Financial pressure is not the same as underfunding. Northern Ireland’s public finances are under immense strain, but that’s not the same as evidence that Westminster has underfunded NI.

💷 Does Northern Ireland receive relatively less funding than Scotland and Wales? We looked at the figures behind the claim - and what they show about public spending across the devolved nations. Read more: factcheckni.org/articles/pub...

📊 Have child poverty levels in Northern Ireland fallen significantly? The latest official figures show child poverty rates fell from 21% to 16% in 2024/25. But the picture is more nuanced than a single headline figure suggests.

Immigration debates in NI often focus on asylum seekers.But what do the latest figures actually show? An explainer we published last year has been referenced recently,so we’ve updated it with the latest data 📊 How many people are seeking asylum in NI 📊 How NI compares with the rest of the UK

A recent political cartoon about migration in Northern Ireland is attracting attention online. The image appears to assume migrants receive free housing, free money and free healthcare. The reality is much more nuanced. Different groups have different legal statuses, rights and entitlements.

🔍 FACT CHECK We examined a claim by DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley that people of Somali descent are more likely to commit crimes than other immigrant groups in the UK. 📊 To assess the claim, we reviewed the available data and consulted expert analysis. 👇

In the hours after a major incident, information travels fast. Unfortunately, rumours and misinformation often travel even faster. Police and community leaders have urged people not to share unverified claims that could cause further harm to families,communities and ongoing investigations.

False or misleading claims spread fast on WhatsApp. We investigated viral claims about the Orange Order and home buying support in NI. Read the fact check ⬇️ factcheckni.org/articles/wha... #MediaLiteracy #FactCheck #NorthernIreland

Northern Ireland’s renewable energy story is more complicated than “we stalled after 2016.” Our latest prebunk breaks down what the data really shows about wind power growth, why the 80% by 2030 target matters, and how misleading claims can shape the debate.

How does Derry/Londonderry compare on jobs and education? Employment is the lowest in NI, but the picture on education is less straightforward. Read the analysis 👇

🚑 “Less than 20% hit target response times” true or misleading? 👉 Verdict: It’s complicated The figure reflects real data, but context matters. How targets are defined, which cases are included and how the stats are framed can change the story. 🔎 Full fact check: factcheckni.org/articles/hea...

📊 What’s really happening to Northern Ireland’s population? Our FactCheckNI analysis shows a clear shift; not sudden decline, but long-term ageing. Read more: factcheckni.org/articles/dem...

Are beef cattle numbers in NI at a 55-year low? 🤔 Our latest fact check digs into the data behind the claim 👇 factcheckni.org/articles/far... #FactCheck #FarmingNI #Agriculture

Around 3% of adults in Northern Ireland are classed as problem gamblers. But what does that actually mean; and how is it measured? Our latest fact-check breaks it down 🔗 factcheckni.org/articles/gam...

Today is International Fact-Checking Day 📣 🌎Around the world, misinformation and declining trust are shaping public debate, influencing decisions, and dividing communities. #FactCheckingDay #FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #medialiteracy

Behind every statistic is a real human impact. What does the £3.4bn cost of mental ill health in Northern Ireland really represent? FactCheckNI explains 👇 factcheckni.org/articles/men...

Do people in your networks know about FactCheckNI? We’re an independent, non-partisan, not for profit organisation working to improve the quality of public debate in Northern Ireland. #FactCheckNI #FactChecking #MediaLiteracy #NorthernIreland #Misinformation

Is blasphemy still against the law in Northern Ireland? Technically yes, but it’s complicated. Our latest fact check explains what the law says and whether it’s ever been used. 🔎 Read more: factcheckni.org/articles/rel... #FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #NInews #FactCheck

🚩 Prebunk / Explainer: PSNI guidance on harmful flags Public discussions about flags in NI can quickly become confusing and misinformation can spread easily. Our latest article looks at the PSNI’s new instruction on removing harmful flags and clarifies what it actually means in practice. 👇

The claim that regional inequality has doubled in Northern Ireland is not accurate. 📈Stats show Belfast’s output per person grew faster than average but that’s not a full measure of regional inequality. Read why here 👇

Will new EU customs fees apply to parcels in Northern Ireland? 📦 We found the answer is more complicated than some claims suggest. Our latest fact check explains what’s confirmed, what won’t apply, and what’s still unclear. Read our full analysis ⬇️

AI-generated abuse is accelerating and evidence must shape our response. Our fact check examines claims raised in the NI Assembly and finds strong evidence behind a troubling trend: deepfake pornography overwhelmingly targets women. #OnlineSafety #AIpolicy #FactCheck #NorthernIreland

Fact checked: Nearly all pornographic deepfakes depict women; a stark reminder that online harms disproportionately affect women and girls. Read our full article ⬇️

Independent fact checking is vital to democracy and public trust in NI. Our work supports informed public debate by checking claims transparently and impartially. If you value evidence-based discussion,support our work: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/factcheckni #NorthernIreland #criticalthinking

📈Trade between NI, GB and Ireland has increased in recent years. 👉 While the figures cited in support of the Windsor Framework are broadly accurate, trade volumes were already rising before the framework was agreed in 2023, meaning the data alone does not show its impact on trade.

