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KW

Postcode area

Postcode area named after Kirkwall, with 16 districts.

Approximate outline worked out by Open Index from the ONS Postcode Directory: the outline joins its districts’ outlines, each made of the census output areas that hold most of the district’s postcodes.

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Gigabit coverage by postcode area

Connected Nations (Ofcom) · January 2026

Under 60%98% or more

In KW, 57.7% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026.

Population
52,360
6th least populated of 120
ONS Census 2021 · 2021
Gigabit broadband coverage
57.7%
UK 87.8%
Ofcom · Jan 2026
Claimant rate
2.0%
UK 3.9%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026
Aged 15 to 64
60.1%
11th lowest of 120
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

How KW compares

Each dot is a postcode area. The black line marks the middle one.

KWMiddle
Population120 postcode areas, UK · 2021
Population: every postcode area in UK120 areas from 22,985 to 2,027,347. The middle area is 503,090. KW is 52,360.
52,3606th least populated
Gigabit broadband coverage120 postcode areas, UK · Jan 2026
Gigabit broadband coverage: every postcode area in UK120 areas from 12.0% to 98.0%. The middle area is 88.0%. KW is 57.7%.
57.7%4th lowest
Claimant rate120 postcode areas, UK · Aug 2026
Claimant rate: every postcode area in UK120 areas from 1.4% to 7.7%. The middle area is 3.4%. KW is 2.0%.
2.0%4th lowest
Aged 15 to 64120 postcode areas, UK · 2021
Aged 15 to 64: every postcode area in UK120 areas from 56.9% to 79.8%. The middle area is 63.1%. KW is 60.1%.
60.1%joint 11th lowest

Every postcode area ranked: population, gigabit broadband coverage, claimant rate and aged 15 to 64.

What is the population of KW?

KW had 52,360 usual residents at the census.

KW is the 6th least populated of 120 in the UK.

Postcode districts in KW

NamePeople (census)Median sale priceRecorded crime per 1,000
KW1Wick, Willowbank10,663No figureNo figure
KW2Ulbster, Bruan74No figureNo figure
KW3Lybster, Occumster1,030No figureNo figure
KW5Latheronwheel, Smerral305No figureNo figure
KW6Balnabruich, Dunbeath342No figureNo figure
KW7Berriedale, Newport150No figureNo figure
KW8East Helmsdale841No figureNo figure
KW9Brora1,691No figureNo figure
KW10Golspie1,535No figureNo figure
KW11Highland69No figureNo figure
KW12Halkirk1,640No figureNo figure
KW13Croick97No figureNo figure
KW14Thurso, Pennyland11,946No figureNo figure
KW15Kirkwall, St Ola8,816No figureNo figure
KW16Stromness, Cairston3,718No figureNo figure
KW17St Margaret's Hope9,443No figureNo figure
KW in brief

The KW postcode area, named after Kirkwall, has 16 postcode districts.

KW had 52,360 usual residents at the census.

In KW, 57.7% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026.

In KW, 2.0% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

60.1% of residents in KW were aged 15 to 64 at the census.