According to the 2001 Census about 85.8 percent of Northern Ireland is Christian with 40.2 percent being Roman Catholic. There was a period time known as “The Troubles” when there was an ethno-political conflict going on in Northern Ireland that spread into the Republic of Ireland as well as Great Britain. It lasted from 1968 to 1998 when it ended with the Belfast Agreement. The prominent issue in debate was the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the relationship between the Catholics and Protestants.

The dominant language of Northern Ireland is English though there are many who claim to be able to speak Irish Gaelic though it is the primary or first language for only a small percentage of the population.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom which has a constitutional monarchy, but there are two major political groups: the unionists who wish to stay part of the UK and hold the majority, and the nationalists who want to see a united Ireland.

The economy in Northern Ireland is heavily industrial though it does have a small percent of agriculture. Though the economy was damaged during the troubles in recent years unemployment has decreased and the economy is on the rise.