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People and census in Shetland Islands

Council area

North Scotland. 22,710 people in 1,469 square kilometres, the 4th most sparsely populated council in the UK.

13 layers about people and census for Shetland Islands, 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

Shetland Islands’s 189 output areas range from 60 to 275.

Population

Council
22,973
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Shetland Islands had 22,973 usual residents at the census.

Shetland Islands is 4th lowest of 361 for population.

Population: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Shetland Islands is 22,973.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
61.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

61.4% of residents in Shetland Islands were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 64.6%.

Against Scotland
5% lower64.6%
Aged 15 to 64: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Shetland Islands is 61.4%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
21.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.8% of residents in Shetland Islands were aged 65 or over at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 20.0%.

Against Scotland
9% higher20.0%
Aged 65 and over: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Shetland Islands is 21.8%.

Aged under 15

Council
16.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.8% of residents in Shetland Islands were aged under 15 at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 15.3%.

Against Scotland
10% higher15.3%
Aged under 15: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Shetland Islands is 16.8%.

Born outside the UK

Council
5.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.1% of residents in Shetland Islands were born outside the UK.

In Scotland the figure is 10.2%.

Against Scotland
50% lower10.2%
Born outside the UK: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Shetland Islands is 5.1%.

Disability

Council
22.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.0% of residents in Shetland Islands had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In Scotland the figure is 24.1%.

Against Scotland
9% lower24.1%
Disability: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Shetland Islands is 22.0%.

Good or very good health

Council
81.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

81.9% of residents in Shetland Islands said their health was good or very good.

In Scotland the figure is 78.8%.

Against Scotland
4% higher78.8%
Good or very good health: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Shetland Islands is 81.9%.

Households

Council
10,573
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Shetland Islands had 10,573 households at the census.

Shetland Islands is 3rd lowest of 361 for the number of households.

Households: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Shetland Islands is 10,573.

Households without a car or van

Council
16.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.0% of households in Shetland Islands had no car or van at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 26.4%.

Against Scotland
39% lower26.4%
Households without a car or van: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Shetland Islands is 16.0%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
68.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

68.0% of households in Shetland Islands owned their home at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 63.2%.

Against Scotland
8% higher63.2%
Owner-occupied homes: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Shetland Islands is 68.0%.

Population density

Council
16 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Shetland Islands had 16 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
77% lower69 per km²
Population density: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Shetland Islands is 16 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
7.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

7.0% of households in Shetland Islands rented privately at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 12.9%.

Against Scotland
46% lower12.9%
Private rented homes: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Shetland Islands is 7.0%.

Social rented homes

Council
22.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.8% of households in Shetland Islands rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In Scotland the figure is 22.5%.

Against Scotland
1% higher22.5%
Social rented homes: Shetland Islands among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Shetland Islands is 22.8%.