POPULATION STATISTICS
|
Eilean Siar
|
Scotland
|
|
| Total Resident Population |
26,502
|
5,062,011
|
| Total Resident Population aged 16+ |
21,499
|
4,089,946
|
| Age | ||
|
Eilean Siar (%)
|
Scotland (%)
|
|
| 0 - 4 years old |
4.88
|
5.47
|
| 5 - 15 years old |
14.00
|
13.73
|
| 16 - 29 years old |
13.78
|
17.46
|
| 30 - 44 years old |
20.50
|
22.97
|
| 45 - 59 years old |
20.89
|
19.29
|
| 60 - 74 years old |
16.33
|
13.98
|
| 75 and over |
9.62
|
7.09
|
| Marital Status | ||
|
Eilean Siar (%)
|
Scotland (%)
|
|
| Single (never married) |
31.07
|
30.55
|
| Married (first marriage) |
47.54
|
44.27
|
| Remarried |
3.71
|
5.52
|
| Separated (but still legally married) |
2.25
|
3.57
|
| Divorced |
4.48
|
7.02
|
| Widowed |
10.95
|
9.06
|
| Gender | ||
|
Eilean Siar (%)
|
Scotland (%)
|
|
| Males |
49.36
|
48.05
|
| Females |
50.64
|
51.95
|
| Gaelic | ||
|
Eilean Siar (%)
|
Scotland (%)
|
|
| Speaking Gaelic |
59.78
|
1.16
|
| Of those speaking Gaelic % born outside Scotland |
2.78
|
8.27
|
| Ethnic Groups | ||
|
Eilean Siar (%)
|
Scotland (%)
|
|
| White Scottish |
90.91
|
88.09
|
| Other White British |
70.21
|
7.38
|
| White Irish |
0.48
|
0.98
|
| Other White |
0.76
|
1.54
|
| Indian |
0.06
|
0.30
|
| Pakistani |
0.12
|
0.63
|
| Bangladeshi |
0.04
|
0.04
|
| Other South Asian |
0.04
|
0.12
|
| Chinese |
0.05
|
0.32
|
| Caribbean |
0.03
|
0.04
|
| African |
0.06
|
0.10
|
| Black Scottish or Other Black |
0.01
|
0.02
|
| Any Mixed Background |
0.16
|
0.25
|
| Other Ethnic Group |
0.07
|
0.19
|
| Island Populations 1951-2001 | ||||||
|
1951
|
1981
|
1991
|
2001
|
% Change
'51-'01 |
% Change
'91-'01 |
|
| Lewis |
23,344
|
21,253
|
19,634
|
18,256
|
-22
|
-7
|
| Bernera |
384
|
292
|
267
|
233
|
-39
|
-13
|
| Flannan Islands |
3
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Harris |
3,121
|
2,137
|
1,866
|
1,662
|
-47
|
-11
|
| Berneray |
246
|
134
|
140
|
136
|
-45
|
-3
|
| Ensay |
2
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Killegray |
0
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Pabbay |
2
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| St Kilda |
0
|
46
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Scalpay |
541
|
461
|
388
|
322
|
-40
|
-17
|
| Scarp |
74
|
2
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Taransay |
5
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| North Uist |
1,890
|
1,454
|
1,386
|
1,271
|
-33
|
-8
|
| Baleshare |
75
|
66
|
52
|
49
|
-35
|
-6
|
| Boreray |
7
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Grimsay |
236
|
206
|
211
|
201
|
-15
|
-5
|
| Kirkibost |
6
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Leiravay |
5
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Vallay |
2
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| South Uist |
2,462
|
2,223
|
2,064
|
1,818
|
-26
|
-12
|
| Benbecula |
924
|
1,988
|
1,883
|
1,249
|
+35
|
-34
|
| Eilean na Cille |
4
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Eriskay |
330
|
219
|
173
|
133
|
-60
|
-23
|
| Flodday |
17
|
9
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Grimsay |
22
|
12
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Sunamul |
5
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Barra |
1,728
|
1,232
|
1,212
|
1,078
|
-38
|
-11
|
| Berneray |
5
|
0
|
0
|
U
|
U
|
U
|
| Vatersay |
151
|
108
|
70
|
94
|
-38
|
+34
|
(Source - General Register Office for Scotland)
Figures for 1951 - 1991 are 'persons present'
Figures for 2001 are 'persons resident'
N/A - Comparable figures are not available
U - Uninhabited.
Note on Island Definitions
Based on the table above, there are 13 Islands in the Western Isles, which
had persons resident in 2001. However for the purposes of Census analysis only
11 of these are considered to be 'Inhabited Islands'.
