The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland – one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the northeast of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, its population was 1,685,000, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland was created as a distinct division of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, although its constitutional roots lie in the 1800 Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. Northern Ireland was for many years the site of a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict — the Troubles — which was caused by divisions between Irish nationalists, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and unionists, who are predominantly Protestant. Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists wish it to be politically reunited with the rest of Ireland. Since the signing of the "Good Friday Agreement" in 1998, most of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles have ceased their armed campaigns. General reference Common English country name: Northern Ireland Official English country name: Northern Ireland Common endonym: Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann Official endonym: Northern Ireland Adjectival: Northern Irish Demonym: Northern Irishman or Northern Irishwoman, Ulsterman or Ulsterwoman Geography of Northern Ireland Geography of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is: a constituent country of the United Kingdom. See Countries of the United Kingdom. Location Atlantic Ocean Northern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere Eurasia (but not on the mainland) Europe Northern Europe and Western Europe British Isles Ireland (the northeastern sixth of the island) Extreme points of Northern Ireland Population of Northern Ireland: 1,759,000 (2008 est) Area of Northern Ireland: 13 843 km² (5,345 square miles) Places in Northern Ireland Atlas of Northern Ireland Environment of Northern Ireland Climate of Northern Ireland Department of the Environment Geology of Northern Ireland Protected areas of Northern Ireland Special Areas of Conservation in Northern Ireland National parks of Northern Ireland List of Areas of Special Scientific Interest in Northern Ireland Wildlife of Northern Ireland Mammals of Northern Ireland Natural geographic features of Northern Ireland Coastal landforms of Northern Ireland Islands of Northern Ireland Boa Island Cannon Rock Coney Island, Lough Neagh Copeland Islands Derrywarragh