Scottish Islands Data Overview (2025)
The Scottish Islands Data Dashboard has been updated following a review of available data. This report summarises the findings. It highlights changes between data available in 2025 and data first collated in 2023 and gives an overview of longer term trends in Scotland's Islands.
References
Annual Population Survey, National Records of Scotland (2023) https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/households/household-estimates/other-geographies-2011-data-zone-based/household-and-dwelling-estimates-of-scottish-island-regions-2011-data-zone-based
Business and Innovation Statistics, Scottish Government (2023) https://www.gov.scot/collections/business-and-innovation-statistics/
Connected Nations Scotland report, Ofcom (2024) https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/multi-sector/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-2024/connected-nations-scotland-report-2024.pdf?v=386504
Community Ownership in Scotland, Scottish Government (2024) https://www.gov.scot/publications/community-ownership-in-scotland-2023/
General Practice - GP workforce and practice list sizes, Public Health Scotland (2022) https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/10833/2021-12-14-gpworkforce2021-report.pdf
Health and Care Experience Survey 2023-2024, Scottish Government (2024) https://www.gov.scot/collections/health-and-care-experience-survey/
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National Islands Plan Survey Final Report, Scottish Government (2021) https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-islands-plan-survey-final-report/
National Islands Plan Survey Results Explorer, Scottish Government (2021) https://mappingrd342.shinyapps.io/online_tool/
Population Estimates of Scottish Island Regions (2011 Data Zone based), National Records of Scotland (2023) https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/population/population-estimates/2011-based-special-area-population-estimates/population-estimates-by-island-region
Population Projections and an Introduction to Economic-Demographic Foresight for Scotland’s Sparsely Populated Areas (2018-43), J. Hopkins and S. Piras, James Hutton Institute (2020) https://www.hutton.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/research/srp2016-21/rd341briefprojectionsandforesightintro.pdf
Renewable Electricity by Local Authority-2014-2023, Regional Renewable Statistics, UK Government (2024) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable-statistics
Residential Property Sales in Scottish Island Regions, Registers of Scotland (2024)
Scottish Health Survey, Scottish Government (2024) https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-health-survey/
Scottish House Condition Survey: Local Authority Analysis 2017-2019, Scottish Government (2021) https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-house-condition-survey-local-authority-analysis-2017-2019/
Scottish Household Survey, Scottish Government (2023) https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-household-survey/
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, Scottish Government (2020) https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-index-of-multiple-deprivation-2020/
Scottish Islands Data Dashboard, Scottish Government (2023
https://infogram.com/1pl6y95m7p3022iqpv1mkdevrrczq6e5x59?live
Scottish Island Regions 2023: Best-fitting data zones, Scottish Government (2023) https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805259664
Scottish Island Regions 2023: Overview, Scottish Government (2023) https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805259657
Scottish Islands Regions Metadata, Scottish Government (2023) https://spatialdata.gov.scot/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/77581afc-9f8b-477d-9b8c-f130af35a283
Scottish Island Region Populations and Households, National Records of Scotland (2023) https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/population/population-estimates/2011-based-special-area-population-estimates/population-estimates-by-island-region
Scottish Island Region Population and Households (interactive map), National Records of Scotland (2023) https://scotland.shinyapps.io/nrs-islands-dashboard/
Scottish Island Regions Population dashboard, National Records of Scotland (2023) https://scotland.shinyapps.io/nrs-islands-dashboard/
Scottish Islands Survey, Scottish Government (2023)
Scottish Islands Survey 2023: main findings report - gov.scot
Scottish Islands Survey results explorer, Scottish Government (2023)
Scottish Islands Survey (2023): results explorer
Sea Level Projection Tool, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2021) https://sealevel.nasa.gov/ipcc-ar6-sea-level-projection-tool
Secondary School Information Dashboard, Scottish Government (2023) https://scotland.shinyapps.io/sg-secondary_school_information_dashboard/
Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics database, Scottish Government (2023) https://www.gov.scot/publications/sub-scotland-economic-statistics-database/
Suicide Statistics for Scotland, Public Health Scotland (2021) https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/suicide-statistics-for-scotland/suicide-statistics-for-scotland-update-of-trends-for-the-year-2020/
The cost of remoteness: reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty, Scottish Government (2024)
Think Broadband, (2025)
https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/uk
UK climate averages, Met Office (2020) https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/
UK Small Area Gross Value Added (GVA) Estimates, Office for National Statistics (2024) https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/uksmallareagvaestimates