The Datum Report

Local authority

Belfast

What we think is happening

The business base in Belfast has been growing.

improving · strong confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Belfast has been weakening.

established confidence · how we reached this

What is distinctive here

These moved unusually against comparable areas, and did not simply move with them. A change shared with everywhere else is a fact about the country, not this place.

MeasurePeriodValueChangeAgainst peers
Businesses employing 50 to 99 people 2025 190 -20 in the bottom 3% of 361

By subject

Every figure published for Belfast. Open a subject to see them, each with its history and its source. Where a producer splits the area into many categories, those sit behind a further disclosure.

Labour market 4
Claimant count
August 2026
8,980
6,05311k16k2020-01-31: 6,9902020-02-29: 7,1752020-03-31: 7,4352020-04-30: 14k2020-05-31: 15k2020-06-30: 15k2020-07-31: 15k2020-08-31: 15k2020-09-30: 14k2020-10-31: 14k2020-11-30: 14k2020-12-31: 14k2021-01-31: 14k2021-02-28: 14k2021-03-31: 14k2021-04-30: 14k2021-05-31: 13k2021-06-30: 13k2021-07-31: 13k2021-08-31: 12k2021-09-30: 12k2021-10-31: 12k2021-11-30: 11k2021-12-31: 11k2022-01-31: 10k2022-02-28: 10k2022-03-31: 9,8202022-04-30: 9,6502022-05-31: 9,2702022-06-30: 9,0802022-07-31: 9,0202022-08-31: 9,0602022-09-30: 9,1552022-10-31: 9,0852022-11-30: 9,0002022-12-31: 9,0352023-01-31: 8,8502023-02-28: 8,9552023-03-31: 9,2752023-04-30: 9,5752023-05-31: 8,9402023-06-30: 9,0702023-07-31: 9,3152023-08-31: 9,2852023-09-30: 9,5252023-10-31: 9,3352023-11-30: 9,0302023-12-31: 9,1202024-01-31: 8,8652024-02-29: 9,1552024-03-31: 9,2552024-04-30: 9,2202024-05-31: 9,0252024-06-30: 9,2602024-07-31: 10k2024-08-31: 10k2024-09-30: 10k2024-10-31: 10k2024-11-30: 9,8752024-12-31: 9,4802025-01-31: 9,1852025-02-28: 9,6002025-03-31: 9,5902025-04-30: 9,6152025-05-31: 9,2602025-06-30: 9,4902025-07-31: 9,4202025-08-31: 9,3802025-09-30: 9,7252025-10-31: 9,6752025-11-30: 9,2452025-12-31: 8,8552026-01-31: 8,8302026-02-28: 8,9752026-03-31: 8,9752026-04-30: 9,0652026-05-31: 8,7102026-06-30: 8,7002026-07-31: 8,6752026-08-31: 8,980 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 6,990 to 15k · axis starts at 6,053

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026

3.9%
2.74.86.92020-01-31: 3.12020-02-29: 3.12020-03-31: 3.32020-04-30: 6.22020-05-31: 6.52020-06-30: 6.42020-07-31: 6.42020-08-31: 6.42020-09-30: 6.32020-10-31: 6.22020-11-30: 6.22020-12-31: 6.12021-01-31: 5.92021-02-28: 6.12021-03-31: 6.22021-04-30: 6.12021-05-31: 5.92021-06-30: 5.62021-07-31: 5.52021-08-31: 5.42021-09-30: 5.32021-10-31: 5.12021-11-30: 4.82021-12-31: 4.62022-01-31: 4.42022-02-28: 4.42022-03-31: 4.32022-04-30: 4.22022-05-31: 42022-06-30: 42022-07-31: 3.92022-08-31: 3.92022-09-30: 42022-10-31: 42022-11-30: 3.92022-12-31: 3.92023-01-31: 3.82023-02-28: 3.92023-03-31: 42023-04-30: 4.12023-05-31: 3.92023-06-30: 3.92023-07-31: 42023-08-31: 42023-09-30: 4.12023-10-31: 42023-11-30: 3.92023-12-31: 3.92024-01-31: 3.82024-02-29: 3.92024-03-31: 42024-04-30: 42024-05-31: 3.92024-06-30: 42024-07-31: 4.32024-08-31: 4.32024-09-30: 4.52024-10-31: 4.42024-11-30: 4.22024-12-31: 4.12025-01-31: 3.92025-02-28: 4.12025-03-31: 4.12025-04-30: 4.12025-05-31: 42025-06-30: 4.12025-07-31: 42025-08-31: 42025-09-30: 4.22025-10-31: 4.22025-11-30: 42025-12-31: 3.82026-01-31: 3.82026-02-28: 3.92026-03-31: 3.92026-04-30: 3.92026-05-31: 3.72026-06-30: 3.72026-07-31: 3.72026-08-31: 3.9 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 3.1 to 6.5 · axis starts at 2.7

