# Central Shetland East Shetland Islands. 4,201 people (mid-2024 estimate) in 110 square kilometres. Central Shetland had 4,147 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). Middle area. Code S02003654. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) › [Shetland Islands](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands) ## Key figures - **Population: 4,147** (2021). Central Shetland had 4,147 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). 1,612th 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/shetland-islands/central-shetland#f-population - **People in radon Affected Area squares: 88%** (2022). About 88% of people in Central Shetland 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/shetland-islands/central-shetland#f-radon-affected-share - **Gigabit broadband coverage: 21.9%** (January 2026). In Central Shetland, 21.9% 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/shetland-islands/central-shetland#f-gigabit-coverage - **Claimant rate: 1.2%** (August 2026). In Central Shetland, 1.2% 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/shetland-islands/central-shetland#f-claimant-rate ## On the map - [Radon Affected Area by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=S02003654) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 88% of people in Central Shetland 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=S02003654) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Shetland Islands. The outline is Central Shetland. - [Crimes by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/scotland-crime-count?place=S02003654) (Recorded crimes and offences in Scotland · 2025/26): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Shetland Islands. The outline is Central Shetland. - [Population by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S02003654) (Census 2021, England and Wales): Central Shetland had 4,147 usual residents at the census. ## Recorded crime in Central Shetland Scotland publishes recorded crime by council. It has its own layers. ## How Central Shetland compares Each middle area against every other middle area the measure covers. | Measure | Central Shetland | Rank | Compared with | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Population | 4,147 | 2nd most populated | 7 middle areas, Shetland Islands · 2021 | | People in radon Affected Area squares | 88% | most people in radon Affected Areas | 7 middle areas, Shetland Islands · 2022 | | Gigabit broadband coverage | 21.9% | 2nd highest | 7 middle areas, Shetland Islands · Jan 2026 | | Claimant rate | 1.2% | 3rd lowest | 7 middle areas, Shetland Islands · Aug 2026 | ## What is the population of Central Shetland? Central Shetland had 4,147 usual residents at the census. Central Shetland is the 1,612th least populated of 9,448 in the UK. ## Figures for the whole of Shetland Islands These figures are published for the whole of Shetland Islands, not for each middle area, so they describe all of Shetland Islands and not Central Shetland alone. [See Shetland Islands](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands) - **Average house price: £180,869** (August 2026). Shetland Islands’ average house price was £180,869 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry). Down 11.2% in a year. Source: UK House Price Index, August 2026. Published 21 October 2026. - **Median full-time pay: £46,527** (2025). Full-time workers living in Shetland Islands earned a median of £46,527 in 2025 (ONS earnings survey). 35th highest paid of 348. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025. Published 23 October 2025. - **House price to pay: 3.9×** (2025). A home in Shetland Islands costs 3.9 times local full-time pay. Joint 6th 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: 22,710** (2025). Shetland Islands’ population was an estimated 22,710 in mid-2025 (ONS population estimates). Down 0.4% in a year. Source: Mid-year population estimates, 2025. Published 1 October 2026. ## Central Shetland in brief Central Shetland had 4,147 usual residents at the census. About 88% of people in Central Shetland live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. In Central Shetland, 21.9% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026. In Central Shetland, 1.2% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026. ## About - Type: Middle area - Code: S02003654 - Ward: [Shetland Central †](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/ward/shetland-central) - Constituency: [Orkney and Shetland †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/orkney-and-shetland) - Council: [Shetland Islands](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands) - Nation: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) - Area: 110 km² - People, mid-2024: 4,201* - Neighbourhoods: 5 - Output areas: 33 * 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 [Shetland South](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/shetland-south), [Lerwick North](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/lerwick-north), [East and West Mainland](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/east-and-west-mainland), [Lerwick South](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/lerwick-south) ## Latest updates for Central Shetland - 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/S02003654 ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/central-shetland, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/central-shetland#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/shetland-islands/central-shetland