Craigavon Population
The population of Craigavon is 72,301. This data is from the latest 2021 census, and covers the urban area of Craigavon, which includes Lurgan, Portadown and Aghacommon.
Craigavon is a town in County Armagh. It is about a fifth the size of Belfast, making it the third largest settlement in Northern Ireland. You can read more about the population of Northern Ireland in our separate article.
The article outlines key population and demographic data for Craigavon.
Population Growth by Census Year
Craigavon, a planned settlement within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area in Northern Ireland, has experienced steady growth and diversification over time.
The table below shows the population growth in Craigavon across census years, from 1806 to 2021:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1806 | 102 |
| 1821 | 8,089 |
| 1831 | 10,006 |
| 1841 | 11,254 |
| 1851 | 13,019 |
| 1861 | 14,328 |
| 1871 | 16,114 |
| 1881 | 16,393 |
| 1891 | 17,226 |
| 1901 | 16,628 |
| 1911 | 17,828 |
| 1926 | 17,553 |
| 1937 | 18,798 |
| 1951 | 20,048 |
| 1961 | 27,169 |
| 1971 | 33,280 |
| 1981 | 48,070 |
| 1991 | 57,651 |
| 2001 | 64,193 |
| 2011 | 59,340 |
| 2021 | 64,106 |
Here is a chart showing the same population data:
Religion
In Craigavon, the majority of the population identifies as Protestant, with over 36,000 adherents. Catholics also represent a significant portion with over 20,000 followers. Other religions comprise a smaller fraction of the population, and those with no religious affiliation amount to 8,821.
| Religion | Count |
|---|---|
| Catholic | 20,801 |
| Protestant and Other Christian | 36,806 |
| Other religions | 1,171 |
| None | 8,821 |
Language
English is the predominant language in Craigavon, spoken by 63,008 people. Polish and Lithuanian are the next most common languages, while a variety of other languages are spoken by smaller portions of the community, reflecting a culturally diverse population.
| Language | Count |
|---|---|
| English | 63,008 |
| Polish | 846 |
| Lithuanian | 60 |
| Irish | 144 |
| Romanian | 134 |
| Portuguese | 38 |
| Arabic | 66 |
| Bulgarian | 16 |
| Chinese (not otherwise specified) | 99 |
| Slovak | 34 |
| Hungarian | 48 |
| Spanish | 65 |
| Latvian | 15 |
| Russian | 31 |
| Tetun | 0 |
| Malayalam | 71 |
| Tagalog/Filipino | 51 |
| Cantonese | 61 |
| Other languages | 566 |
Ethnicity
The majority of Craigavon’s population is of white ethnicity, with over 62,000 identifying as British, Irish, Northern Irish, and either Christian or non-religious. A smaller proportion of the white population and those of non-white ethnicity form part of the town’s diverse demographic fabric.
| Ethnic Group | Count |
|---|---|
| White ethnicity: British/Irish/Northern Irish | 62,740 |
| White ethnicity: all others | 2,474 |
| Non-white ethnicity | 2,387 |