (Sections B-E) showed an increase in aGVA of £1.3 billion (16.1%) from £7.8 billion to £9.0 billion. Manufacturing within the Production sector (Section C) recorded aGVA growth of £881 million (15.2%).
  • Turnover (i.e. the value of total sales and work done) in the NI non-financial business economy as a whole increased by £10.5 billion (12.1%) over the year to £97.6 billion and purchases of goods, materials, energy, water and services increased by £5.0 billion (8.7%) to £62.0 billion.

Data from the 2021 Annual Business Inquiry is available on the NISRA data portal here.

Current publication and tables 

  • Annual Business Inquiry - 2023 Reporting Unit Results published 11 December 2024
  • Annual Business Inquiry - 2022 Local Unit Results published 4 September 2024

NI ABI Questionnaire

For details of changes to the NI Annual Business Inquiry questionnaire for survey year 2014 please see the link below:

  • Notice of revisions to 2014 NIABI questionnaire

NI ABI Questionnaire Guidance Notes

For guidance notes to assit in completing the Annual Business Inquiry questionnaire please follow the link below:

  • Annual Business Inquiry questionnaire guidance notes

Usage, methods & quality and revisions policy

  • Usage, methods & quality and revisions policy

Archive data

  • Archive data for the NI Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)

contents

ABI background information

Explanations of methodology and detailed descriptions of terminology

ABI sample coverage

Details of Annual Business Inquiry sample coverage.

Last updated: 03 March 2025

Related to Annual Business Inquiry

Publications

  • Annual Business Inquiry - Reporting Unit Results 2023

    Published 11 December 2024
  • Archive publications - ABI

    Published 11 December 2024
  • Annual Business Inquiry - Local Unit Results 2022

    Published 04 September 2024
  • Usage, methods and quality and revisions policy - ABI

    Published 30 July 2021
See all publications in this topic

Contacts

Annual Business Inquiry

Ross Hume
Tel: 028 9025 5173
Email: abihelpline@finance-ni.gov.uk
Twitter: @NISRA

See all contacts in this topic

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
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