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026

—
1.11.11.22020-12-31: 1.22021-12-31: 1.12022-12-31: 1.2 2020-12 2022-12
3 annual readings · 1.1 to 1.2 · axis starts at 1.1

ONS, Jobs density, published 21 April 2026
Not published: These figures are missing.
22 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Total jobs
2024
—
257k264k270k2020-12-31: 265k2021-12-31: 258k2022-12-31: 269k 2020-12 2022-12
3 annual readings · 258k to 269k · axis starts at 257k

ONS, Jobs density, published 21 April 2026
Not published: These figures are missing.
22 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£21,429
8,33116k23k1997-12-31: 9,7341998-12-31: 9,8201999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 14k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 15k2016-12-31: 15k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 16k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 17k2021-12-31: 18k2022-12-31: 19k2023-12-31: 20k2024-12-31: 21k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,734 to 21k · axis starts at 8,331

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 14
Business births
Q2 2026
355
1953254552020-03-31: 2702020-06-30: 2352020-09-30: 2302020-12-31: 3602021-03-31: 3302021-06-30: 3202021-09-30: 2702021-12-31: 3052022-03-31: 2852022-06-30: 2602022-09-30: 2202022-12-31: 2352023-03-31: 2952023-06-30: 2352023-09-30: 2352023-12-31: 2952024-03-31: 3102024-06-30: 3352024-09-30: 4302024-12-31: 3402025-03-31: 4002025-06-30: 3402025-09-30: 2902025-12-31: 3252026-03-31: 3252026-06-30: 355 2020-03 2026-06
26 quarterly readings · 220 to 430 · axis starts at 195

ONS, Business demography quarterly, published 29 July 2026 (approximate)

Business deaths
Q2 2026
320
1502553602020-03-31: 2702020-06-30: 1702020-09-30: 2252020-12-31: 2052021-03-31: 2402021-06-30: 2852021-09-30: 2952021-12-31: 3402022-03-31: 3102022-06-30: 2752022-09-30: 2652022-12-31: 2602023-03-31: 3002023-06-30: 2502023-09-30: 2052023-12-31: 2302024-03-31: 2752024-06-30: 2252024-09-30: 2352024-12-31: 2702025-03-31: 3352025-06-30: 2952025-09-30: 2702025-12-31: 2452026-03-31: 3052026-06-30: 320 2020-03 2026-06
26 quarterly readings · 170 to 340 · axis starts at 150

ONS, Business demography quarterly, published 29 July 2026 (approximate)

Businesses
2025
11,200
8,68610k11k2010-03-31: 9,1452011-03-31: 9,0452012-03-31: 8,9552013-03-31: 9,0052014-03-31: 9,1852015-03-31: 9,1802016-03-31: 9,5002017-03-31: 9,7302018-03-31: 9,9802019-03-31: 10k2020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 11k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 11k2024-03-31: 11k2025-03-31: 11k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,955 to 11k · axis starts at 8,686

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 14 October 2025

7,855
5,2516,6928,1342010-03-31: 5,5302011-03-31: 5,6502012-03-31: 5,5952013-03-31: 5,6602014-03-31: 5,8802015-03-31: 5,9252016-03-31: 6,2052017-03-31: 6,2102018-03-31: 6,4552019-03-31: 6,6852020-03-31: 7,0302021-03-31: 7,3102022-03-31: 7,3652023-03-31: 7,3602024-03-31: 7,4152025-03-31: 7,855 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,530 to 7,855 · axis starts at 5,251

