Publication - Strategy/plan

National Islands Plan

Published: 23 February 2026
From: Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Building, planning and design, Business, industry and innovation, +17 more … Children and families, Communities and third sector, Constitution and democracy, Cost of living crisis, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment and climate change, Equality and rights, Farming and rural, Health and social care, Housing, Marine and fisheries, Money and tax, Public sector, Transport, Work and skills
ISBN: 9781806437399

Under an overarching population retention and attraction objective, the new National Islands Plan provides a programme of actions to address challenges and opportunities facing Scotland's islands.

Supporting documents

Footnotes

1 See: ESC rights in the Highlands and Islands | SHRC Spotlight Projects. The Scottish Government set out its detailed response to this report and its recommendations in a letter to the Commission on 20 May 2025, in which this second National Islands Plan is noted as a key mechanism to advance rights realisation across Scotland’s islands.

2 Source: Briefing-population-growth-and-decline-in-orkney-updated-6-january-2025.pdf

3 Source: Pupil Census Supplementary Statistics 2024

4 Source: Subnational Population Projections: 2022-based – National Records of Scotland

5 Source: Vital Events Reference Tables 2024 – National Records of Scotland

6 See: Community wealth building – Cities and Regions

7 Source: Social Enterprise in Scotland – Census 2024. Available at: https://socialenterprise.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2024-report.pdf

8 Source: Community Ownership in Scotland 2024

9 Source: Scottish Islands Survey 2023: Main Findings Report

10 Source: Evaluation of Road Equivalent Tariff on the Clyde and Hebridean Network. Available at: Evaluation-of-road-equivalent-tariff-on-the-clyde-and-hebridean-network.pdf

11 Source: A Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland

12 Source: Young Islanders Network – Transport Challenge report. Available at: Young-Islanders-Network-Transport-Report-2.pdf

13 Source: Scottish Islands Survey 2023: Main Findings Report

14 Source: Broadband Coverage and Speed Test Statistics for Scotland (data as of October 2025)

15 Source: Ofcom Infrastructure Report 2014. Data available at: Infrastructure report 2014 downloads - Ofcom

16 Colonsay, Iona, Lismore, Eigg, Eday, Flotta, Hoy, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Fair Isle, Unst, Whalsey and Yell.

17 See: Young Islanders Network – Housing Challenge Report 2024

18 See: ESC rights in the Highlands and Islands | SHRC Spotlight Projects

19 Source: Household and Dwelling Estimates 2024 – Scottish Islands Regions

20 Source: Property Market Report 2024-25 – Registers of Scotland

21 Source: Residential Property Sales in Scottish Island Regions - Registers of Scotland

22 Source: Household and Dwelling Estimates 2024 – Scottish Islands Regions

23 Source: SRUC – Rural and Islands Report 2023

24 Source: Household and Dwelling Estimates 2024 – Scottish Islands Regions

25 Source: Personal well-being in the UK – Office for National Statistics

26 Source: Healthy Life Expectancy 2021-2023 – National Records of Scotland

27 Source: Scottish National Islands Plan Survey (2020)

28 Source: Scottish Islands Data Overview (2025)

29 Source: Scottish Islands Survey (2023) Main Findings Report

30 See: Island Agriculture | Rural Exchange | SRUC

31 Source: SRUC – Rural and Islands Report 2023

32 Source: Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics Database - gov.scot

33 Source: Businesses in Scotland: 2025. A high growth business is defined as a business with 10+ employees in the base year (x-3) exhibiting an average of 20% growth over three years in terms of turnover.

34 Source: Scottish Islands Survey (2023) – Comparing Perceptions of Island Life in 2020 to 2023

35 Sources: *Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics Database **2022 census | Scotland’s Census

36 Source: Economic condition of crofting: 2019 to 2022

37 Source: Scotland’s Marine Economic Statistics 2023

38 Source: Scotland’s fisheries management strategy 2020 to 2030: delivery plan update 2025 - gov.scot

39 Source: Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2024

40 Source: Scotland’s Marine Economic Statistics 2023

41 Source: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2024

42 Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2024

43 Source: Scotland Visitor Survey I VisitScotland.org

44 Source: Orkney Islands Council – Cruise Ship Levy Consultation

45 Source: Lerwick Port Authority

46 Source: Scottish Crown Estate revenue allocations: 2024 to 2025

47 Source: Climate Change, Mental Health and Wellbeing – A Review of Emerging Evidence – ClimateXChange

48 Source: 30 x 30 Protected Areas | NatureScot Spatial Data Hub

49 Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA), NatureScot (NS) and Scottish Water (SW)

50 For more detailed data, see: National Forest Inventory Scotland 2022 | Forestry Commission Open Data Website

51 Source: Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030: Island Communities Screening Assessment

52 Source: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2021-24

53 Source: Understanding the Changing Nature and Context of Poverty in Scottish Rural and Island Communities Since 2010

54 Source: Scottish Islands Survey 2023 – Cost of Living and Wellbeing Report

55 Source: Sub-National Estimates of Properties not Connected to the Gas Network – GOV.UK

56 Source: The Parcels Market in Scotland – Consumer Scotland

57 See: ESC Rights in the Highlands and Islands | SHRC Spotlight Projects

58 Source: Scottish Household Survey 2022: Key Findings