A Respect Index for Northern Ireland (as measured by the Everyday Discrimination Scale): 2016 – 2025
Date published:
This report presents data on the Respect Index, which measures perceptions of discrimination experienced by individuals in their daily lives. This report brings together data from 2016 - 2025.
Key findings are:
•Respondents of the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey were classified as feeling respected if they reported that they never experienced any of nine behaviours identified in the Everyday Discrimination Scale.
•In 2024, 12% of respondents reported feeling respected and 23% of respondents reported feeling respected in 2025. There were no methodological changes between years to explain the statistically significant difference of 11 percentage points.
•In 2025, 21% of female respondents and 25% of male respondents reported feeling respected.
•In 2025, 26% of Catholic respondents, 25% of Protestant respondents and 17% of respondents categorised as ‘Other’ reported feeling respected.
•Respondents aged 65 years and over in 2025 were significantly more likely than younger respondents to feel respected, with 40% reporting this.
•In 2024, 8% of respondents with disabilities reported feeling respected, significantly lower than the 14% of respondents without disabilities.
•Respondents in 2025 reported experiencing the following behaviours at least monthly: people acting as if they were better than the respondent (17%); people acting as if they thought the respondent was not smart (14%); being treated with less courtesy than others (11%); and being treated with less respect than others (11%).
•Respondents in 2025 reported never experiencing the following behaviours: people acting as if they were afraid of them (83%); and people act as if they think you are dishonest (76%).
The report is available on the Statistics and Research Branch website at:
https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/topics/statistics-and-research/respect-index
Further information relating to the collection and production of the statistics can be obtained by contacting:
Mark Cartwright – Assistant Statistician
Statistics and Research Branch, The Executive Office
E4.15 | Castle Buildings | Stormont | Belfast | BT4 3SR
Email: mark.cartwright@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
Tel: (028) 9052 2491| DD: 22491