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

925
7958729502010-03-31: 9352011-03-31: 8452012-03-31: 8552013-03-31: 8802014-03-31: 8502015-03-31: 8102016-03-31: 8652017-03-31: 8952018-03-31: 8902019-03-31: 8552020-03-31: 8902021-03-31: 8652022-03-31: 9202023-03-31: 8802024-03-31: 9002025-03-31: 925 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 810 to 935 · axis starts at 795

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

130
1051301552010-03-31: 1102011-03-31: 1102012-03-31: 1152013-03-31: 1202014-03-31: 1202015-03-31: 1252016-03-31: 1352017-03-31: 1402018-03-31: 1452019-03-31: 1502020-03-31: 1352021-03-31: 1352022-03-31: 1302023-03-31: 1102024-03-31: 1152025-03-31: 130 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 110 to 150 · axis starts at 105

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

25
19.422.525.62010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 25 · axis starts at 19.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

585
4745556362010-03-31: 6052011-03-31: 5302012-03-31: 4902013-03-31: 5152014-03-31: 5202015-03-31: 5802016-03-31: 5502017-03-31: 6102018-03-31: 5902019-03-31: 6152020-03-31: 5952021-03-31: 6202022-03-31: 6002023-03-31: 6002024-03-31: 6152025-03-31: 585 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 490 to 620 · axis starts at 474

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

40
28.237.546.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 452019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 45 · axis starts at 28.2

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

1,425
1,3931,5581,7222010-03-31: 1,6902011-03-31: 1,6402012-03-31: 1,6402013-03-31: 1,5702014-03-31: 1,5302015-03-31: 1,4602016-03-31: 1,4702017-03-31: 1,6052018-03-31: 1,6302019-03-31: 1,5302020-03-31: 1,5302021-03-31: 1,4802022-03-31: 1,5202023-03-31: 1,4502024-03-31: 1,4652025-03-31: 1,425 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,425 to 1,690 · axis starts at 1,393

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

190
1761952142010-03-31: 1952011-03-31: 1852012-03-31: 1802013-03-31: 1802014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 1902016-03-31: 1902017-03-31: 2002018-03-31: 1852019-03-31: 1952020-03-31: 2102021-03-31: 2002022-03-31: 1952023-03-31: 2052024-03-31: 2102025-03-31: 190 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 180 to 210 · axis starts at 176

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

30
13.222.531.82010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 30 · axis starts at 13.2

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

15,465
13k14k16k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 13k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 13k2014-03-31: 13k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 14k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 13k to 15k · axis starts at 13k

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 14 October 2025

18,458
4,09712k20k1998-12-31: 5,6361999-12-31: 5,9902000-12-31: 6,4602001-12-31: 6,8092002-12-31: 7,0982003-12-31: 7,8112004-12-31: 8,3172005-12-31: 8,8172006-12-31: 9,3022007-12-31: 9,7102008-12-31: 9,8792009-12-31: 9,9022010-12-31: 9,5772011-12-31: 9,8422012-12-31: 10k2013-12-31: 11k2014-12-31: 11k2015-12-31: 11k2016-12-31: 12k2017-12-31: 13k2018-12-31: 13k2019-12-31: 14k2020-12-31: 13k2021-12-31: 15k2022-12-31: 17k2023-12-31: 18k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 5,636 to 18k · axis starts at 4,097

