Annual Business Inquiry

Headline results

Latest Reporting Unit results – published 11th March 2026 are highlighted below:

Key Points

In 2024, 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 £43.6 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 2023-24

The NI non-financial business economy, as measured by the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NIABI), recorded an increase of £3.8 billion (9.6%) in aGVA from 2023 to 2024.
The key driver of aGVA growth was the Construction sector (Section F) which increased by £1.7 billion (30.7%) between 2023 and 2024.
The Distribution sector (Section G) also showed a large increase in aGVA of £1.3 billion (14.5%) from £9.0 billion to £10.3 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 £7.6 billion (7.5%) over the year to £109.3 billion and purchases of goods, materials, energy, water and services increased by £3.0 billion (4.7%) to £66.8 billion.

Data from the 2024 Annual Business Inquiry is available on the NISRA data portal here.

Note - The Annual Business Inquiry Local Unit report has been discontinued.

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

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