People in the Republic work on average longer hours each week than people in Northern Ireland, figures released today show.
A comparison of census figures and other statistics north and south of the Border showed the average number of hours worked per week in the Republic was 37. In Northern Ireland the figure is 35.
According to "Ireland: north and south: A Statistic Profile," unemployment fell on both sides of the Border between 1998 and 2003.
The drop was greater in the Republic, which saw an 8 per cent fall. Jobless figures fell by 5 per cent in Northern Ireland.
Figures compiled by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Central Statistics Office also showed:
- The population in the Republic in the 2002 census was 3,917,203 compared to
1,685,267 in Northern Ireland during the 2001 census. This gives a total population of 5,602,470 on the island of Ireland.
- The south has a younger age profile, with a higher proportion of single people aged 15 and over at 43 per cent compared to 35 per cent north of the Border.
- A third of all births in Northern Ireland and the Republic occur outside marriage, with both jurisdictions seeing more older mothers give birth.
- In 2002, the birth rate per 1,000 population south of the border was higher at 15.5 compared to 12.6 in Northern Ireland.
- Death rates are higher in Northern Ireland, registering 8.6 per 1,000 population compared to 7.5 in the south.
- There were 10.4 road accident fatalities per 100,000 population south of the border during 2002 compared to 8.8 in the north.
- Northern Ireland is becoming a popular tourist destination with a 23 per cent rise in visitors over the past five years while the Republic has also enjoyed a 17 per cent increase.