Official Statistics

Key Rural Issues 2025

Key Rural Issues 2025

• From: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
• Published: 7 May 2026

Applies to Northern Ireland

Documents

Key Rural Issues 2025

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/key-rural-issues

Details

The publication integrates information from across government to:

• provide evidence to inform the future direction of rural policy in NI
• underpin the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016
• support equitable treatment of rural communities in policies and programmes across government
• inform rural stakeholders
• stimulate and support wider debate and research on rural issues.

The publication illustrates within-rural as well as urban-rural differences and statistics are provided on Rural definition, land area and population; Education; Employment; Industry; Tourism; Connectivity; Access to services; Quality of life; Crime; and Poverty.

Published 7 May 2026