This page contains some of the key facts and figures about Highland. You can view a wide variety of other information by visiting the pages listed in the "In This Section" to the right.
Population
|
Population
in 2004 |
% change
1994-2004 |
| Badenoch & Strathspey |
11,900 |
6.4 |
| Caithness |
25,164 |
-3.5 |
| Inverness |
67,733 |
5.4 |
| Lochaber |
18,789 |
-3.1 |
| Nairn |
11,707 |
7.0 |
| Ross & Cromarty |
49,967 |
-1.0 |
| Skye & Lochalsh |
12,374 |
3.4 |
| Sutherland |
13,706 |
4.0 |
| Highland |
211,340 |
1.9 |
| Source: GRO(S) mid-year estimates, 2004 & 1994 |
The latest General Register Office - Scotland (GRO(S)) population projection for Highland states that by 2024, the population of Highland will be 218,894 (a 3.6% increase from 2004).
Population density/area
|
Area (in square kilometres -
excluding inland water) |
Population density
(number of people per square kilometre) |
| Badenoch & Strathspey |
2,356 |
5.0 |
| Caithness |
1,805 |
13.8 |
| Inverness |
2,961 |
22.5 |
| Lochaber |
4,634 |
4.0 |
| Nairn |
424 |
26.0 |
| Ross & Cromarty |
5,108 |
9.7 |
| Skye & Lochalsh |
2,732 |
4.4 |
| Sutherland |
6,071 |
2.2 |
| Highland |
26,484 |
7.9 |
| Scotland |
77,925 |
65.4 |
| Source: GRO(S) mid-year estimates, 2004 & 1994 |
Population by settlement
| Settlement
| Population |
| Inverness (incl. Culloden) |
52,580 |
| Fort William |
9,560 |
| Nairn |
8,640 |
| Thurso |
7,540 |
| Wick |
7,010 |
| Alness |
4,960 |
| Dingwall |
4,910 |
| Invergordon |
3,900 |
| Tain |
3,430 |
| Conon Bridge |
2,800 |
| Grantown-on-Spey |
2,310 |
| Aviemore |
2,290 |
| Portree |
1,960 |
| Muir of Ord |
1,940 |
| Golspie |
1,440 |
| Source: GRO(S) 2004 mid-year estimates for settlements |
Employment by Sector, Highland
| Sector |
Number of employees |
% of total employees |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
3,871 |
4.1 |
| Energy and water |
1,000 |
1.1 |
| Manufacturing |
9,230 |
9.8 |
| Construction |
5,274 |
5.6 |
| Distribution, hotels and catering |
25,672 |
27.2 |
| Transport and communications |
4,217 |
4.5 |
| Banking, finance and insurance |
10,203 |
10.8 |
| Public administration, education and health |
29,787 |
31.5 |
| Other services |
5,221 |
5.5 |
| Total |
94,474 |
100.0 |
| Source: Nomis/Annual Business Inquiry, 2004 |
Car ownership, 2001 – 75% of households own 1 or more cars or vans (2001 Census)
Number of households, 2004 – 93,210 (GRO(S) Household Estimates, 2004)
Projected number of households by 2024 – 108,230 (GRO(S) Household Projections, 2004)
Total land area – including all islands at low water is 26,484 square kilometres. This is 33% of Scotland and 11.4% of Great Britain. It is 10 times larger than Luxembourg, 20% larger than Wales, and nearly the size of Belgium.
Length of coastline – including islands (low water) is 4,905 kilometres, 21% of the Scottish total and excluding islands is 1,900 kilometres (49% of Scotland). Argyll and Bute has the next biggest coastline with 3,723 kilometres, then Western Isles with 3,716 kilometres.
Length of road network - you can view the latest roads return here, giving full details of the Highland road network.
Forested land cover - approximately 15% of Highland is forested, including over 300,000 hectares of commercial forest.
Nature Conservation Designations
| Designation |
Land area
(hectares) |
% of Highland
land area |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) |
500,307 |
19.1 |
| Special Area of Conservation - candidate (cSAC) |
381,686 |
14.6 |
| Special Protection Area (SPA) |
263,893 |
10.1 |
| National Nature Reserve (NNR) |
72,155 |
2.7 |
| National Scenic Area (NSA) |
527,705 |
20.2 |
| Source: Scottish Natural Heritage, 2003 |
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