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The population stood at 21,920 in 2025. That is 0.4% lower than a year earlier.

Why the caveats matter

Every figure carries the publisher's own caveats. Where a statistic is published for a wider area than the one you clicked, or where the publisher itself flags it as unreliable, the page says so rather than quietly rounding it off.

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Population estimate — Orkney Islands

21,920, latest 2025 (-0.4% year on year, from 22,000).

The population stood at 21,920 in 2025. That is 0.4% lower than a year earlier. The series peaked at 22,030 in 2021; the latest figure is 0.5% below that peak. Its low point was 19,220 in 2001; the latest reading is 14% above that.

Show the numbers (35 periods)
Population estimate — Orkney Islands, every published period
PeriodValue
202521,920
202422,000
202322,010
202222,030
202122,030
202021,970
201921,870
201821,830
201721,730
201621,640
201521,520
201421,510
201321,510
201221,500
201121,420
201021,220
200920,940
200820,740
200720,580
200620,340
200520,070
200419,830
200319,540
200219,330
200119,220
200019,290
199919,420
199819,590
199719,770
199619,730
199519,810
199419,750
199319,710
199219,670
199119,520

What these terms mean

Mid-year estimate
A modelled count of the population on 30 June, updated between censuses. It is an estimate, not a headcount. Source
Local authority district
The council area a statistic is published for -- 361 across the UK. In England these are boroughs, districts and unitary authorities; in Scotland, council areas; in Wales, principal areas; in Northern Ireland, districts.

Before you use these figures

  • Mid-year estimate, not a census count: This is a modelled mid-year (30 June) estimate, not a direct headcount. It is rebased periodically against the latest UK census results -- the current series was rebased to the 2021/2022 censuses, replacing previously published estimates for 2011 to 2022. Figures for the same year can therefore change between publications as later data becomes available.
  • Unrounded, but not precise to the individual: Figures are published unrounded to enable further calculation, but ONS is explicit that small estimates should not be read as accurate to a specific person -- they are produced using statistical models and disclosure-control methods, not a direct count.

Cite this figure:

Population estimate — Orkney Islands
21,920 for Orkney Islands, 2025
Caveats: Mid-year estimate, not a census count; Unrounded, but not precise to the individual
StatsMapped last confirmed this figure unchanged on 5 Sep 2026.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Population Estimates (via Nomis)
https://statsmapped.com/united-kingdom/local-authority/orkney-islands/population-estimate

See every dataset published for Orkney Islands

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