📊Are Northern Ireland’s breastfeeding rates among the lowest in Europe? A new @FactCheckNI analysis finds that while international data comparisons are imperfect, current evidence suggests NI lags behind the rest of the UK - and the UK sits near the bottom in Europe. Read the full breakdown 👇

Do nearly 1 in 20 over-50s in Northern Ireland suffer from PTSD? New research says 4.74% are living with PTSD right now, and almost 60% say their worst trauma is Troubles-related. Understanding the facts matters. Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/men...

A new year doesn’t need louder opinions, it needs clearer facts. In 2026, FactCheckNI will keep checking claims, explaining the evidence, and separating fact from spin in Northern Ireland. Because accuracy still matters.

🌍 Who comes to the UK, and what are they entitled to? Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines. 👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...

Northern Ireland still has the largest disability employment gap in the UK - but have the numbers shifted recently? 🔍 Read our fact-check to find out. #DisabilityEmployment #FactCheckNI 🔗 factcheckni.org/articles/emp...

Former DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr. recently claimed that proportionally, more loyalists than republicans went to prison during the Troubles. FactCheckNI reviewed the evidence and found big gaps in the data. Our verdict? Unsubstantiated.

Behind every statistic on Violence Against Women and Girls is a real person - but if the data’s unclear, how can we fight it? Our article explores the serious gaps in how NI’s justice system records and understands VAWG. Read more here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/exp...

Who’s responsible for Lough Neagh’s phosphorus pollution? Agriculture (61%) leads, while wastewater & septics tanks adds 30%. Read our full analysis here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/lou... #LoughNeagh #FactCheckNI #NIEnvironment

🎓Does Northern Ireland really have a shortage of local uni places? NI’s universities face a challenge: demand outstrips supply. But the story is more complicated than it seems - with funding caps, student choices, and migration all in the mix. 📊 Read our full analysis 👇 #HigherEdNI #Education

👥 Northern Ireland is getting older. There are now more people aged 70+ than children under 10. What does this mean for our future health, pensions & policies? Read more ➡️ factcheckni.org/articles/dem... #northernireland #demographics #factcheckni

Does Belfast have the 2nd highest number of asylum seekers in the UK, and do almost a fifth of them live in BT12, as claimed by DUP MLA Edwin Poots? ❌ No. 📊Belfast ranks 20th overall. 👥With 0.6% of the local population (1 in 167 people). ➡️ No data confirms the BT12 claim.

📊 FactCheckNI has a new series exploring NI’s demographics-exploring age,religion and place of birth. These articles are designed to be a reference point for what’s changed and what’s stayed the same over time. ➡️First up: place of birth.Where were people who call NI home born?

Does Belfast really house more “illegal migrants” than every other UK city except Glasgow? Turns out, no. This FactCheckNI article slices through the noise with clear, evidence-based insight. Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/imm... #FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #Belfast

🌍 Who comes to the UK, and what are they entitled to? Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines. 👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...

We recently published an analysis of what is known about Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland, focusing on the criminal justice system and, in particular, the statistical records maintained by the PSNI.

Who migrates to the UK and what are they entitled to? 🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.

Crime in NI: Have reoffending rates risen to nearly 75%? UUP MLA Doug Beattie recently claimed: “[R]e-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from 70% in 2016 to around 74% in 2024”. Was he right? No.

Is bad information impacting the communities or groups you work with? Thousands have benefitted from our training sessions in fact-checking and critical thinking skills. Find out how NI’s first and only fact checking organisation can support you. factcheckni.org/training/

Who migrates to the UK and what are they entitled to? 🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.

This July, FactCheckNI is 10! For a decade, we’ve been checking facts, tackling misinformation, and championing critical thinking in NI. Stick with us as we keep holding power to account and standing up for evidence and integrity.

Housing in NI: Are rents rising faster in Belfast than in London? Yes - overall, when considering all the available data and the quality of that data, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that rents in Belfast are increasing at a higher rate than those in London.

What we don’t know about Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland. 🔺Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a big problem under a bright spotlight. But what do we really know about it? #VAWG #NorthernIreland

The House of Commons voted on amendments to abortion law last week. 🔺None of the proposals directly affect Northern Ireland. 🔺Based on the amendment that did ultimately pass, coming changes will mean that the law in England and Wales is much closer to how things work here.

Immigration in NI: Did a local bus company recently drop off a “bus load” of migrants in Lisburn? No. This is a good example of how photos shared on social media can be misinterpreted or misleading.

Explainer: What does the Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of the word “woman” mean for Northern Ireland? In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that use of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to people whose biological sex is female.