Orkney Population

The 2001 census identified 19,245 souls living in the islands. These folk live in a stock of 9500 houses with a 90% occupancy. 70% of these houses are owned and the current average price is around 100k, 25% less than the Scottish average. The last four years has seen a doubling in property value as the ripples of the general UK house inflation have inevitably washed ashore here. Around 100 new houses, sadly of no architectural merit, are built every year. The natural growth rate of the population (the difference between births and deaths) turned negative around 1997 and has remained so ever since. However the significant decline of Orkney’s population predicted at the end of the nineties has been avoided due the rapid rise in migration to the county. This trend has produced revised projections of actual population growth peaking at a figure close to 20,000 by 2007-10 before declining. How such projections are produced is beyond me but one assumes the National Office of Statistics has some methodology.

The 2001 census breakdown of these demographics is as follows;

Total Orkney Scotland Median Age 40.5 38 % over 45 43.28 40.36 % under 16 19.95 19.2 %Scottish 83.41 87.15 %English 13.63 8.08 %other UK 1.0 1.42 %ROW 1.95 3.35

This table is quite informative. Orkney has an ageing population with significantly more of the total over 45 than the rest of Scotland. It also has a far higher percentage of English settlers. The failure to distinguish between Orcadian native born verses Scottish mainland born is unfortunate; you are just as much of a ferrylooper if you come from Scotland. It is one of the reasons that makes Orkney attractive. Scottish Nationalism is of no consequence here. You are judged by your actions, not your ethnicity. Based on personal experience I would doubt that more of the current population is Scottish Mainland born than English, but it would be close. The total of non-natives as of 2001 was probably around 30%.

A further observation of these figures is that as of 2006 they are underestimated. The past five years has seen a continued growth in immigration, with the English sector growing fastest. I would expect by the 2011 Census the percentages might be over 35% incomer with at least 20% of the total will be of English origin.

Again taken from UK Census data, this more detailed island table shows predictable trends over the past forty years. Mainland has been connected to Burray and South Ronaldsay by the Churchill Barriers since WW2 so in truth are no longer integral .

Generally, Islands with less than 60 or so inhabitants are very marginal communities. Emergency services, school provision, council services all become very difficult to justify and supply for such small communities. Currently Wyre, Papa Westray, Papa Stronsay, North Ronaldsay, Graemsay and Egilsay might be thought as under threat of abandonment.

Of course, the reality is very different, proving that generalising is a dangerous habit. Papa Westray is probably one on the most vibrant communities in Orkney, operating as a type of self help commune, and since the 2001 Census the population has gone up significantly with many new children; enough to justify a new school and Fire Station in recent years.

Papa Stronsay, an ancient monastic site, has been recently retaken by Monks who are busily creating a significant religious retreat and traditional Monastery. North Ronaldsay is very similar to Papa Westray in size and population, but is also the most remote northerly isle, it is a famous bird watching venue, with odd sorts of very rare vagrants often blown there as first landfall. It may be in some danger but appears OK at present.

Egilsay is now 55% owned by the RSPB as the Corncrake Island. Socially it may well be doomed but as a place to visit for a day out I cannot recommend it more highly, it is full of Flag Iris and Marsh Marigold and a joy to walk around. Graemsay is between Hoy and Stromness and though small, its juxtaposition to Stromness will ensure viability. Wyre is only a few hundred yards from Rousay but may be considered as at risk.

One of the subplots running through these figures is the abandonment of the outer isles by the Natives. The origin demographics over the past forty years are totally transformed. Leaving aside Westray, both the North and South Isles are now populated by incomers. In some cases entirely. Eday has just one young Orcadian couple.

This migration was driven by both economic and social factors. The ideal of a remote island farming way of life was in reality a tough, hard and unglamorous existence with poverty never far away for many. The life of average Orcadians back in the sixties was closer to nineteenth century living than 21st. Work was on the Mainland, often much easier and better paid. As the oil money filtered down and general standards of living rose this became impossible to resist and the growth of Kirkwall as an economic magnet was set in stone. This process has simply accelerated as the years have passed to the point today where Kirkwall is to Orkney what London is to South East England. The at best short term attitude of the council and powers that be seem to believe that this is a good thing.

Westray is the exception due to a self-originated immigration policy that quietly kept out all but young families and fertile women until very recently. This was achieved by simply not selling properties to anybody who was not acceptable. The result today is that Westray is the most vibrant and successful of the Northern Isles and remains 80% native. To experience what this means in terms of community and social custom a trip to Westray should be top of any visitors list.