Belfast Flag

Belfast

Country:
South Africa
Continent:
Africa

Belfast's 2025 population is now estimated at 651,982. In 1950, the population of Belfast was 445,879. Belfast has grown by 4,544 in the last year, which represents a 0.7% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects . These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Belfast, which typically includes Belfast's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

652K
Total Population
4.5K 0.7%
Growth
No
Capital of South Africa?

Belfast Population

Belfast Overview

Belfast is the administrative capital of Northern Island and the largest city. The majority of Belfast is located in County Antrim, but some of South and East Belfast are located on County Down. Belfast is the 15th largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest on the island of Ireland with an estimated 2014 population of 295,000.

Population Density

While the population of the city proper is 295,000, the Belfast Metropolitan Area is home to 585,000 people. This makes it the 15th largest city in the U.K. and the 11th largest conurbation. Belfast is much more densely populated than Northern Ireland as a whole with a population density nearing 6,500 people per square mile (2,500 per square kilometer). The area that Belfast covers is approximately 115 square kilometers.

Belfast Demographics

There have been many minority communities in Belfast for about 80 years. The largest ethnic minority groups in Belfast are Chinese and Irish Travellers. There have been many Eastern European immigrants moving to the city in recent years with the expansion of the European Union, however. More than 2% of the population belongs to an ethnic minority, with more than 50% living in south Belfast.

In April 2014, it was reported that Catholics now outnumber Protestants in Belfast. The Catholic population tends to be younger and has grown to 49% of the population while the Protestant population tends to be older, dropping to 42% this year.

The inner city population is a mix of single young people, students, and elderly citizens, with most families living in the suburbs. While there has been peace for some time, most of Belfast still shows signs of the division in Northern Ireland, with many areas very segregated by religion, politics, and ethnicity. Areas are often divided as Catholic or Republic, or Protestant or Loyalist.

Belfast Population Growth

Belfast experienced significant growth in the late 1880s through the beginning of the 20th century, doubling between 1831 and 1851. Most of this early growth was due to migration as more people were attracted by industrialization and jobs in mills, shipyards, and engineering.

Belfast has grown steadily in recent years, rising from 276,000 people in 2001 to 295,000 in 2014. The city grew fastest during the first half of the 20th century, peaking in 1971 at almost 600,000 people in the urban area. Over the past 40 years, the inner city numbers have dropped as more people move to the Greater Belfast suburbs. In 1926, 90% of Belfast residents lived in the Core City, a share that was cut in half by 1991.

In 2012, Northern Ireland reached a population of almost 1.83 million. It has been said that Belfast must double its population at least to be able to take advantage of opportunities for growth in tourism, technology, and energy, as it is one of the few cities on the island of Ireland that has a lower population today than it did 170 years ago.

