Minority Ethnic Groups in Belfast

While not as cosmopolitan as many large UK cities, as a regional capital and headquarters for many regional and international organisations and businesses, Belfast has attracted a higher proportion of resident ethnic minority groups than other local authorities in NI.

There is a common misconception that racism is not a problem in Northern Ireland, as there are so few minority ethnic residents. However, recent research indicates that minority ethnic people have problems accessing some mainstream services. Racism also appears to be much more significant than sectarianism in influencing people's attitudes - e.g. Northern Ireland people seem to be twice as unwilling to mix with members of ethnic minority communities than with members of the other main religious tradition to themselves (i.e. Catholic or Protestant).

Taken from 'Racial Attitudes and Prejudice in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency', Paul Connolly and Michaela Keenan, February 2000