The Executive Office has published the 'Attitudes to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland 2025' report, drawing on Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey data to assess public views.

In 2025, agreement with five of the six statements examined fell to the lowest levels recorded, with statistically significant declines compared with every previous year in which each question was asked. Just under half of respondents (49%) agreed asylum seekers should be allowed to stay in Northern Ireland, significantly lower than in each year from 2018 to 2024. Only 27% agreed Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution, a significant decline from every year 2019 to 2024. A majority (57%) agreed it is "our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country", but this too was significantly down on every year from 2019 to 2024.

Views on the contribution of refugees and on engagement opportunities also decreased: 41% agreed refugees contribute to our society, down from 53% in 2023 and 50% in 2024; and 37% said they would like more opportunities to get to know asylum seekers or refugees, down from 44% in 2023 and 47% in 2024. Agreement that the media negatively affects perceptions was unchanged at 69% in both 2024 and 2025.

The report and accompanying data tables are available on the Statistics and Research pages of the Executive Office website: www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/topics/refugees-and-asylum-seekers.

For further information, contact the Statistics and Analysis Unit, The Executive Office, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3SR, or email analyticalunit@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk.