Cycling in the Outer Hebrides - Benbecula / Beinn Na Faoghla

Spent a week cycling from Barra to Lochmaddy, then from Uig in Skye to Mallaig with various journeys on the train and ferry en-route.  As ever pondered what the Census says about this area and have investigated some key demographics of the major islands on the way.

Over the causeway to Benbecula / Beinn Na Faoghla

Boundary 
 

Population change
   

The usually resident population increased by 81 from 1249 in 2001 to 1330 in 2011.

This change was not spread evenly across age groups which is illustrated in the figure below.

In 2001, 17 per cent of the population was aged 16 to 29 years old.  This reduced to 14 per cent in 2011.

In 2001, 12 per cent of the population was aged between 60 and 74 years old, with a further 4 per cent aged 75 years and over.  In 2011, these had increased to 15 percent aged between 60 and 74 and 5 per cent aged 75 year and over.

In order to understand this change, it is necessary to look at statistics on migration and mortality statistics.

Some other key census 2011 stats on Benbecula / Beinn Na Faoghla

There are 587 occupied households , 14 unoccupied household spaces which are second or holiday home, and 21 unoccupied household spaces which are vacant

27 per cent of people aged 16 and over living in households are single

53 per cent of people aged 3 and over can speak Gaelic

37 per cent of people aged 3 and over speak Gaelic at home

39 per cent of people stated their religion as Roman Catholic

64 per cent of people aged 16 to 74 are employed full-time or part-time

8 per cent of people aged 16 to 74 are self-employed