Veterans living in the Derry City and Strabane area experience some of the highest levels of deprivation and ill health in Northern Ireland, according to official census data.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) published a report profiling the UK Armed Forces veteran population based on the 2021 Census. It found that 19.2 per cent of veterans in the district reported that their day-to-day activities were limited a lot, the highest proportion across all local government districts. A further 18.7 per cent reported limited a little, meaning nearly two in five had some degree of limitation due to health or disability.

Derry City and Strabane also recorded the highest share of veteran households deprived in one or more dimensions, at 69 per cent. Belfast followed at 68.6 per cent, while Lisburn and Castlereagh had the lowest at 58.4 per cent.

Educational attainment was lower among veterans in the North West. The report showed 36.5 per cent of veterans in the district held no qualifications, the highest rate of any area. Apprenticeship qualification rates were also low, at 17.9 per cent, joint bottom with Causeway Coast and Glens.

Economic activity among veterans in the area was below the Northern Ireland average. Fifty-eight per cent were economically active, while 42 per cent were economically inactive, placing the district second only to Mid Ulster for the lowest active rate.

The census recorded 1,755 UK Armed Forces veterans living in Derry City and Strabane in 2021. The district had one of the lowest proportions of veteran households overall, at 4.7 per cent.