Published Thursday, 30 July 2009
Official statistics show natural growth helped the total number of people living here grow by 15,900 people from mid-2007 to mid-2008 - but the increase in the population of new ethnic minorities has slowed.
Since the European Union's expansion in 2004, there has been increased migration but a lack of jobs amid the recession is deterring new arrivals, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities confirmed.
Executive director Patrick Yu said: "They have already stopped since last year because of the economic recession. They don't see new jobs in the UK or Ireland."
The size of the resident population in Northern Ireland in June 2008 was estimated at 1.7 million.
The 0.9% increase is because of 10,600 natural growth through births and deaths, net migration gain of 5,700 people and 500 less due to the departure of soldiers in Northern Ireland.
A Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency spokesman said: "Natural growth has again become the main driver of population growth in Northern Ireland following considerable migration to Northern Ireland since EU expansion in 2004."