Other Cities in South Africa

City
2025 Pop. ↓
Growth
Johannesburg6,444,580
Cape Town5,063,580
Durban3,301,090
Pretoria2,955,410
Soweto1,695,047
Port Elizabeth1,330,500
Vereeniging812,913
Bloemfontein618,817
Rustenburg607,955
Benoni605,344
Pietermaritzburg560,879
Witbank523,611
Tembisa511,655
Polokwane506,990
Boksburg445,168
Krugersdorp378,821
Diepsloot350,000
Randburg337,053
Brakpan305,692
Newcastle279,983
Vanderbijlpark246,754
Centurion233,386
East London232,701
Roodepoort225,000
Welkom194,870
Uitenhage193,271
Springs186,394
Kimberley185,269
Botshabelo175,233
Midrand173,009
Klerksdorp163,493
Carletonville163,238
Paarl145,564
eMbalenhle141,741
Bhisho137,287
Randfontein133,654
Alberton121,536
George121,289
Potchefstroom118,070
Mthatha98,219
Mabopane97,417
Kutloanong95,008
Thohoyandou91,455
Kroonstad90,345
Warmbaths90,210
Middelburg88,332
Middelburg88,332
Piet Retief84,349
Queenstown84,092
Sasolburg81,671
Worcester81,483
Orkney81,224
Mmabatho76,754
Virginia69,789
Ga-Rankuwa68,767
Stilfontein66,780
Bethlehem66,600
Thaba Nchu64,602
Mpumalanga63,699
Standerton63,107
Grahamstown61,753
KwaDukuza59,899
Stellenbosch59,145
Kraaifontein57,911
Atlantis56,225
Wellington55,543
Oudtshoorn55,205
Upington54,596
Mokopane52,176
Mahikeng51,802
Phuthaditjhaba51,677
Mossel Bay51,490
Ermelo51,237
Edenvale49,292
eSikhaleni49,265
Bothaville49,201
Heidelberg47,554
Butterworth45,903
Brits44,991
Parys43,754
Richards Bay39,122
Mondlo38,084
Knysna37,833
Giyani37,024
Vryburg36,177
Bethal35,929
Vryheid35,355
Ekangala34,997
Fochville34,397
Delmas34,319
Barberton34,037
Modimolle33,816
Siyabuswa32,965
Schweizer-Reneke32,651
Graaff-Reinet32,460
Richmond32,445
Retreat32,289
Cradock31,278
Whittlesea31,144
Beaufort West30,678
Nkowakowa30,138
Hermanus30,117
Lichtenburg28,833
Aliwal North28,465
Nigel28,338
Driefontein28,127
Dundee28,053
Kokstad27,308
Nelspruit27,177
Wesselsbron27,117
Viljoenskroon27,089
Vredenburg27,082
Harrismith26,090
De Aar26,012
Heilbron25,515
Lady Frere25,041
Midstream25,000
Duiwelskloof24,572
Port Shepstone24,571
Scottburgh23,949
Ulundi23,649
Bronkhorstspruit23,213
Lydenburg23,040
Malmesbury22,958
Hennenman22,847
Wolmaransstad22,708
Stutterheim22,589
Senekal22,540
Theunissen22,477
Fort Beaufort22,190
Bloemhof22,033
Pampierstad21,800
Saldanha21,640
Robertson21,595
Grabouw21,582
Ladybrand21,382
Postmasburg21,139
Cullinan21,073
Ceres21,039
Port Alfred20,965
Mpophomeni20,861
Komatipoort20,508
Volksrust20,462
Secunda20,418
eMkhomazi20,410
Balfour20,091
Queensdale20,009
Allanridge19,671
Kruisfontein18,991
Plettenberg Bay18,567
Villiers18,232
Reitz17,449
Vrede17,421
Lansdowne17,399
Tzaneen16,954
Howick16,868
Margate16,731
Clocolan16,653
Christiana16,574
Somerset East16,569
Jan Kempdorp16,238
Greytown15,811
Deneysville15,421
Rondebosch15,158
Louis Trichardt15,113
Elliot15,084
Berea15,000
Eshowe14,786
Claremont14,531
Ekuvukeni14,331
Vredendal14,279
Glencoe14,078
Barkly West14,071
Hendrina13,738
Swellendam13,556
Burgersdorp13,537
Empangeni13,317
Thabazimbi13,231
Prince Albert13,136
Warrenton13,096
Marquard13,079
Ga-Kgapane13,000
Zeerust12,955
Phalaborwa12,938
Riversdale12,793
Colesberg12,761
Bredasdorp12,752
Breyten12,550
Mankoeng12,499
Sundumbili12,455
Adelaide12,212
Brandfort12,091
Lindley12,000
Bochum12,000
Hoopstad11,694
Thulamahashi11,655
Kriel11,479
Koppies11,445
Prieska11,236
Ritchie11,216
Winburg11,072
Ilinge10,899
Ventersburg10,698
Vredefort10,649
Koster10,573
Zastron10,502
Springbok10,438
Montagu10,264
Kirkwood10,148
Mooirivier10,132
Danielskuil10,123
Molteno10,078

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.

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