Northern Ireland map

An 1848 map of Northern Ireland. The 1841 & 2002 population of Northern Ireiand.

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The Northern Ireland map below shows the province of Ulster as it was in 1848, at the height of the famine that brought unbearable suffering to millions of people.

Death and emigration caused the population to shrink dramatically. Some counties, especially the more rural, have a considerably smaller population density in the 21st century than they did in 1841.

Even allowing for later migration to cities, the figures tell the tale of a devastated population.

*Northern Ireland map showing the province of Ulster in the famine year of 1848.*
Click for larger view.

The province of Ulster

In 1922 the province of Ulster was divided so that six counties now make up the separate state of Northern Ireland and are part of the UK, while three counties remain within the Republic of Ireland.

Republic of Ireland: Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan.
Northern Ireland (UK): Antrim, Armagh, Down, Derry-Londonderry, Fermanagh, Tyrone.

When conducting Irish genealogy research it is important to make the distinction between the two political states because some records are held in Belfast and others in Dublin. Knowing in which state your ancestors' county now lies can save you valuable research time.

The population of Ulster in 2002 and 1841

      County          Area in KMs²       Population 2002
       Population 2002
    per KM²       Population 1841
    per KM²

Antrim 2844 566,400 199 125

Armagh 1254 127,700 102 185

Derry 2074 214,800 104 107

Down 2448 416,600 170 148

Fermanagh 1691 54,200 32 93

Tyrone 3155 161,800 51 99

Cavan 1931 56,416 29 126

Donegal 4841 137,383 28 62

Monaghan 1294 52,772 41 155

Source: Republic Census 1841/Census 2002; NI estimates.

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The Ulster Way

The Ulster Way is a long distance 625 mile (1000 km) circular hiking route around Northern Ireland and takes in coastal, city, lake and rural views.

Along the way, it visits all six of the Northern Irish counties.

Ulster Way road sign

It includes the Mourne Mountains, the World Heritage Site of the Giant's Causeway, Lough Erne, Cavehill and the Sperrin Mountains, and skirts the city of Belfast. More about the Ulster Way.

North of Ireland Population
in 1831

County Population

Antrim 314,608

Armagh 220,651

Derry 212,416

Down 352,571

Fermanagh 149,555

Tyrone 302,943

Cavan 228,050

Donegal 298,104

Monaghan 195,532