THE outcome for a border poll is on a knife edge with just 1.4 per cent separating those voting to remain in the UK and support for a united Ireland, a new survey suggests.

While 46.8 per cent of people in Northern Ireland said they would vote to remain part of the UK, 45.4 per cent said they would vote for a united Ireland.

A remaining 7.8 per cent were unsure how they would vote in a border poll, according to the survey published today by The Detail and conducted in conjunction with LucidTalk.

Support for Irish unity rises to 50 per cent in the 18-44 age category.

In the Republic, 73.1 per cent backed a united Ireland while 10.2 per cent would vote for the north to remain in the UK and 16.7 per cent were unsure.

On both sides of the border, a majority of those surveyed supported a referendum taking place within the next 10 years.

The online opinion poll was conducted between January 31 to February 3 with 1,896 respondents in Northern Ireland and 1,171 in the Republic.

On Brexit, most respondents in the north (68.7 per cent) were not satisfied with the Withdrawal Agreement compared to those happy with it (16.2 per cent) and those who were unsure (15.1 per cent).

The survey responses were audited and collated in accordance with British Poll Council standards. The margin of error is 2.6 per cent in the north and 2.9 per cent in the south.

The poll is at odds with a study released last week of more than 2,000 voters, led by Liverpool University and with interviews conducted by Social Market Research.

It found that if a border poll was held tomorrow, 52 per cent would back remaining in the UK and 29 per cent supported Irish unity.

Visit thedetail.tv for further information on the results from its opinion poll.