Island Populations
Information for all Scotland 's Inhabited Islands can be found on the NRS website . As more detail is made available from Scotland’s 2011 Census , NRS will consider producing a paper similar to Scotland’s Census 2001: Statistics for Inhabited Islands published following the last Census.
Outer Hebrides
Consideration of the change in resident population from 1981 to 2011 in terms of island group areas illustrates the severity of population change in particular locations in the Outer Hebrides . The most significant population decrease between 1981 and 1991 was in Harris (these figures include the island of Scalpay ) representing a fall in population of 11%. Whilst Harris experienced the same rate of decline between 1991 and 2001, Barra and Vatersay also saw a decline of 11% over the same time period whilst figures for South Uist (which includes the island of Eriskay) report the highest drop in population of 15%. However, from 2001 to 2011 some island areas have experienced an increase in population, Barra and Vatersay experiencing the highest increase at 8% and Lewis and Benbecula experiencing a 6% increase. Both Harris and South Uist experienced a decrease of 3% and North Uist a 2% decrease. Overall the Outer Hebrides experienced a 4.5% increase over the last decade.
| Area | 1991 Total | Change 81-91 | % | 2001 Total | Change 91-01 | % | 2011 Total | Change 01-11 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis | 20,159 | -561 | -3 | 18,489 | -1,670 | -8 | 19,658 | 1,169 | 6 |
| Harris | 2,222 | -267 | -11 | 1,984 | -238 | -11 | 1,916 | -68 | -3 |
| North Uist | 1,815 | 12 | 1 | 1,657 | -158 | -9 | 1,619 | -38 | -2 |
| Benbecula | 1,803 | -84 | -4 | 1,249 | -554 | -31 | 1,330 | 81 | 6 |
| South Uist | 2,285 | -147 | -6 | 1,951 | -334 | -15 | 1,897 | -54 | -3 |
| Barra & Vatersay | 1,316 | -55 | -4 | 1,172 | -144 | -11 | 1,264 | 92 | 8 |
| Totals | 29,600 | -1,102 | -3% | 26,502 | -3,098 | -10% | 27,684 | 1,182 | 4 |
(Source: National Records of Scotland)
Note: Areas are amalgamation of other geographies including other islands. These are not the same as single inhabited islands as defined by the NRS and detailed in the large Table below.
| Area | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis | 23,731 | 21,937 | 20,326 | 20,720 | 20,159 | 18,489 | 19,658 |
| Harris | 3,991 | 3,285 | 2,879 | 2,489 | 2,222 | 1,984 | 1,916 |
| North Uist | 2,221 | 1,925 | 1,726 | 1,803 | 1,815 | 1,657 | 1,619 |
| Benbecula | 924 | 1,358 | 1,355 | 1,887 | 1,803 | 1,249 | 1,330 |
| South Uist | 2,840 | 2,637 | 2,517 | 2,432 | 2,285 | 1,951 | 1,897 |
| Barra & Vatersay | 1,884 | 1,467 | 1,088 | 1,371 | 1,316 | 1,172 | 1,264 |
| Total | 35,591 | 32,609 | 29,891 | 30,702 | 29,600 | 26,502 | 27,684 |
(Source: National Records of Scotland)
Note: Figures for 1951 to 1981 are ' persons present ' whilst 1981 onwards are ' persons resident '.
| Inhabited Islands | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | % Change 51-11 |
% Change 01- 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis | 23,344 | 21,614 | 20,047 | 21,253 | 19,634 | 18,256 | 19,406 | -17 | 6 |
| Bernera | 384 | 317 | 276 | 292 | 267 | 233 | 252 | -34 | 8 |
| Flannan Islands | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Harris | 3,121 | 2,493 | 2,175 | 2,137 | 1,866 | 1,662 | 1,625 | -48 | -2 |
| Berneray | 246 | 201 | 131 | 134 | 140 | 136 | 138 | -44 | 1 |
| Ensay | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Killegray | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Pabbay | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| St Kilda | 0 | 65 | 65 | 46 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Scalpay | 541 | 470 | 483 | 461 | 388 | 322 | 291 | -46 | -10 |
| Scarp | 74 | 46 | 12 | 2 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Taransay | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| North Uist | 1,890 | 1,620 | 1,469 | 1,454 | 1,386 | 1,271 | 1,254 | -34 | -1 |
| Baleshare | 75 | 59 | 64 | 66 | 52 | 49 | 58 | -23 | 18 |
| Boreray | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Grimsay | 236 | 239 | 193 | 206 | 211 | 201 | 169 | -28 | -16 |
| Kirkibost | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Leiravay | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Vallay | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| South Uist | 2,462 | 2,376 | 2,281 | 2,223 | 2,064 | 1,818 | 1,754 | -29 | -4 |
| Benbecula | 924 | 1,358 | 1,355 | 1,988 | 1,883 | 1,219 | 1,303 | 41 | 7 |
| Eilean na Cille | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Eriskay | 330 | 231 | 219 | 219 | 173 | 133 | 143 | -57 | 8 |
| Flodday | 17 | 14 | 9 | 9 | N/A | 11 | 7 | -59 | -36 |
| Grimsay | 22 | 13 | 4 | 12 | N/A | 19 | 20 | -9 | 5 |
| Sunamul | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Barra | 1,728 | 1,369 | 1,005 | 1,232 | 1,212 | 1,078 | 1,174 | -32 | 9 |
| Berneray | 5 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | U | U | U | U |
| Vatersay | 151 | 95 | 77 | 108 | 70 | 94 | 90 | -40 | -4 |
* Figures for 1951-1991 are ' persons present ' . Figures for 2001 are ' persons resident ' .
N/A - Comparable figures not available U - Uninhabited
(Source: National Records of Scotland)
The overall trend in population decline seen at the Outer Hebrides level is reflected across individual islands. Islands such as Eriskay, Harris, Scalpay and Berneray have seen a particularly marked decline in population in the last 50 years. On Benbecula changes in military presence have had a considerable impact on the island's population in recent history. Benbecula experienced an increase of 44% over the last 60 years. In the last 10 years the trend of decline has continued in some islands, but more have seen an increase. Lewis, Bernera, Berneray, Baleshare, Benbecula, Eriskay, Grimsay (South) and Barra have all experienced increases. Baleshare had the highest percentage increase at 18%. In actual numbers this amounts to an increase of 9 people. Lewis had the largest increase in number at 1,150.
Note on Island Definitions
Based on the table above and shown in the map, there are 15 islands in the Outer Hebrides, which had persons resident in 2011. For Census purposes Lewis and Harris are treated as one island, which is geographically correct. They have been separated in the above table and elsewhere in the factfile to achieve more appropriate local area analysis. Culturally, socially and environmentally, they are often considered by islanders to be as separate as if they were two different landmasses.