Measuring our collective success

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The Belfast Agenda sets a high-level strategic direction for the future of the city, including a number of priority areas to address and deliver against in the short to medium term.

When the Belfast Agenda was initially being developed, a total of 51 population indicators were identified that provided a sense as to whether each of the five outcomes were being achieved. They were developed in collaboration with statutory partners and reflected the things that people told us mattered most to them when they talked about the future city they wanted Belfast to be. In the end, the final list of indicators sought to capture the essence of which each outcome was attempting to capture, within the constraints of data availability, being valid, meaningful and statistically sound.

Back in 2017, we recognised that the city needed a number of new ways of measure our collective progress. The Review of the Belfast Agenda provides the opportune time to recommence an engagement on the indicators selected to measure the city's performance. We want to hear your views for new or additional measures so that going forward, when partners are co-designing programmes they will consider how their work can help move them in the right direction.

Figure 1 below, lists the current indicators for each outcome. You can also download two additional documents which you may wish to read and refer to when giving your views:

  1. Sources and Definitions document, which explains what each indicator measures and where it comes from; and
  2. Charts and Performance Data document, which provides trend data (where possible) to show how the city's performance has changed over time.


Belfast Agenda OutcomePopulation Indicators
1. Everyone in Belfast benefits from a thriving and prosperous economy1.1 City productivity levels
1.2 Investment into Belfast
1.3 City competitiveness
1.4 The total number of businesses in Belfast
1.5 The number of business start-ups
1.6 Proportion of the population living in absolute and relative poverty (before housing costs)
1.7 The total number of jobs in Belfast
1.8 The proportion of working-age population in Belfast who are employed
1.9 Working age employment rate by deprivation
1.10 Economic inactivity rate (excluding students)
1.11 Average earnings
1.12 Total spend by external visitors
1.13 Supply of housing
2. Belfast is a welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive city for all2.1 Number of victims of any crime
2.2 Number of hate-motivated crimes
2.3 Proportion of people who feel safe
2.4 Number of anti-social behaviour incidents
2.5 Number of physical barriers at interface sites
2.6 The number of people who agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together
2.7 Proportion of population who believe their cultural identity is respected by society
2.8 Proportion of young people who think that local facilities are shared and open to all
3. Everyone in Belfast fulfils their potential
3.1 Proportion of working age population who have attained Level 2 or above
3.2 Proportion of working age population who have attained Level 4 or above
3.3 Proportion of school-leavers achieving level 2 or above including English and Maths
3.4 Gap between % of school leavers entitled to free school meals achieving at least Level 2, including English and maths, and their peers
3.5 Proportion of care leavers who aged 19 are in employment, education or training
3.6 Proportion of school-leavers entering employment, education or training
3.7 School attendance rates
3.8 Participation in arts activities
3.9 Participation in sport
3.10 Volunteering
3.11 Self-efficacy
4. Everyone in Belfast experiences good health and wellbeing
4.1 Life expectancy at birth
4.2 Gap in life expectancy by deprivation
4.3 Babies born at a low birth weight
4.4 Preventable deaths
4.5 Proportion of the population of adults and/ or children who are obese
4.6 Proportion of population who smoke
4.7 Proportion of adults drinking above sensible drinking guidelines
4.8 Proportion of people who rank themselves as having high levels of wellbeing
4.9 Proportion of adults who undertake at least 150 minutes of physical exercise per week
4.10 Number of households in housing stress
4.11 Population living in decent homes
5. Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city
5.1 Air quality
5.2 Percentage of household waste that is reused, recycled or composted
5.3 Percentage of all journeys which are made by walking, cycling or public transport
5.4 Visitor numbers
5.5 Engagement in culture and arts activities
5.6 Number of miles of cycle lanes, footways and footpaths
5.7 Proportion of homes that are energy efficient
5.8 Satisfaction with Belfast as a place to live


Please note: The Belfast Agenda outcomes framework consist of population indicators, which are outcome focussed and therefore have a longer term emphasis. Stretch goals identify medium-term targets that are associated with the successful implementation of the vision and immediate priorities. New targets will be considered as part of the action planning phase of the Belfast Agenda review. Nevertheless, we welcome your ideas in the Suggested Targets area below.

The Belfast Agenda sets a high-level strategic direction for the future of the city, including a number of priority areas to address and deliver against in the short to medium term.

When the Belfast Agenda was initially being developed, a total of 51 population indicators were identified that provided a sense as to whether each of the five outcomes were being achieved. They were developed in collaboration with statutory partners and reflected the things that people told us mattered most to them when they talked about the future city they wanted Belfast to be. In the end, the final list of indicators sought to capture the essence of which each outcome was attempting to capture, within the constraints of data availability, being valid, meaningful and statistically sound.

