# People and census in Highland North west Scotland. 237,260 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 26,159 square kilometres, the 2nd most sparsely populated council in the UK. 15 layers about people and census for Highland, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) ## What is the population of Highland? Highland had 235,330 usual residents at the census. Highland is the 88th most populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population Highland: **235,330** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Highland had 235,330 usual residents at the census. Highland is the 88th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-population ## Population estimate Highland: **237,260** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Highland’s population was an estimated 237,260 in mid-2025. The population fell 0.1% in the year to mid-2025. Highland is 93rd most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Highland: **61.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 61.5% of residents in Highland were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 64.6%. - Against Scotland: 5% lower (64.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Highland: **23.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 23.7% of residents in Highland were aged 65 or over at the census. In Scotland the figure is 20.0%. - Against Scotland: 19% higher (20.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Highland: **14.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 14.8% of residents in Highland were aged under 15 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 15.3%. - Against Scotland: 3% lower (15.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Highland: **7.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 7.5% of residents in Highland were born outside the UK. In Scotland the figure is 10.2%. - Against Scotland: 26% lower (10.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Highland: **23.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 23.8% of residents in Highland had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In Scotland the figure is 24.1%. - Against Scotland: 1% lower (24.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Highland: **79.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 79.8% of residents in Highland said their health was good or very good. In Scotland the figure is 78.8%. - Against Scotland: 1% higher (78.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-good-health ## Households Highland: **111,721** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Highland had 111,721 households at the census. Highland is 69th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Highland: **18.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 18.1% of households in Highland had no car or van at the census. In Scotland the figure is 26.4%. - Against Scotland: 31% lower (26.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Highland: **67.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 67.8% of households in Highland owned their home at the census. In Scotland the figure is 63.2%. - Against Scotland: 7% higher (63.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Highland: **9 per km²** (2021, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Highland had 9 people per square kilometre at the census. In Scotland the figure is 69 per km². - Against Scotland: 87% lower (69 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Highland: **10.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 10.7% of households in Highland rented privately at the census. In Scotland the figure is 12.9%. - Against Scotland: 17% lower (12.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Highland: **19.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.4% of households in Highland rented from a council or housing association at the census. In Scotland the figure is 22.5%. - Against Scotland: 14% lower (22.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-social-rented ## Annual population change Highland: **−0.1%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Highland’s estimated population changed by −0.1% in the year to mid-2025. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=S12000017) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/highland) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/housing) (8) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/crime) (6) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/deprivation) (2) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/environment) (5) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/connectivity) (5) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/council-tax) (2) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/services) (1) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/highland/sources) (22) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S12000017/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people#l-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 2026.10.8, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23508850. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/highland/people