Cycling in the Outer Hebrides - North Uist/Uibhist A Tuath

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.

Ended the day with a tour of North Uist/Uibhist A Tuath

Boundary

Population change
 

The usually resident population decreased by 8 from 1320 in 2001 to 1312 in 2011.

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

In 2001, 20 per cent of the population was aged 0 to 15 years old.  This decreased to 13 per cent in 2011. There were similar reductions in the percentage of the population aged 30 to 44 from 23 per cent in 2001 to 15 per cent in 2011.

In 2001, 17 per cent of the population was aged between 60 and 74 years old, with a further 8 per cent aged 75 years and over.  In 2011, these had increased to 23 percent aged between 60 and 74 and  11 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 629 occupied households , 100 unoccupied household spaces which are second or holiday home, and 16 unoccupied household spaces which are vacant

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

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

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

5 per cent of people stated their religion as Roman Catholic

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

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