Census figures outlining the religious make-up and sense of national identity of people in Northern Ireland will be published later.
Long-term demographic trends suggest Census 2021 could be the first in the history of the region to record more Catholics than Protestants within the population. The 2011 Census recorded 48 per cent of the population as being either Protestant or brought up Protestant, down five percentage points on 2001. The Catholic population stood at 45 per cent in the last census, up one percentage point on 2001.
The publication of the census traditionally prompts debate over what the figures may mean for the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. Some may seek to draw a direct link between the religious breakdown and public opinion on the potential reunification of Ireland.