Firstly, for census purposes Lewis and Harris are treated as one island, which is geographically correct. They have been seperated in the above table to achieve more appropriate island specific analysis. Culturally, socially and environmentlly, they are often considered by islanders to be as seperate as though they were two different land masses.
Secondly, for reasons of confidentiality the census operates minimum threshold criteria on the smallest level of geography for which information is available. The Island of Baleshare falls just below this threshold and therefore information on the Island cannot be released as part of the census.
| Western Isles Island Area - Resident Population Change 1991 - 2001 | ||||
|
1991
|
2001
|
Change
|
%
|
|
| Lewis (Lewis & Bernera) |
20,159
|
18,489
|
-1,670
|
-8
|
| Harris (Harris & Scalpay |
2,222
|
1,984
|
-238
|
-11
|
| North Uist (North Uist, Berneray & Grimsay) |
1,815
|
1,657
|
-158
|
-9
|
| Benbecula |
1,803
|
1,249
|
-554
|
-1
|
| South Uist (South Uist & Eriskay) |
2,285
|
1,951
|
-334
|
-15
|
| Barra & Vatersay |
1,316
|
1,172
|
-144
|
-11
|
| Totals |
29,600
|
26,502
|
-3,098
|
-10
|
(Source - General Register Office for Scotland)
| Western Isles - Island Area Population Changes | ||||||
| Area |
1951
|
1961
|
1971
|
1981
|
1991
|
2001
|
| Lewis |
23,731
|
21,937
|
20,326
|
20,720
|
20,159
|
18,489
|
| Harris |
3,991
|
3,285
|
2,879
|
2,489
|
2,222
|
1,984
|
| North Uist |
2,221
|
1,925
|
1,726
|
1,803
|
1,815
|
1,657
|
| Benbecula |
924
|
1,358
|
1,355
|
1,887
|
1,803
|
1,249
|
| South Uist |
2,840
|
2,637
|
2,517
|
2,432
|
2,285
|
1,951
|
| Barra & Vatersay |
1,884
|
1,467
|
1,088
|
1,371
|
1,316
|
1,172
|
| Total |
35,591
|
32,609
|
29,891
|
30,702
|
29,600
|
26,502
|
(Source - General Register Office for Scotland)
Notes:
Figures for 1951 to 1981 are 'persons present'
Figures for 1981, 1991 & 2001 are 'persons resident'
The 2001 Census population figure is based on those 'resident' on census night. Previous censues have also considered 'persons present' in a household on census night and therefore may not be normally resident at an address. It is considered that 'persond resident' is a more accurate indicator of the actual population. In 2001 there were 26,502 people resident in the Western Isles compared to a resident population of 29,600 in 1991.
'Island Areas' are an amalgamation of smaller geographies including other Islands as shown in the first table (Western Isles Island Area - Resident Population Change 1991 - 2001). The population for single islands and how these have changed over time are shown in the table above. These are not the same as 'Inhabited Islands' as defined by the GROS and listed on the SCROL website.
| Components of Population Change By Administrative Area 2001-2002 | |||||
|
Eilean Siar
|
Orkney
Islands |
Shetland
Islands |
Scotland
|
||
| Estimated population 30 June 2001 |
26,450
|
19,220
|
21,960
|
5,064,200
|
|
| Births |
224
|
176
|
220
|
51,239
|
|
| Deaths |
390
|
210
|
216
|
57,304
|
|
| Natural change |
-166
|
-34
|
4
|
-6,065
|
|
| 1Estimated net civilian migration |
-84
|
24
|
-24
|
-3,745
|
|
| 2Other changes |
0
|
0
|
0
|
410
|
|
| Estimated population 30 June 2002 |
26,200
|
19,210
|
21,940
|
5,054,800
|
|
| Population change |
-250
|
-10
|
-20
|
-9,400
|
|
| Population change (%) |
-0.9
|
-0.1
|
-0.1
|
-0.2
|
|
(Source - General Register Office for Scotland)
1 Includes movements to/from armed forces and an adjustment for a recurring unattributable population change based on the 2001 Census, which is assumed to be unmeasured migration.
2 Includes changes in the number of armed forces stationed in Scotland and movements to/from prison.
| Land Area and Population Density By Administration Area 30 June 2002 | ||||
|
Eilean Siar
|
Orkney
Islands |
Shetland
Islands |
Scotland
|
|
| Estimated population 30 June 2002 |
26,200
|
19,210
|
21,940
|
5,054,800
|
| 1Area (square kilometer) |
3,071
|
990
|
1,466
|
77,925
|
| 2Persons per square yard |
9
|
19
|
15
|
65
|
(Source - General Register Office for Scotland)
1 Figures may not add exactly because of rounding
2 Persons per sq km has been calculated using actual, not rounded areas
