Shetland Islands population, 2001–2024
Shetland Islands has an estimated population of 23,190 (mid-2024), up 5.6% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the Shetland Islands local authority area.
23,190
population, mid-2024
+5.6%
since 2001
-0.6%
last 10 years
2015
peak year (23,370)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,190 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 23,100 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 23,020 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 22,960 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 22,890 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 22,910 | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 23,000 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 23,110 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 23,240 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 23,370 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 23,330 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 23,180 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 23,200 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 23,240 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 23,060 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 22,800 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 22,480 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 22,350 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 22,210 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 22,250 | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 22,090 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 21,950 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 22,000 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 21,960 | — |
High street businesses
Shetland Islands has 5 hairdressers and beauty salons, 10 pubs and bars, 15 licensed restaurants, 10 takeaways on the ONS business register (2025). Compare across the UK.
Rounded to the nearest 5, which is how ONS protects individual businesses from being identified.
Figures are ONS mid-year population estimates for the Shetland Islands local authority area (code S12000027), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of Shetland Islands?
23,190, on the NRS mid-2024 estimate for the Shetland Islands local authority area. This page charts the full annual series back to 2001, so the figure sits in its twenty-year context rather than alone.
Is Shetland Islands growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 5.6% since 2001, from 21,960 to 23,190. The peak year in the series so far is 2015. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.