Highland: population and statistics
Highland has a population of 237,260 (2025) across 26,158.4 km², or 9.1 people per km². It ranks 93 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +1.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 237,260 residents
- 26,158.4 km²
- 9 people/km²
Highland in numbers
Population of Highland over time
Highland had 234,060 residents in 2015 and 237,260 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 233,910 |
| 2021 | 235,850 |
| 2022 | 235,710 |
| 2023 | 236,830 |
| 2024 | 237,570 |
| 2025 | 237,260 |
All indicators for Highland
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | Highland | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.1% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 74 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.1% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 318 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Highland | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £221,136 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 250 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 6.1% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 38 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Highland | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 13,920 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 56 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 58.7 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 44 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 11,105 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 62 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £39,740 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 144 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Highland | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 72.6% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 262 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.3% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 288 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Highland ranks 7 by population.
Share of residents aged under 16: 15.1% in Highland, compared with an average of 15.8% in Scotland and 17.7% across the UK.
House price change over 12 months: 6.1% in Highland, compared with an average of 3.0% in Scotland and 1.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 16.7% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
Business sectors: Highland
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing16.7% ×3.7
- Wholesale and retail trade13.4% ×0.8
- Construction12.7% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services11.6% ×1.6
- Professional, scientific and technical8.9% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services6.4% ×0.8
- Health and social work4.9% ×0.9
- Manufacturing4.4% ×1.0
Where is Highland?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Highland?
Highland has 237,260 residents (2025), ranking 93 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Highland?
Highland covers 26,158.4 km², with a density of 9 people per km².
Is the population of Highland growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Highland went from 234,060 to 237,260, a change of +1.4%.
Where is Highland?
Highland is in Scotland (region). Latitude 57.500, longitude −5.000.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Highland?
In Highland, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 15.1% (2025), ranking 318 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
House price change over 12 months: what is the figure for Highland?
In Highland, “House price change over 12 months” stands at 6.1% (2026), ranking 38 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is 2.2%.
Which local authorities border Highland?
The nearest to Highland are Moray (105 km), Na h-Eileanan Siar (124 km), Stirling (145 km), Perth and Kinross (152 km), Angus (156 km).