First ever all-Ireland profile

More than a quarter of all new Irish babies are born outside marriage, a first ever statistical cross border profile of Ireland has indicated.

The report details information on economic and social characteristics of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of the profile, NI finance minister Mark Durkan said it provided readers with a detailed insight into the society and economy of this island and described it as a valuable reference work.

"By presenting data on areas such as population, the labour market and health, it will enable comparisons to be made, similarities and differences highlighted and historical patterns of change identified.

"In particular, the profile will be of special value to those involved in the new cross-border institutions by providing relevant information on a wide range of topics."

According to the findings of the profile, house prices in the Republic of Ireland, currently enjoying an economic boom, have more than doubled between 1994 and 1999 while they increased by 21% in Northern Ireland.

The profile also indicates a growth in the number of students attending third level and post graduate courses.

More visitors

There was a 72% increase in enrollment in the Republic while the number doubled north of the border between 1987/88 and 1997/98.

Tourists are also coming to Ireland in increasing numbers according to the profile.

About 3.3m tourists visited the Republic during 1999, an increase of 65% over a five year period. While the numbers visiting Northern Ireland showed a 28% increase in the same period, only 300,000 visited during 1999.

Emigration 1999

RoI:40% more inward migrants

NI:15% more outward emigrants

Northern Ireland's population now numbers 1.7m, while 3.7m live south of the border. This gives a combined population of 5.4m for both parts of Ireland, down 2.8m on the 1841 figure when the first reliable all Ireland census was carried out.

The age profiles in both parts of the island are similar with just under 28% of the NI population over 50 and 22% in the 10-24 band. In the Republic, 25% are aged 50 or over while there are 25% also in the 10-24 catergory.

The tide of emigration for which the Republic was famed in the 1950s has reversed as there were 40% more inward migrants than those who left the country during 1999.

Marriages declining Emigration in Northern Ireland is flowing in the opposite direction where outward migrants outnumber those coming to the province by 15%.

More than 40% of households in the Republic owned their own homes in 1994/5 compared to less than a third north of the border where there is more reliance on public housing.

Between 1970 and 1998, the number of marriages per thousand population in the Republic of Ireland fell from 7.1 to 4.5; the NI rate fell from 8.1 to 4.6.

Between 1980 and 1998, the proportion of births to mothers aged under 25 fell from 27% to 20% in the Republic of Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, the corresponding proportion fell from 37% to 24%.

Pupil teacher ratio

NI: 17/1

RoI: 19/1

Deaths from circulatory disease represented around two fifths of both male and female deaths, North and South in 1998 while about 25% of those who died were victims of cancer.

Between 1990 and 1998, the nominal value of gross domestic product per capita doubled in the Republic of Ireland and increased by more than 50% in Northern Ireland.

The number of pupils attending primary school has decreased by over 8% in the Republic between 1987/88 while there has been a 3% rise in the province.

Road deaths lower

Despite this, the pupil teacher ratio is better in the north with 17 pupils per teacher compared to 17:1 in the Republic.

The number of women in the workforce increased to 47% in 2000 from 40% in 1995 in the Republic. During the same period, the Northern Ireland proportion remained stable at 48%.

In both parts of Ireland, livestock and livestock products accounted for about 90% of the total value of agricultural output in each of the years 1994 to 1998. Crops, fruit and horticulture comprised the remaining 10% of the total value.

Cattle numbers in the Republic of Ireland increased by around 10% between 1994 and 1998 compared with an increase of 5% in Northern Ireland. However, in 1999, total cattle numbers fell by around 3% in both parts of Ireland.

Between 1990 and 1998, the number of road accident deaths per hundred thousand population was consistently lower in Northern Ireland than in the Republic.