There are a number of sources of information on settlements:

1. Report of the Inter-Departmental Urban-Rural Definition Group

The Group produced a report entitled 'Statistical Classification and Delineation of Settlements', which classified each settlement into one of eight bands (A-H). They recommended that Government and other users should consider defining 'urban' and 'rural' areas in ways which are appropriate for different programmes and projects. In the absence of a programme-specific definition, Bands A-E can be defined as urban and Bands F-H as rural.

Main report (.pdf) Summary of settlement bands  List of all settlements with population of over 50 people (.xls) The Settlement Development Limits (SDL) used for the report can be downloaded at the NISRA Geography website

2. Area Look Up tables

3. Settlement Service Classification 2006

This work follows on from the classification and looks at the services in the private, public and voluntary/community sectors provided by settlements.

Settlement Service Classification report (.pdf) Settlement Service Classification data (.xls)

4. Average Height

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland analysis of 50 metre resolution DTM, giving an average altitude in metres above sea level for settlements and Output Areas: Average Height.

5. Small Area Population Estimates 2008

The populations as at mid-year 2008 were estimated for all towns and villages in Northern Ireland with a population of 1,000 people or more in 2001 (as recorded in the Census 2001). The following spreadsheet contains the 2008 estimated population for those towns and villages above the threshold. Further information on the small area population estimates is contained within the Small Area Population Estimates Report.

6. Northern Ireland Census 2001 Key Statistics for Settlements

Census 2001 statistics were produced for those settlements with over 500 people. The table below shows each dataset that is available, click on the 'view data' link to view or download the Excel spreadsheet. Within each spreadsheet a metadata page gives a description of the data. The data has been subjected to disclosure control methods, therefore small numbers in tables have been adjusted (either up or down) to protect confidentiality. For more information on the report click click here.