Newtownabbey is a major urban area on the outskirts of north Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the city by the M2 motorway. At the 2001 Census, Newtownabbey Urban Area had a population of 62,056, making it the fourth largest settlement in Northern Ireland. It is part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.