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Housing 2
£184,768
120k156k192k2020-01-31: 127k2020-02-29: 127k2020-03-31: 127k2020-04-30: 128k2020-05-31: 128k2020-06-30: 128k2020-07-31: 129k2020-08-31: 129k2020-09-30: 129k2020-10-31: 133k2020-11-30: 133k2020-12-31: 133k2021-01-31: 135k2021-02-28: 135k2021-03-31: 135k2021-04-30: 138k2021-05-31: 138k2021-06-30: 138k2021-07-31: 142k2021-08-31: 142k2021-09-30: 142k2021-10-31: 140k2021-11-30: 140k2021-12-31: 140k2022-01-31: 144k2022-02-28: 144k2022-03-31: 144k2022-04-30: 147k2022-05-31: 147k2022-06-30: 147k2022-07-31: 154k2022-08-31: 154k2022-09-30: 154k2022-10-31: 152k2022-11-30: 152k2022-12-31: 152k2023-01-31: 149k2023-02-28: 149k2023-03-31: 149k2023-04-30: 149k2023-05-31: 149k2023-06-30: 149k2023-07-31: 157k2023-08-31: 157k2023-09-30: 157k2023-10-31: 153k2023-11-30: 153k2023-12-31: 153k2024-01-31: 155k2024-02-29: 155k2024-03-31: 155k2024-04-30: 158k2024-05-31: 158k2024-06-30: 158k2024-07-31: 167k2024-08-31: 167k2024-09-30: 167k2024-10-31: 169k2024-11-30: 169k2024-12-31: 169k2025-01-31: 170k2025-02-28: 170k2025-03-31: 170k2025-04-30: 172k2025-05-31: 172k2025-06-30: 172k2025-07-31: 178k2025-08-31: 178k2025-09-30: 178k2025-10-31: 179k2025-11-30: 179k2025-12-31: 179k2026-01-31: 181k2026-02-28: 181k2026-03-31: 181k2026-04-30: 185k2026-05-31: 185k2026-06-30: 185k 2020-01 2026-06
78 monthly readings · 127k to 185k · axis starts at 120k

HM Land Registry / ONS, UK House Price Index, published 19 August 2026 (approximate)

Homes sold
Jun 2026
—
58.43255922020-01-31: 3542020-02-29: 3542020-03-31: 3542020-04-30: 1102020-05-31: 1102020-06-30: 1102020-07-31: 3202020-08-31: 3202020-09-30: 3202020-10-31: 5222020-11-30: 5222020-12-31: 5222021-01-31: 5012021-02-28: 5012021-03-31: 5012021-04-30: 5302021-05-31: 5302021-06-30: 5302021-07-31: 5402021-08-31: 5402021-09-30: 5402021-10-31: 4402021-11-30: 4402021-12-31: 4402022-01-31: 4272022-02-28: 4272022-03-31: 4272022-04-30: 3932022-05-31: 3932022-06-30: 3932022-07-31: 4492022-08-31: 4492022-09-30: 4492022-10-31: 4082022-11-30: 4082022-12-31: 4082023-01-31: 3582023-02-28: 3582023-03-31: 3582023-04-30: 3382023-05-31: 3382023-06-30: 3382023-07-31: 4162023-08-31: 4162023-09-30: 4162023-10-31: 3682023-11-30: 3682023-12-31: 3682024-01-31: 3072024-02-29: 3072024-03-31: 3072024-04-30: 3712024-05-31: 3712024-06-30: 3712024-07-31: 4212024-08-31: 4212024-09-30: 4212024-10-31: 4202024-11-30: 4202024-12-31: 4202025-01-31: 4502025-02-28: 4502025-03-31: 4502025-04-30: 3032025-05-31: 3032025-06-30: 3032025-07-31: 3992025-08-31: 3992025-09-30: 3992025-10-31: 4522025-11-30: 4522025-12-31: 4522026-01-31: 3742026-02-28: 3742026-03-31: 3742026-04-30: 374 2020-01 2026-04
76 monthly readings · 110 to 540 · axis starts at 58.4

HM Land Registry / ONS, UK House Price Index, published 19 August 2026 (approximate)
Not published: Not yet published
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Population 1
Population
2025
—
322k339k356k2001-06-30: 329k2002-06-30: 328k2003-06-30: 327k2004-06-30: 326k2005-06-30: 325k2006-06-30: 326k2007-06-30: 327k2008-06-30: 330k2009-06-30: 332k2010-06-30: 333k2011-06-30: 334k2012-06-30: 334k2013-06-30: 336k2014-06-30: 338k2015-06-30: 340k2016-06-30: 341k2017-06-30: 342k2018-06-30: 344k2019-06-30: 345k2020-06-30: 345k2021-06-30: 345k2022-06-30: 348k2023-06-30: 351k2024-06-30: 352k 2001-06 2024-06
24 annual readings · 325k to 352k · axis starts at 322k

ONS, Mid-year population estimates
Not published: These figures are missing.
21 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.