# People and census in Shetland Islands North Scotland. 22,710 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 1,469 square kilometres, the 4th most sparsely populated council in the UK. 15 layers about people and census for Shetland Islands, 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 Shetland Islands? Shetland Islands had 22,973 usual residents at the census. Shetland Islands is the 4th least populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population Shetland Islands: **22,973** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Shetland Islands had 22,973 usual residents at the census. Shetland Islands is the 4th least populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-population ## Population estimate Shetland Islands: **22,710** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Shetland Islands’ population was an estimated 22,710 in mid-2025. The population fell 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. Shetland Islands is 4th least populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Shetland Islands: **61.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (64.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=S12000027) · [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/shetland-islands/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Shetland Islands: **21.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (20.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=S12000027) · [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/shetland-islands/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Shetland Islands: **16.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 16.8% of residents in Shetland Islands were aged under 15 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 15.3%. - Against Scotland: 10% higher (15.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=S12000027) · [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/shetland-islands/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Shetland Islands: **5.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 5.1% of residents in Shetland Islands were born outside the UK. In Scotland the figure is 10.2%. - Against Scotland: 50% lower (10.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=S12000027) · [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/shetland-islands/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Shetland Islands: **22.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (24.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Shetland Islands: **81.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (78.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-good-health ## Households Shetland Islands: **10,573** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Shetland Islands had 10,573 households at the census. Shetland Islands is 3rd lowest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Shetland Islands: **16.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (26.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=S12000027) · [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/shetland-islands/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Shetland Islands: **68.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 68.0% of households in Shetland Islands owned their home at the census. In Scotland the figure is 63.2%. - Against Scotland: 8% higher (63.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Shetland Islands: **16 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. Shetland Islands had 16 people per square kilometre at the census. In Scotland the figure is 69 per km². - Against Scotland: 77% lower (69 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Shetland Islands: **7.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 7.0% of households in Shetland Islands rented privately at the census. In Scotland the figure is 12.9%. - Against Scotland: 46% lower (12.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Shetland Islands: **22.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (22.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-social-rented ## Annual population change Shetland Islands: **−0.4%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Shetland Islands’ estimated population changed by −0.4% in the year to mid-2025. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=S12000027) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/housing) (8) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/crime) (6) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/deprivation) (2) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/environment) (5) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/connectivity) (5) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/council-tax) (2) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/services) (1) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/sources) (22) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S12000027/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/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 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/shetland-islands/people