Our population and people

Minorities

2001

5,826 ethnic population 
= 2% of total Highland population

2011

16,561 ethnic population 
= 5.2% of total Highland population

Language

5.4% of population speak Gaelic

Main other languages spoken include Polish, Spanish, Arabic and Latvian.
(from requests for interpretation in 2021)

Life expectancy

77.6 years - male

81.8 years - female

Major causes of death

• cancers
• circulatory system diseases
• respiratory system diseases
• dementia

Child poverty

23.5% children aged 0-15 live in poverty

24.3% Scottish average

Health inequality and deprivation

9% of population live in deprived areas

Education

95.7% - 1 or more pass at SCQF level 4
96.2% Scottish average

64.9% 1 or more pass at SCQF level 6
66% Scottish average

Unemployment rate

3.4% of over-16s

3.8% Scottish average

Health care workforce

10,745 - NHS Highland

4,940 - independent sector

Ethnicity

16.52% BAME

68.75% white

14.73% not stated

Gender identity

66% identify as female

32% identify as male

2% don't identify

Age profile

under 20: 0.3%
20-24: 3.3%
25-29: 7.4%
30-34: 8.9%
35-39: 9.7%
40-44: 11.4%
45-49: 12.5%
50-54: 17.1%
55-59: 16.4%
60-64: 9.8%
65+: 2.5%