The number of political emblems on Northern Ireland's streets almost halved last year following the summer marching season.
Symbols such as paramilitary murals and flags fell by 40 per cent with all Orange Arches and the majority of Orange flags and bannerettes removed.
There was an increase in the proportion of republican emblems because of the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes.
Researchers from Queen's University Belfast found 2,499 political emblems in September last year including 18 republican flags and loyalist murals.
The figures were revealed in a report published by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister's office.
They counted numbers in June and July and in September.
Another paper noted a rise in the number of attacks on churches in 2005 to 83, up from 32 in 2004.
There were also more Orange Halls and schools targeted by sectarian arsonists as well as GAA premises.