Young People’s Attitudes to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland 2025

Young People's Attitudes to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland 2025

Date published: 18 December 2025

This report analyses data from the Young Life and Times (YLT) survey, examining attitudes to refugees and asylum seekers among 16-year-olds.

Some of the key findings include:

• The proportion of respondents who agreed with the statement "I think it is our duty to provide protection to refugees who are escaping persecution in their home country" decreased significantly between 2017, the first year of the time series, and 2025 (from 60% to 51%). The 2025 figure was not significantly different to the corresponding figure for 2024 (55%), but was a significant decrease from the time series peak in 2022 (66%).
• The proportion of respondents who agreed that Northern Ireland is a society that welcomes refugees escaping persecution in their home country has increased significantly between 2017 (25%), the first year in the time series, and 2025 (34%). There has, however, been a significant decrease between 2024 (43%) and 2025.
• In 2025, almost two thirds (64%) of respondents agreed that people's perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers are negatively affected by the media. This figure was not significantly different to the corresponding figure for 2024 (63%), the first year the question was asked.
• In 2025, one third (33%) of respondents agreed that they would like more opportunities to get to know asylum seekers or refugees. This was a significant decrease from the 2023 figure (44%), the first year in the time series. There was no significant difference between the 2025 figure and the figure for 2024 (36%).
• In 2025, just over one quarter (26%) of respondents agreed that refugees positively contribute to our society.

The report and associated data tables are available on the Statistics and Research section of the Executive Office website.

Further information relating to the collection and production of the statistics can be obtained by contacting:

TEO Analytical Unit
The Executive Office
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SR

E-mail: [email protected]