Orkney Islands Council : Total Population

Total Population

Data cube chart.

Year Population 10 years earlier Current Total Population
1801 24,445 Show data context
1811 24,445 Show data context 23,238 Show data context
1821 23,238 Show data context 26,979 Show data context
1831 26,979 Show data context 28,847 Show data context
1841 28,847 Show data context 30,507 Show data context
1851 30,507 Show data context 31,455 Show data context
1861 31,455 Show data context 32,395 Show data context
1871 32,395 Show data context
1881 32,044 Show data context
1891 32,044 Show data context
1911 25,897 Show data context
1921 25,897 Show data context 24,111 Show data context
1931 24,111 Show data context 22,077 Show data context
1941 22,077 Show data context
1951 21,255 Show data context
1961 21,255 Show data context 18,747 Show data context
1971 18,747 Show data context 16,527 Show data context
1981 16,527 Show data context 18,339 Show data context
1991 18,339 Show data context 19,612 Show data context
2001 19,612 Show data context 19,245 Show data context
2011 21,349 Show data context
2021 21,977 Show data context
Date Source
1801 - 1851 1851 Census of Great Britain, Population tables 2, Table [1] , 'Population Abstract'
1811 - 2001 Census of Population
1861 1861 Census of Scotland, Ages, Table [5] , 'Ages of the Males and Females in the Town Districts'
1881 1881 Census of Scotland, Ages, Table [1] , 'Ages of the Males and Females for every Quinquennial Period of Life, for the Registration Divisions, Counties, and Districts of Scotland'
1911 1911 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 19 A, 'Conjugal Condition and Age-distribution of Population - Of City or County'
1921 1931 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 1 , 'Population of Burghs, Districts of Counties, and Civil Parishes'
1931 1931 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 21 , 'Quinquennial Age-Groups and Conjugal Condition (All Ages) - All Burghs and Districts of Counties'
1951 1951 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 15 , 'Quinquennial age-groups by conjugal condition (all ages)', for 'Burghs, Wards of Cities, Districts of Counties'
1961 1961 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 6 , 'Age and Martial Condition', for 'County, LB, SB, Districts of County, NT'
1971 UK Data Service, Census 1971 data (Tables SAS06 and SAS07)
1981 UK Data Service, Census 1981 data (Table SAS02: "Age and Marital Status: All Residents)
1991 Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table S02 Age and marital status: Residents [100%])
2001 National Records of Scotland, Scotland's Census (Table CAS001 Age by sex and whether living in household or communal establishment)
2011 National Records of Scotland, Scotland's Census (File LC1117SC.csv within Output_Area_blk.zip)
2021 National Records of Scotland, Scotland's Census (Table UV102b - Age (20) by sex)

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nCube definition


Total population at this Census, and for previous censuses. Where the latter appear, they are for the same area, so if there had been boundary changes they will differ from the population given for the same reporting unit by the previous census.


How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Orkney Islands Council through time | Historical Statistics on Population | Total Population, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10197247/cube/TOT_POP

Date accessed: 08th April 2026