Elections to Newtownabbey Borough Council were held on 21 May 1997 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections.

The election used four district electoral areas to elect a total of 25 councillors.

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Unionist 1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x Newtownabbey Ratepayers 1993-1997 Change: UUP and Newtownabbey Ratepayers gain from Alliance and Independent Unionist 1993: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist 1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance 1993-1997 Change: Alliance gain from Independent Unionist 1993: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Newtownabbey Labour, 1 x Independent Unionist 1997: 2 x Newtownabbey Labour, 1 x UUP, 1 x UDP, 1 x Newtownabbey Ratepayers, 1 x Independent Unionist 1993-1997 Change: Newtownabbey Labour, Newtownabbey Ratepayers and UDP gain from UUP, DUP and Alliance 1993: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist 1997: 3 x UUP, 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x Alliance, 1 x PUP 1993-1997 Change: PUP and Independent Unionist gain from DUP (two seats)