Shetland Population 2023

The population of the Shetland Islands is estimated to be 22,870. This is a slight decrease on the population recorded in the 2011 census, which was 23,167.

Shetland is the name for a collection of around 300 islands in the North Atlantic. They are located 170km off the north east coast of Scotland, between the Orkney Islands and the Faroe Islands.

Shetland has a mixed Scottish and Norse heritage. It has been inhabited for thousands of years, since at least the Mesolithic period. The Shetlands were colonised by the Norse in the 8th and 9th centuries, and dominated by Scandinavia in early medieval times. It was incorporated into Scotland in the 15th century.

The largest island in the Shetlands is Mainland, home to 18,765 people at the time of the 2011 census. Mainland is the third largest island in Scotland by area (after Lewis and Harris, and Skye) and the second most populous island in Scotland, second only to Lewis and Harris.

Lerwick is the largest town in the Shetland Islands. The latest estimate of the population of Lerwick is 6,880 (from 2016).

Shetland population growth

Historical population data for Shetland is available going back to the 1801 census.

It shows that the population of Shetland reached its highest point of 3.1,670 in 1861, before falling gradually in the second half of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries. It reached its lowest point of 17,335 in 1971.

A surge in population brought the number of people living on Shetland to 22,053 in 1971, and since then the population has grown much more slowly. The 2011 census showed a population of 23,167.

The table below lists the population of the Shetland Islands at censuses from 19801. Data is available for most, but not all, census years.

YearPopulation
180122,379 
181122,915 
182126,145 
183129,392 
184130,558 
185131,078 
186131,670 
1871n/a
188129,705 
1891n/a
191127,911 
192125,520 
193121,421 
1941n/a
195119,352 
196117,812 
197117,335 
198122,053 
199122,567 
200121,988 
201123,167 

Shetland islands by population

Mainland is the largest island in the Shetlands by size and population. In 2011 it had a population of 18,765.

Other major islands are Whalsay (population 1,061), Yell (population 966), West Burra (population 776) and Unst (population 632).

The table below lists all of the populated islands in Shetland, data from the 2011 census.

IslandArea (ha)Population
Mainland9687918765
Whalsay19701061
Yell21211966
West Burra743776
Unst12068632
Bressay2805368
Trondra275135
Muckle Roe1773130
East Burra51576
Fair Isle76868
Fetlar407861
Housay16350
Foula126538
Bruray5524
Papa Stour82815
Vaila3272
Balta800
Bigga780
Brother Isle400
Hascosay2750
Hildasay1080
Lamba430
Linga near Muckle Roe700
Linga450
Mousa1800
Isle of Noss3430
Oxna680
Papa590
Papa Little2260
Samphrey660
South Havra590
Uyea, Northmavine450
Uyea, Unst2050
Vementry3700
West Linga1250

Largest towns in Shetland

Lerwick, on Mainland is the largest town on Shetland. It had a population of 6,880 in 2016. Lerwick is the administrative capital of Shetland, and based on 2011 census data its population is 97% white, 2.2% Asian, 0.8% other ethnic group.

Other major towns are Scalloway (population 1,240) and Brae (population 750). Scalloway was the capital of Shetland until 1708.

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