# East Cairngorms South west Aberdeenshire. 3,173 people (mid-2024 estimate) in 1,445 square kilometres. East Cairngorms had 3,250 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). Middle area. Code S02002566. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) › [Aberdeenshire](https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire) ## Key figures - **Population: 3,250** (2021). East Cairngorms had 3,250 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). 1,135th least populated of 9,448. Source: Census 2021, England and Wales and Scotland's Census 2022 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland, 2021. Published 21 July 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms#f-population - **People in radon Affected Area squares: 83%** (2022). About 83% of people in East Cairngorms live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. UK 44%. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UKHSA and BGS radon atlas and census output areas. Published 1 December 2022. https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms#f-radon-affected-share - **Gigabit broadband coverage: 7.7%** (January 2026). In East Cairngorms, 7.7% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026 (Ofcom). UK 87.8%. Source: Connected Nations (Ofcom), January 2026. Published 13 May 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms#f-gigabit-coverage - **Claimant rate: 1.6%** (August 2026). In East Cairngorms, 1.6% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026 (ONS via Nomis). UK 3.9%. Source: Claimant count (Nomis), August 2026. Published 15 September 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms#f-claimant-rate ## On the map - [Radon Affected Area by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas#place=S02002566) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 83% of people in East Cairngorms live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. - [Average house price by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/house-prices#place=S02002566) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Aberdeenshire. The outline is East Cairngorms. - [Crimes by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/scotland-crime-count#place=S02002566) (Recorded crimes and offences in Scotland · 2025/26): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Aberdeenshire. The outline is East Cairngorms. - [Population by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population#place=S02002566) (Census 2021, England and Wales): East Cairngorms had 3,250 usual residents at the census. ## Recorded crime in East Cairngorms Scotland publishes recorded crime by council. It has its own layers. ## How East Cairngorms compares Each middle area against every other middle area the measure covers. | Measure | East Cairngorms | Rank | Compared with | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Population | 3,250 | 14th least populated | 62 middle areas, Aberdeenshire · 2021 | | People in radon Affected Area squares | 83% | 18th fewest people in radon Affected Areas | 62 middle areas, Aberdeenshire · 2022 | | Gigabit broadband coverage | 7.7% | 6th lowest | 62 middle areas, Aberdeenshire · Jan 2026 | | Claimant rate | 1.6% | joint 24th lowest | 62 middle areas, Aberdeenshire · Aug 2026 | ## What is the population of East Cairngorms? East Cairngorms had 3,250 usual residents at the census. East Cairngorms is the 1,135th least populated of 9,448 in the UK. ## Figures for the whole of Aberdeenshire These figures are published for the whole of Aberdeenshire, not for each middle area, so they describe all of Aberdeenshire and not East Cairngorms alone. [See Aberdeenshire](https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire) - **Average house price: £200,965** (August 2026). Aberdeenshire’s average house price was £200,965 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry). Down 2.0% in a year. Source: UK House Price Index, August 2026. Published 21 October 2026. - **Median full-time pay: £43,656** (2025). Full-time workers living in Aberdeenshire earned a median of £43,656 in 2025 (ONS earnings survey). 72nd highest paid of 348. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025. Published 23 October 2025. - **House price to pay: 4.6×** (2025). A home in Aberdeenshire costs 4.6 times local full-time pay. Joint 28th most affordable of 348. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UK House Price Index and the ONS earnings survey. Published 21 October 2026. - **Population estimate: 264,640** (2025). Aberdeenshire’s population was an estimated 264,640 in mid-2025 (ONS population estimates). Down 0.2% in a year. Source: Mid-year population estimates, 2025. Published 1 October 2026. ## East Cairngorms in brief East Cairngorms had 3,250 usual residents at the census. About 83% of people in East Cairngorms live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. In East Cairngorms, 7.7% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026. In East Cairngorms, 1.6% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026. ## About - Type: Middle area - Code: S02002566 - Ward: [Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside †](https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/ward/aboyne-upper-deeside-and-donside) - Constituency: [West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/west-aberdeenshire-and-kincardine) - Council: [Aberdeenshire](https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire) - Nation: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) - Area: 1,445 km² - People, mid-2024: 3,173* - Neighbourhoods: 5 - Output areas: 31 * People: worked out by Open Index by adding up the neighbourhood estimates inside this area. † Best fit: the ward and constituency this middle area mostly lies in. Its edges do not follow theirs. ## Next door [Aberlour, South Speyside and the Cabrach](https://openindex.co.uk/moray/aberlour-south-speyside-and-the-cabrach), [Angus Glens](https://openindex.co.uk/angus/angus-glens), [Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee](https://openindex.co.uk/perth-and-kinross/blair-atholl-strathardle-and-glenshee), [Cromar and Kildrummy](https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/cromar-and-kildrummy), [Aboyne and South Deeside](https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/aboyne-and-south-deeside), [Badenoch and Strathspey South](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/badenoch-and-strathspey-south) ## Latest updates for East Cairngorms - August 2026 house prices published: HM Land Registry and partners · Oct 2026. - September 2026 rent published: ONS private rents · Oct 2026. - Schools updated: Ofsted · Oct 2026. - GP practices updated: NHS England · Oct 2026. The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S02002566 ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms#f-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.11. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/aberdeenshire/east-cairngorms