It emerged today that the Northern Ireland birth rate has dropped to its lowest level since records began.
The latest statistics for 2002 show the average number of births per female was now 1.8, compared with 2.5 20 years ago. At the same time it has the youngest population of any region of Britain
The details were contained in the annual overview of the local labour market issued by the Department of Employment and Learning.
Mr Terry Morahan, head of the department's research and evaluation branch, said: "It is recognised that for a stable population it should be 2.1, and Northern Ireland could eventually be joining other EU countries such as Germany, Italy and Spain in falling population levels, subject of course to what happens to migration."
During 1991-2001, Northern Ireland also had its lowest-ever emigration loss at just 4,000.
Another record was broken in 2002 - for the first time the Northern Ireland unemployment level was almost the same as the British average at just over 5 per cent. Now five of Britain's 12 regions have higher unemployment.
Employment is also at record levels, with the percentage of people working at an all-time high at 69 per cent - although the British average is 74 per cent.