Map of Scottish islands

Inhabited islands in Scotland

Scotland's Census 2022 counted people living on 101 islands. Together they had about 103,000 residents.

Four islands hold about 65% of that total. They are Lewis and Harris, the Mainlands of Shetland and Orkney, and Skye. National Records of Scotland counts Lewis and Harris as one island.

Most inhabited islands are small. 34 had fewer than 10 residents and 56 had fewer than 100. Only 14 had 1,000 people or more.

Many islands have a Gaelic name as well as an English one. In this list, 52 of the 101 have a Gaelic or other name. Skye is An t-Eilean Sgitheanach and Islay is Ìle.

Largest Scottish islands by population

Scottish islands list by council area

Na h-Eileanan Siar has the most island residents of any council, and Argyll and Bute the most inhabited islands.

Outer Hebrides

Na h-Eileanan Siar covers 19 inhabited islands. Lewis and Harris holds most of the population. South Uist (1,650), Benbecula (1,255), Barra (1,209) and North Uist (1,208) come next.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar lists Lewis and Harris as separate areas in its own island table. The census island count treats them as one.

Smaller Western Isles communities include Scalpay (282), Great Bernera (212), Eriskay (158) and Berneray (142). Vatersay had 83 residents.

Orkney and Shetland

Orkney has 21 inhabited islands and Shetland has 16. In each group, the Mainland holds about four in every five residents.

After the Mainland, the most populated Orkney islands are South Ronaldsay, Westray and Sanday. In Shetland they are Whalsay, Yell, West Burra and Unst.

Inner Hebrides and the west coast

Skye is the most populated island in Highland, with about 10,500 people. Raasay is next, and the Small Isles of Eigg, Rùm, Muck and Canna are also in Highland.

Argyll and Bute has the most inhabited islands of any council. Bute, Islay and Mull are the largest by population, followed by Tiree, Seil and Jura. Eleven of its 26 inhabited islands had fewer than 10 residents.

Firth of Clyde

Bute, Arran and Great Cumbrae are the most populated islands in the Firth of Clyde. Bute had about 6,000 residents, Arran about 4,600 and Great Cumbrae about 1,300. Together they hold more people than all of Highland's islands. Arran, Great Cumbrae and Holy Island are in North Ayrshire, while Bute is in Argyll and Bute.

The smallest inhabited islands

At the other end of the scale, 34 inhabited islands had fewer than 10 residents in 2022. Boreray and Killegray, both in the Western Isles, had one resident each.

These tiny populations can change from one census to the next. An island with one household can drop out of the inhabited list if that household moves away.

Islands in lochs and rivers

Not every inhabited island is at sea. Inchmurrin and Inchfad are in Loch Lomond, and Moncreiffe Island is in the River Tay.

How the island figures are counted

Populations are the household residents counted on each island in Scotland's Census 2022. Figures in the tables are rounded to the nearest 100, except where an exact count is given.

The next full census will update these numbers. Small islands can change the most between counts.

Using the map of Scottish islands

Each marker shows an island's name and 2022 population. Markers sit inside each island's boundary, so they suit browsing rather than navigation.

Quick answers

How many inhabited islands does Scotland have?

Scotland's Census 2022 counted people living on 101 islands.

How many people live on Scottish islands?

About 103,000 people lived on Scotland's inhabited islands in 2022. About 65% of them were on Lewis and Harris, the two Mainlands and Skye.

What is the most populated Scottish island?

Lewis and Harris, with about 19,700 residents in 2022. The Mainland of Shetland and the Mainland of Orkney come next.

Which council area has the most inhabited islands?

Argyll and Bute, with 26. Orkney has 21, Na h-Eileanan Siar 19 and Shetland 16.

Are Lewis and Harris one island?

Yes. National Records of Scotland counts Lewis and Harris as a single island. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar lists Lewis and Harris as separate areas.

What is the most populated island in Orkney?

The Mainland of Orkney, with about 17,800 residents in 2022. South Ronaldsay and Westray are next.

How many Scottish islands have fewer than 100 people?

56 of the 101 inhabited islands had fewer than 100 residents in 2022. 34 had fewer than 10.