Inter Departmental Business Register 2018

This bulletin provides an overview of the Northern Ireland business population as of 16 March, 2018. The number of businesses are provided by industry, size, location and foreign ownership. The number of business births and deaths over the year to 2017 are also provided.

Key Points

• The number of Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) registered businesses operating in Northern Ireland in 2018 is estimated to have risen by 2,445 (3.4%) since 2017 to 74,060.  This marked the fourth consecutive year of increase following a period of decline from 2008 to 2014.
• The largest increases in the number of businesses over the year were in the construction (535 businesses) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (440) industries.
• All District Council areas in Northern Ireland saw an increase in the number of businesses.  Newry, Mourne and Down saw the largest increase with 410 more businesses which amounts to an increase of 5.1%.  Antrim and Newtownabbey saw the smallest growth (85).
• The business birth rate in Northern Ireland continues to grow steadily but remains lower than birth rates in the other UK countries.  The business death rate in Northern Ireland also increased over the year and remains lower than death rates in the other UK countries.
• Of the 74,060 businesses operating in Northern Ireland in 2018, 2.4% were non-Northern Ireland owned.  However, these businesses accounted for almost one quarter (24%) of employees.
• Full publication.

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