Orkney Islands

Key figures

7 of 9 measures have a published figure for Orkney Islands · no figure for annual rent as a share of pay, band d council tax as a share of pay. Each figure is the publisher’s own, for the period named beside it.

Population change, year by year

The same decomposition for every published year in Orkney Islands: births and deaths, net moves within the UK, net international migration, and the ONS’s balancing item.

Years to mid-2024 are the ONS’s rebased back series, made consistent with Census 2021 — its figures deliberately differ from the estimates published at the time. Every cell is a published figure; the total is the sum of net moves, natural change and other, which is our addition. A dash is a year the source does not publish for this area, never a zero.

Rates per 1,000 residents

The same population flows, adjusted for Orkney Islands’s size, so they can be compared with any other area’s: each year’s flow divided by the population that mid-year, times 1,000.

A Civometry calculation, not a published figure: ONS publishes these flows and the population, but not the rates. Net rates are signed — below zero means more left than arrived. Rates are crude, not age-standardised, so areas with very different age structures still differ for reasons size cannot remove. Each link shows the full recipe and every year.

Pay against housing costs

How pay in Orkney Islands moved over its latest published year, beside how the cost of buying and renting moved over theirs. The three series come from different publishers on different timetables, so each row covers its own year, named in the row.

Pay rose faster than the housing cost shown over these periods.

Levels are the publishers’ own (ONS ASHE median annual pay for full-time employees living in the area; HM Land Registry UK House Price Index; ONS Price Index of Private Rents). The percentage changes are Civometry arithmetic on the two published values in each row. Pay is a survey of employees and says nothing about a particular household; one year is weather, not climate.

Who runs the council

Independent (2026) — Other and independent 20, Green 1 of 21 seats.

Since 2016: Other parties or independents (2016–2024); Independent (2025–2026)

Not an official statistic. Compiled by Open Council Data UK, an independent project, not by any government department: no official body publishes council political control. Councils are matched to GSS codes by name here; county councils and districts abolished before the current boundaries are not included. This is the one dataset on the site that is not read from an official publication, and every page that shows it says so. Source: Open Council Data UK (CC0).

Between the censuses

How Orkney Islands’s religion, ethnic-group and country-of-birth make-up changed between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, category by category. The two censuses compared.

Crime

No recorded-crime data is loaded for this area. Coverage.

Published for this area

• Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 4.4% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£43,430
• People claiming unemployment-related benefitsJuly 2026 · up 5.0% on a year earlier · ONS, published 18 August 2026210people
• Claimants as a proportion of residents aged 16 to 64July 2026 · unchanged 0.0 points on a year earlier · ONS, published 18 August 20261.6%
• Band D council tax in ScotlandYear ending March 2027 · up 6.0% on a year earlier · Scottish Government, published 31 March 2026£1,669
• House price annual changeJune 2026 · down 2.9 points on a year earlier · HM Land Registry, published 20 August 20264.4%
• Average house priceJune 2026 · up 4.4% on a year earlier · HM Land Registry, published 20 August 2026£236,740
• Population by local authorityMid-2024 · unchanged 0.0% on a year earlier · ONS, published 26 September 202522,020people
• Crimes recorded by the police in ScotlandYear ending March 2026 · up 4.7% on a year earlier · Scottish Government, published 23 June 2026539crimes
• Crimes and offences recorded in Scotland per 10,000 peopleYear ending March 2026 · up 4.7% on a year earlier · Scottish Government, published 23 June 2026244.8per 10,000 population
• Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 1.4% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£786

National figures that apply here

These are not measured for Orkney Islands; they are the figure for the nation or the UK, shown because they apply to everyone in it.

• Average Band D council tax (England average)Year ending March 2027 · up 4.9%£2,392
• Unemployment rate (UK)2026 Q2 · up 0.2 points4.9%
• Universal Credit caseload (Great Britain)Year ending March 2025 · up 16.3%5,473,000households
• Persistent absence (England)2024/25 academic year · down 1.8 points18.1%
• Average annual electricity bill (UK)2025 · down 1.3%£1,069

Then and now

The first and last years published for Orkney Islands, and the difference between the two. Both figures are published for this area; the difference is those two numbers subtracted, which you can check by hand.

• £26,9132010→£43,4302025

  Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence

  In Orkney Islands, median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £26,913 in 2010 to £43,430 in 2025, a change of £16,517 or 61.4%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  £43,430 in 2025 − £26,913 in 2010 = £16,517, which is 61.4% of the figure for 2010.

  13 published years spanning 15 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence, 2002 to 2023, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Orkney Islands, median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £26,913 in 2010 to £43,430 in 2025, a change of £16,517 or 61.4%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

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• £4342009→£7862025

  Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence

  In Orkney Islands, median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £434 in 2009 to £786 in 2025, a change of £352 or 81.0%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  £786 in 2025 − £434 in 2009 = £352, which is 81.0% of the figure for 2009.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 786.00 and 434.20, and 786.00 − 434.20 = 351.80.

