Population

Western Isles Population Change 1901 to 2001

Year	Persons Present	Persons Resident
1901	46,172
1911	46,732
1921	44,177
1931	38,986
1939	38,529
1951	35,591
1961	32,609
1971	29,891
1981	31,884	30,713
1991	29,370	29,600
2001	-	26,502
2011*	-	22,446
2018**	-	21,725

*2011 figure is a population projection calculated by the GROS and is based on figures from 2000. 2002-based projections for the Western Isles will be available Jan 2004. These will make use of results from the 2001 Census.

**2018 figure is a population projection calculated by the GROS and is based on figures from 2002. These new projections make use of results from the 2001 Census.

(Source: General Register Office for Scotland , Census of Population)

The 2001 Census population figure is based on those 'resident' on Census night. Previous Censuses have also considered 'persons present' in a household on Census night and therefore may not be normally resident at an address. It is considered that 'persons resident' is a more accurate indicator of the actual population. In 2001 there were 26,502 people resident in the Western Isles compared to a resident population of 29,600 in 1991.

Although based on slightly different criteria, a historical comparison of the figures indicate that within the 20 th Century the population of the Western Isles has dropped considerably in terms of actual numbers. Between 1901 and 2001 the population has fluctuated with different rates of change between decades. However, despite an increase in population between 1901 and 1911 and again between 1971 and 1981, overall within the last 100 years the population has declined by approximately 43% or 19,670 persons.

Components of Population Change 1991-2001

Area	Est. Pop 1991	Births	Deaths	Natural Change	Migration & Other Changes	Est. Pop 2001	Population Change
							No.	%
Scotland	5,083,330	595,362	601,707	-6,345	-12,785	5,064,200	-19,130	-0.4
Eilean Siar	29,330	2,794	4,148	-1,354	-1,526	26,450	-2,880	-9.8
Shetland Is	22,530	2,862	2,410	452	-1,022	21,960	-570	-2.5
Orkney Is	19,520	2,124	2,331	-207	-93	19,220	-300	-1.5

(Source: General Register Office for Scotland, Population Estimates and Projections)

Between 1991 and 2001 all three islands groups have a higher rate of decline than the national average, of the three however, the rate of decline in the Western Isles is particularly marked at 9.8%. According to the 2001 Census this is in fact the highest figure for all 32 Scottish Local Authorities over this time period (second is the City of Glasgow at 8.0%, third Inverclyde at 7.9%, and fourth Dundee City at 6.5%). The influence of the key components of population change in Eilean Siar between 1991 and 2001 was roughly similar with both a negative net natural change (more deaths than births) and negative net migration (more people moving out of the area than into it) of around 5%.

Components of Population Change 2001-2002

	Est. Pop 30 June 2001	Births	Deaths	Nat Change	Est. Net Civilian Migration	Other Changes	Est. Pop 30 June 2002	Population Change
								No.	%
Scotland	5,064,200	51,239	57,304	-6,065	-3,745	410	5,054,800	-9,400	-0.2
Eilean Siar	26,450	224	390	-166	-84	0	26200	-250	-0.9

(Source: General Register Office for Scotland, Population Estimates and Projections)

Western Isles Population by Age Group 1991 - 2001

Age Group	Western Isles 1991 %	Western Isles 2001 %
0-4	6.1	4.9
5-19	20.8	18.1
20-44	32.3	30.2
45-64	22.4	27.0
65-84	16.2	17.1
85+	2.2	2.7

(Source: General Register Office for Scotland )

The age structure of the Western Isles is changing and essentially ageing. In 2001 there was a greater proportion of the population in the older age groups then the younger age groups and this has increased since 1991.