Complex identities in Northern Ireland, 2011-21

The results of the 2021 NI Census released in September 2022 identified increased identity complexity (eg multiple national identities, passports, and continued secularisation (the rise of the share with ‘no religion’). These do not fit into traditional binary ways of seeing Northern Irish society and the results attracted considerable public and political attention locally and across the world. This project therefore digs deeper into the relationships between changes in self-reported religious, national, and passport identity between 2011 and 2021 and, in particular, focuses on who expresses ‘hybrid identities’ (eg British and….., Irish and….., UK passport and…..) outlining which demographic groups have changed, and considering the role played by spatial mobility. It also analyses the new 2021 question on sexual orientation and how non-straight identities are related to hybrid national identities and religious secularisation.  How 2021 sexual identity relates to self-reported health and health conditions in 2011 and 2021 is explored, as are their relationships with national identity and transitions in these identities, important for health and public policy.  It tests the following hypotheses:

1. Passport identity and religious identity changes are positively associated with address changes.
2. Non-straight self-reported sexual orientation is positively associated with address changes 2011/21 and self-reported religion transitions to no religion, and with better self-reported health in 2011 and 2021.
3. Passport identity transitions are associated with transitions in religious identity 2011/21 and from British and NI only national identities in 2011.