  17 published years spanning 16 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence, 2002 to 2023, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Orkney Islands, median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £434 in 2009 to £786 in 2025, a change of £352 or 81.0%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

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• 130Year to mid-2012→80Year to mid-2024

  Net internal migration by local authority

  In Orkney Islands, net internal migration by local authority fell from 130 in Year to mid-2012 to 80 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 50 or 38.5% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  80 in Year to mid-2024 − 130 in Year to mid-2012 = −50, which is 38.5% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Internal migration net by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, net internal migration by local authority fell from 130 in Year to mid-2012 to 80 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 50 or 38.5% (ONS).

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• 60Year to mid-2012→50Year to mid-2024

  International migration into a local authority

  In Orkney Islands, international migration into a local authority fell from 60 in Year to mid-2012 to 50 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 10 or 16.7% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  50 in Year to mid-2024 − 60 in Year to mid-2012 = −10, which is 16.7% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration in by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, international migration into a local authority fell from 60 in Year to mid-2012 to 50 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 10 or 16.7% (ONS).

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• 90Year to mid-2012→20Year to mid-2024

  International migration out of a local authority

  In Orkney Islands, international migration out of a local authority fell from 90 in Year to mid-2012 to 20 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 70 or 77.8% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  20 in Year to mid-2024 − 90 in Year to mid-2012 = −70, which is 77.8% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration out by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, international migration out of a local authority fell from 90 in Year to mid-2012 to 20 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 70 or 77.8% (ONS).

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• -30Year to mid-2012→30Year to mid-2024

  Net international migration by local authority

  In Orkney Islands, net international migration by local authority rose from -30 in Year to mid-2012 to 30 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 60 or 200.0% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  30 in Year to mid-2024 − -30 in Year to mid-2012 = 60, which is 200.0% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration net by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, net international migration by local authority rose from -30 in Year to mid-2012 to 30 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 60 or 200.0% (ONS).

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• 210Year to mid-2012→161Year to mid-2024

  Births by local authority

  In Orkney Islands, births by local authority fell from 210 in Year to mid-2012 to 161 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 49 or 23.3% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  161 in Year to mid-2024 − 210 in Year to mid-2012 = −49, which is 23.3% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Births by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, births by local authority fell from 210 in Year to mid-2012 to 161 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 49 or 23.3% (ONS).

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• 202Year to mid-2012→268Year to mid-2024

  Deaths by local authority

  In Orkney Islands, deaths by local authority rose from 202 in Year to mid-2012 to 268 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 66 or 32.7% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  268 in Year to mid-2024 − 202 in Year to mid-2012 = 66, which is 32.7% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Deaths by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, deaths by local authority rose from 202 in Year to mid-2012 to 268 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 66 or 32.7% (ONS).

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• 8Year to mid-2012→-107Year to mid-2024

  Births minus deaths by local authority

  In Orkney Islands, births minus deaths by local authority fell from 8 in Year to mid-2012 to -107 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 115 or 1437.5% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  -107 in Year to mid-2024 − 8 in Year to mid-2012 = −115, which is 1437.5% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Natural change by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, births minus deaths by local authority fell from 8 in Year to mid-2012 to -107 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 115 or 1437.5% (ONS).

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• -38Year to mid-2012→-3Year to mid-2024

  Other population change by local authority

  In Orkney Islands, other population change by local authority rose from -38 in Year to mid-2012 to -3 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 35 or 92.1% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  -3 in Year to mid-2024 − -38 in Year to mid-2012 = 35, which is 92.1% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Other population change by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Orkney Islands, other population change by local authority rose from -38 in Year to mid-2012 to -3 in Year to mid-2024, a change of 35 or 92.1% (ONS).

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Compare Orkney Islands with another place

Every figure both areas publish, side by side, from its own publisher with the period named:

• Orkney Islands and Birmingham
• Orkney Islands and Leeds
• Orkney Islands and North Yorkshire
• Orkney Islands and Somerset
• Orkney Islands and Cornwall
• Orkney Islands and Buckinghamshire

Or open any two areas as /compare/places/<area>/<area> — the address carries the whole comparison.

Since you moved here

Pick the year you arrived, and see what every series published for Orkney Islands said then and says now, with the periods named. Orkney Islands since you moved here, or read the whole run year by year.

Where these figures come from

Every figure above is published by the body named here, for the release named here. Figures marked as a Civometry calculation are arithmetic on those published figures and are not official statistics.

Not yet published here

Income, employment, benefits by area, health, education and religion for Orkney Islands are on the way where an open official source exists; where one does not, the data gaps register says why. Local claimant counts are behind a login.