# Lochaber East and North South Highland. 4,924 people (mid-2024 estimate) in 2,687 square kilometres. Lochaber East and North had 4,985 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). Middle area. Code S02003282. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) › [Highland](https://openindex.co.uk/highland) ## Key figures - **Population: 4,985** (2021). Lochaber East and North had 4,985 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). 1,921st 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/highland/lochaber-east-and-north#f-population - **People in radon Affected Area squares: 91%** (2022). About 91% of people in Lochaber East and North 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/highland/lochaber-east-and-north#f-radon-affected-share - **Gigabit broadband coverage: 40.4%** (January 2026). In Lochaber East and North, 40.4% 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/highland/lochaber-east-and-north#f-gigabit-coverage - **Claimant rate: 1.4%** (August 2026). In Lochaber East and North, 1.4% 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/highland/lochaber-east-and-north#f-claimant-rate ## On the map - [Radon Affected Area by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=S02003282) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 91% of people in Lochaber East and North 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=S02003282) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Highland. The outline is Lochaber East and North. - [Crimes by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/scotland-crime-count?place=S02003282) (Recorded crimes and offences in Scotland · 2025/26): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Highland. The outline is Lochaber East and North. - [Population by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S02003282) (Census 2021, England and Wales): Lochaber East and North had 4,985 usual residents at the census. ## Recorded crime in Lochaber East and North Scotland publishes recorded crime by council. It has its own layers. ## How Lochaber East and North compares Each middle area against every other middle area the measure covers. | Measure | Lochaber East and North | Rank | Compared with | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Population | 4,985 | 10th most populated | 58 middle areas, Highland · 2021 | | People in radon Affected Area squares | 91% | joint 16th most people in radon Affected Areas | 58 middle areas, Highland · 2022 | | Gigabit broadband coverage | 40.4% | 15th lowest | 58 middle areas, Highland · Jan 2026 | | Claimant rate | 1.4% | 12th lowest | 58 middle areas, Highland · Aug 2026 | ## What is the population of Lochaber East and North? Lochaber East and North had 4,985 usual residents at the census. Lochaber East and North is the 1,921st least populated of 9,448 in the UK. ## Figures for the whole of Highland These figures are published for the whole of Highland, not for each middle area, so they describe all of Highland and not Lochaber East and North alone. [See Highland](https://openindex.co.uk/highland) - **Average house price: £224,574** (August 2026). Highland’s average house price was £224,574 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry). Up 7.4% in a year. Source: UK House Price Index, August 2026. Published 21 October 2026. - **Median full-time pay: £39,740** (2025). Full-time workers living in Highland earned a median of £39,740 in 2025 (ONS earnings survey). 144th highest paid of 348. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025. Published 23 October 2025. - **House price to pay: 5.7×** (2025). A home in Highland costs 5.7 times local full-time pay. Joint 72nd 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: 237,260** (2025). Highland’s population was an estimated 237,260 in mid-2025 (ONS population estimates). Down 0.1% in a year. Source: Mid-year population estimates, 2025. Published 1 October 2026. ## Lochaber East and North in brief Lochaber East and North had 4,985 usual residents at the census. About 91% of people in Lochaber East and North live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. In Lochaber East and North, 40.4% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026. In Lochaber East and North, 1.4% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026. ## About - Type: Middle area - Code: S02003282 - Ward: [Fort William and Ardnamurchan †](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/ward/fort-william-and-ardnamurchan) - Constituency: [Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/argyll-bute-and-south-lochaber) - Council: [Highland](https://openindex.co.uk/highland) - Nation: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) - Area: 2,687 km² - People, mid-2024: 4,924* - Neighbourhoods: 7 - Output areas: 41 * 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 [Lochaber West](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/lochaber-west), [Loch Ness](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/loch-ness), [Rannoch and Aberfeldy](https://openindex.co.uk/perth-and-kinross/rannoch-and-aberfeldy), [Badenoch and Strathspey South](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/badenoch-and-strathspey-south), [Benderloch Trail](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/benderloch-trail), [Loch Awe](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/loch-awe) ## Latest updates for Lochaber East and North - 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/S02003282 ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/highland/lochaber-east-and-north, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/highland/lochaber-east-and-north#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 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/highland/lochaber-east-and-north