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People and census in Argyll and Bute

Council area

West Scotland. 87,310 people in 7,005 square kilometres, the 3rd most sparsely populated council in the UK.

15 layers about people and census for Argyll and Bute, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Population by output area

Census 2021, England and Wales

Under 129379 or more

Argyll and Bute’s 774 output areas range from 60 to 444.

What is the population of Argyll and Bute?

Argyll and Bute had 85,948 usual residents at the census.

Argyll and Bute is the 34th least populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
85,948
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Argyll and Bute had 85,948 usual residents at the census.

Argyll and Bute is the 34th least populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Argyll and Bute is 85,948.

Population estimate

Council
87,310
ONS population estimates · 2025

Argyll and Bute’s population was an estimated 87,310 in mid-2025.

The population fell 0.5% in the year to mid-2025.

Argyll and Bute is 33rd least populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Argyll and Bute is 87,310.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
59.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

59.1% of residents in Argyll and Bute were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 64.6%.

Against Scotland
9% lower64.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Argyll and Bute is 59.1%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
27.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

27.2% of residents in Argyll and Bute were aged 65 or over at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 20.0%.

Against Scotland
36% higher20.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Argyll and Bute is 27.2%.

Aged under 15

Council
13.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.7% of residents in Argyll and Bute were aged under 15 at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 15.3%.

Against Scotland
10% lower15.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Argyll and Bute is 13.7%.

Born outside the UK

Council
6.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

6.4% of residents in Argyll and Bute were born outside the UK.

In Scotland the figure is 10.2%.

Against Scotland
37% lower10.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Argyll and Bute is 6.4%.

Disability

Council
25.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.3% of residents in Argyll and Bute had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In Scotland the figure is 24.1%.

Against Scotland
5% higher24.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Argyll and Bute is 25.3%.

Good or very good health

Council
78.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

78.2% of residents in Argyll and Bute said their health was good or very good.

In Scotland the figure is 78.8%.

Against Scotland
1% lower78.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Argyll and Bute is 78.2%.

Households

Council
41,885
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Argyll and Bute had 41,885 households at the census.

Argyll and Bute is 70th lowest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Argyll and Bute is 41,885.

Households without a car or van

Council
20.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.3% of households in Argyll and Bute had no car or van at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 26.4%.

Against Scotland
23% lower26.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Argyll and Bute is 20.3%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
67.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

67.3% of households in Argyll and Bute owned their home at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 63.2%.

Against Scotland
6% higher63.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Argyll and Bute is 67.3%.

Population density

Council
12 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Argyll and Bute had 12 people per square kilometre at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 69 per km².

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

Against Scotland
83% lower69 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Argyll and Bute is 12 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
11.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

11.6% of households in Argyll and Bute rented privately at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 12.9%.

Against Scotland
10% lower12.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Argyll and Bute is 11.6%.

Social rented homes

Council
19.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.0% of households in Argyll and Bute rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 22.5%.

Against Scotland
16% lower22.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Argyll and Bute is 19.0%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.5%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Argyll and Bute’s estimated population changed by −0.5% in the year to mid-2025.

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Argyll and Bute among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Argyll and Bute is −0.5%.