Back in 2017, we recognised that the city needed a number of new ways of measure our collective progress. The Review of the Belfast Agenda provides the opportune time to recommence an engagement on the indicators selected to measure the city's performance. We want to hear your views for new or additional measures so that going forward, when partners are co-designing programmes they will consider how their work can help move them in the right direction.

Figure 1 below, lists the current indicators for each outcome. You can also download two additional documents which you may wish to read and refer to when giving your views:

  1. Sources and Definitions document, which explains what each indicator measures and where it comes from; and
  2. Charts and Performance Data document, which provides trend data (where possible) to show how the city's performance has changed over time.


Belfast Agenda OutcomePopulation Indicators
1. Everyone in Belfast benefits from a thriving and prosperous economy1.1 City productivity levels
1.2 Investment into Belfast
1.3 City competitiveness
1.4 The total number of businesses in Belfast
1.5 The number of business start-ups
1.6 Proportion of the population living in absolute and relative poverty (before housing costs)
1.7 The total number of jobs in Belfast
1.8 The proportion of working-age population in Belfast who are employed
1.9 Working age employment rate by deprivation
1.10 Economic inactivity rate (excluding students)
1.11 Average earnings
1.12 Total spend by external visitors
1.13 Supply of housing
2. Belfast is a welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive city for all2.1 Number of victims of any crime
2.2 Number of hate-motivated crimes
2.3 Proportion of people who feel safe
2.4 Number of anti-social behaviour incidents
2.5 Number of physical barriers at interface sites
2.6 The number of people who agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together
2.7 Proportion of population who believe their cultural identity is respected by society
2.8 Proportion of young people who think that local facilities are shared and open to all
3. Everyone in Belfast fulfils their potential
3.1 Proportion of working age population who have attained Level 2 or above
3.2 Proportion of working age population who have attained Level 4 or above
3.3 Proportion of school-leavers achieving level 2 or above including English and Maths
3.4 Gap between % of school leavers entitled to free school meals achieving at least Level 2, including English and maths, and their peers
3.5 Proportion of care leavers who aged 19 are in employment, education or training
3.6 Proportion of school-leavers entering employment, education or training
3.7 School attendance rates
3.8 Participation in arts activities
3.9 Participation in sport
3.10 Volunteering
3.11 Self-efficacy
4. Everyone in Belfast experiences good health and wellbeing
4.1 Life expectancy at birth
4.2 Gap in life expectancy by deprivation
4.3 Babies born at a low birth weight
4.4 Preventable deaths
4.5 Proportion of the population of adults and/ or children who are obese
4.6 Proportion of population who smoke
4.7 Proportion of adults drinking above sensible drinking guidelines
4.8 Proportion of people who rank themselves as having high levels of wellbeing
4.9 Proportion of adults who undertake at least 150 minutes of physical exercise per week
4.10 Number of households in housing stress
4.11 Population living in decent homes
5. Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city
5.1 Air quality
5.2 Percentage of household waste that is reused, recycled or composted
5.3 Percentage of all journeys which are made by walking, cycling or public transport
5.4 Visitor numbers
5.5 Engagement in culture and arts activities
5.6 Number of miles of cycle lanes, footways and footpaths
5.7 Proportion of homes that are energy efficient
5.8 Satisfaction with Belfast as a place to live


Please note: The Belfast Agenda outcomes framework consist of population indicators, which are outcome focussed and therefore have a longer term emphasis. Stretch goals identify medium-term targets that are associated with the successful implementation of the vision and immediate priorities. New targets will be considered as part of the action planning phase of the Belfast Agenda review. Nevertheless, we welcome your ideas in the Suggested Targets area below.

Comments or Suggestions

We want to hear your views for any new or additional population indicators. Maybe you believe some indicators should be replaced or even removed. Please add any comments of suggestions you may have here.  

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During the initial engagement workshops, one North Belfast stakeholder suggested that there needs to be specific wording and focus on derelict sites. They suggested the ‘Number of vacant sites’ or the redevelopment of vacant sites should be included as a population indicator.

uprichardj almost 3 years ago

One workshop participant commented that COVID has highlighted the inequalities that exist within the city. While the number of jobs has grown steadily, there was concern that this represented minimum wage jobs and the participant felt that the economic indicators were wrong. They further suggested that the focus should be on tackling poverty.

uprichardj almost 3 years ago

Feedback from the first phase of engagement recommended that indicator 4.7 - Proportion of adults drinking above sensible drinking guidelines should be reworded or rephrased. It was suggested that “sensible drinking” was an ambiguous term, open to interpretation and can add to stigma.

The measure of this indicator relates the proportion of the population (aged 18+) who drink more than the recommended weekly limits.

uprichardj almost 3 years ago
Page last updated: 05 Apr 2022, 11:16 AM