Publication - Research and analysis
Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report
This report summarises key findings of the Scottish Islands Survey (2023), which gathered views about different aspects of island life from Scottish island residents. The results will contribute to measuring progress towards the objectives set out in the National Islands Plan (2019).
Annex 2: Estimated adult population distribution
The following table provides the estimated adult population distribution of individual islands (2011) within the nine island regions, sorted by population size.
Only islands with live postcodes are shown, starred islands (*) were included in the survey sample of 20,000 names and addresses. Adult population estimates are rounded to nearest whole number, calcuated using postcode-level (2011 Census) and Data Zone-level (2021 population estimates) data (source: NRS).
| Island region | Island | Estimated adult (age: 18 and over) population (2011) | Island contains names/ addresses included in sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argyll Islands | Islay | 2704 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Isle of Mull | 2324 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Tiree | 536 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Seil | 493 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Jura | 165 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Coll | 160 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Luing | 174 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Lismore | 166 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Iona | 149 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Isle of Gigha | 136 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Colonsay | 104 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Easdale | 53 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Kerrera | 29 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Ulva | 9 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Oronsay | 7 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Erraid | 5 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Shuna (Luing) | 3 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Gometra | 2 | * |
| Argyll Islands | Eilean dà Mhèinn | 1 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Isle of Danna | 1 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Eilean Buidhe | 0 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Eilean Loain | 0 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Eriska | 0 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Inch Kenneth | 0 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Rubha nan Gall | 0 | no star |
| Argyll Islands | Sanda Island | 0 | no star |
| Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes | Bute | 5508 | * |
| Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes | Isle of Arran | 3999 | * |
| Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes | Great Cumbrae Island | 1243 | * |
| Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes | Holy Island | 27 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Isle of Skye | 8432 | * |
| Highland Islands | Isle of Raasay | 138 | * |
| Highland Islands | Eigg | 69 | * |
| Highland Islands | Muck | 22 | * |
| Highland Islands | Rùm | 18 | * |
| Highland Islands | Canna | 10 | * |
| Highland Islands | Sanday (Canna) | 7 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Isle of Ewe | 6 | * |
| Highland Islands | Eilean Tioram | 5 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Scalpay (Skye) | 3 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Tanera More / Tannara Mòr | 3 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Rona / Ronaigh (Skye) | 3 | * |
| Highland Islands | Eilean Shona | 2 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Soay | 1 | * |
| Highland Islands | Eilean Ban | 0 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Eilean Donnan | 0 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Eilean Horrisdale | 0 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Isle Martin | 0 | no star |
| Highland Islands | Pabay | 0 | no star |
| Lewis and Harris, Great Bernera and Scalpay | Isle of Lewis / Eilean Leodhais & Harris / Na Hea | 17469 | * |
| Lewis and Harris, Great Bernera and Scalpay | Scalpay / Sgalpaigh (Harris) | 249 | * |
| Lewis and Harris, Great Bernera and Scalpay | Great Bernera / Beàrnaraigh | 227 | * |
| Lewis and Harris, Great Bernera and Scalpay | Goat Island / Eilean na Gobhail | 0 | no star |
| Orkney - Mainland and connected | Mainland of Orkney | 14174 | * |
| Orkney - Mainland and connected | South Ronaldsay | 735 | * |
| Orkney - Mainland and connected | Burray | 335 | * |
| Orkney - Mainland and connected | Lamb Holm | 0 | no star |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Westray | 480 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Sanday (Orkney) | 408 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Hoy | 365 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Stronsay | 288 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Shapinsay | 257 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Rousay | 181 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Eday | 131 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Papa Westray | 74 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Flotta | 70 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | North Ronaldsay | 59 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Wyre | 24 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Graemsay | 24 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Egilsay | 22 | * |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Auskerry | 3 | no star |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Gairsay | 3 | no star |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Holm of Grimbister | 2 | no star |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Inner Holm | 1 | no star |
| Orkney - Outer islands | Papa Stronsay | 0 | * |
| Shetland - Mainland and connected | Mainland of Shetland | 14982 | * |
| Shetland - Mainland and connected | West Burra | 626 | * |
| Shetland - Mainland and connected | Trondra | 109 | * |
| Shetland - Mainland and connected | Muckle Roe | 103 | * |
| Shetland - Mainland and connected | East Burra | 61 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Whalsay | 843 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Yell | 791 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Unst | 510 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Bressay | 321 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Fair Isle | 55 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Fetlar | 49 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Housay | 42 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Foula | 31 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Bruray | 20 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Papa Stour | 12 | * |
| Shetland - Outer islands | Vaila | 2 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | South Uist / Uibhist A Deas | 1442 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Benbecula / Beinn Na Faoghla | 1000 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | North Uist / Uibhist A Tuath | 1077 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Barra / Barraigh | 920 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Grimsay / Griomasaigh (North) | 149 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Eriskay / Eirisgeigh | 122 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Berneray / Beàrnaraigh (North Uist) | 122 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Vatersay / Bhatarsaigh | 69 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Baleshare / Baile Sear | 49 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Griomasaigh / Grimsay (South) | 16 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Flodaigh | 5 | * |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Boreray / Boraraigh | 0 | no star |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Caisteal Chiosmuil | 0 | no star |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Eilean a' Ghiorr | 0 | no star |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Eilean Leathann | 0 | no star |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Eilean na Cille | 0 | no s no star tar |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Eilean na h-Airigh | 0 | no star |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Fraoch-eilean | 0 | no star |
| The Uists and Barra islands | Sunamul | 0 | no star |
Contact
Email: socialresearch@gov.scot
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