Skye and Lochalsh Area Profile

Sources for Statistics

The Highland Council's overall planning objectives include a recognition of the need to retain strong and vital local communities, and that reasonable access to a range of social and community facilities is fundamental to sustainability in rural areas.

The Highland Community Plan has drawn up aims and objectives for the whole region until 2020 and these include working towards the development of capable, confident communities. Input into the Community Plan has come from the voluntary sector and other Highland Wellbeing Alliance partners: Highland Council, HIE, NHS Highland, Communities Scotland, Northern Constabulary, SNH and Highlands and Islands Fire Brigade. At a local level consultations have taken place to identify key issues which will be fed into the Local Plan as priorities for the area. Local representatives of the partner agencies should be able to advise on these.

Also visit www.highlandlife.net  for a range of facts and figures by locality, covering a breadth of subjects.

Population

Highland is one of the most sparsely populated parts of Europe with a density of 8 persons per sq km.  The population density of Skye and Lochalsh is 4.4 persons per sq km. The population in 2004 stood at 12,374.

Census statistics show the population increase for Skye & Lochalsh between 1991 and 2001 was 3.2%. Projections are for a further population increase of 2.2% by 2016 and for an increasingly ageing population. In 2001 the largest age bands were people aged between 35 and 55, but by 2016 the largest age bands are expected to be 50-70 year olds. The numbers of people over 60 are expected to rise, while the numbers under 20 are expected to fall.

Highland Council statistics put the overall population increase for Skye & Lochalsh between 1984 and 2004 at 11.7% with a projection for a further 8.4% increase by 2024 (giving a total of 13, 413) and for a rise in the number of older people. In 2004 the majority of people living in the area were aged 16-64 (63.5%). 2,161 people were aged over 65 (17.5%) and 19% were aged 0-15 years. By 2024 the percentage of over 65 year olds is projected to rise by a massive 83.8% whilst the number of 0-15 year olds will fall by 14.8% and the number of 16-64 year olds by 8.4%. for more information access the Highland Council website which includes Area Population Projections 2004-2024

Population numbers in the main settlements, i.e. those with over 500 people, are Portree 2491 (2001) and Kyle of Lochalsh 739 (2001). Portree is the main administrative centre for the area. The majority of the population lives in scattered remote townships.

Homelessness, measured by applications to Highland Council, remains steady at about 7% of the total for Highland, since 2000. 

Health

Skye and Lochalsh compares favourably with the national mortality picture. In particular, deaths attributable to respiratory and digestive disease and heart disease are significantly lower than the national average. However accidental deaths due to road traffic accidents are excessively higher.

Health resources are higher than for Highland as a whole, with 1 NHS dentist per 1,867 people, 1 family doctor per 639 people and 1 dispensing pharmacy per 6,088 people.

Education

In 2001 89.6% of all S4 pupils gained five or more Standard Grades, compared with 82% for Highland as a whole. The majority of school leavers go on to higher (44.4%) or further (11.8%) education or some form of training (2%), and 29.4% go straight into employment.

Employment

The main areas of employment are: distribution, hotels and restaurants (31.4%); public administration, education and health (29.3%) and banking, finance and insurance (17.3%). Agriculture, forestry and fishing now account for only 2.9%, and new businesses totalled 61 in 2002. The total number of employees in 2001 was 4,175.

Transport

In Skye and Lochalsh there are 131 km of trunk roads with a road bridge and ferry linking the two parts of the area and a ferry linking to the Western Isles. A network of secondary A (161 km) and B (141km) roads serve the townships, many of which are single track. Bus services to the townships are mainly routed and timetabled for the school runs, with weekend and evening services minimal.

Crime

For the year 2001-2 road traffic offences (3,708) almost equalled all other crimes (3,737) for the Ross and Cromarty and Skye area as a whole. The majority of other crimes were either crimes of dishonesty (1,812) or fire raising and vandalism (1,002).

Geography

The total land area of Skye and Lochalsh is 2,732 sq km, of which 27% is over 300m.

Natural Environment

In Skye and Lochalsh 56,550 hectares of the land area is designated as SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and 52,196 hectares of the land area is designated as NSAs (National Scenic Areas).