Introduction

The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) estimates that in June 2006, the population of the Western Isles was 26,350. This figure demonstrates a decrease of 20 persons since 2005, although in 2004 and 2005 there were larger net increases (160 and 110 respectively). The long term trend is one of a declining and ageing population. The graph below illustrates GROS population estimates over the last ten years (1995-2005) for the Western Isles.

In 2005, the ‘average age’ in the Western Isles was estimated to be 41 years for males and 44 years for females with the following age group breakdowns by sex: Males (19% under 16 years; 64% of working age; 17% of pensionable age); Females (18% under 16 years; 53% of working age; and 30% of pensionable age).

The estimated increase in the population of the Western Isles from 2004-2005 can be attributed to positive net civilian migration (more in-migration than out-migration) which was estimated to be +245. Deaths (355) continued to exceed births (220) in 2004-05 with a natural change of -135. The graph below illustrates the net migration estimated for the population by single year (age) between June 2004 and June 2005.

On census night in 2001 the resident population of the Western Isles was 26,502; in comparison this figure was 29,600 on census night in 1991. Thus over the period 1991 to 2001 the Western Isles experienced a decline in population of -10% (the highest percentage decline of any Local Authority area in Scotland over the period)

Population decline was due to an approximately equal combination of a decline in natural change (more deaths than births) and also net out-migration (more people leaving the Islands than coming in). The overall net migration figure for the 1990s masks a particular trend, that of a much higher rate of young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 leaving the islands than across other age groups. This is a long running characteristic of the population with the young historically leaving the islands for further education or employment purposes.

The Western Isles is not unique in this respect and the population of Scotland as a whole has been experiencing a slow rate of decline since around 1974 Annual Review of Demographic Trends . In the last decade, the main reason for the fall in population in Scotland has been a decline in the number of births, resulting in 'natural' population decrease (more deaths than births). In contrast to this, migration, while fluctuating year on year, has not had the same marked downwards effect on the Scottish population. Although the rate of decline in the Scottish population is relatively slow, a much more pronounced change is occurring in the age structure and geographical distribution of the population. In general this is marked by, an increasing proportion of older people in the population and a combined shift from the larger cities and most remote rural and islands areas to areas surrounding large urban centers.

The situation in the Western Isles is however more marked than elsewhere in Scotland. Compared to the national average, the Western Isles population also has a higher percentage of individuals in the older age groups and correspondingly less in the younger age groups. In 2001 the average age of residents in the Western Isles was three years older than in Scotland. Demographic Overview.

The only large town in the Western Isles is Stornoway ( Steòrnabhagh ) with approximately 5,600 people. Almost 30% of the total population of the Western Isles, some 8,000 people, live within Stornoway or the immediately vicinity encompassing Laxdale ( Lacasdal ) and Sandwick ( Sanndabhaig ). The remaining population is scattered throughout over 280 townships. Stornoway is the only settlement, which can really be described as having any 'urban' characteristics