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The population stood at 22,710 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 — Shetland Islands

22,710, latest 2025 (-0.4% year on year, from 22,800).

The population stood at 22,710 in 2025. That is 0.4% lower than a year earlier. The series peaked at 23,370 in 2015; the latest figure is 2.8% below that peak. Its low point was 21,950 in 2003; the latest reading is 3% above that.

Show the numbers (35 periods)
Population estimate — Shetland Islands, every published period
PeriodValue
202522,710
202422,800
202322,890
202223,020
202122,960
202022,890
201922,910
201823,000
201723,110
201623,240
201523,370
201423,330
201323,180
201223,200
201123,240
201023,060
200922,800
200822,480
200722,350
200622,210
200522,250
200422,090
200321,950
200222,000
200121,960
200022,180
199922,510
199822,700
199722,830
199622,860
199522,970
199422,790
199322,760
199222,600
199122,530

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 — Shetland Islands
22,710 for Shetland 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/shetland-islands/population-estimate

See every dataset published for Shetland Islands

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