OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Orkney Islands

Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.

Orkney Islands supports 11,495 workplace jobs with median earnings broadly in line with the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 306th of 391 local authorities.

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Population

22,020

↑ 3.8%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

11,495

Median Annual Earnings

£31,737

195th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£264,315

↑ 1.8%195th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£57,152

306th of 391

England: £63,763

Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026

Demographics & Population

Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.

Mid-year population estimate of 22,020. Population has grown by 3.8% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%. Working-age population (58.6%) is below the England average.

Population

22,020

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

58.6%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

15.6%

Over 65

25.8%

Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £31,737 are in line with the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£31,737

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

N/A

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

Gender pay gap data is not available for this area (likely suppressed due to small sample size).

Gender Pay Gap

N/A

England: 28.2%

Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026

Industry Structure

Location quotients and shift-share analysis for Orkney Islands's economy.

The most specialised sectors are Agriculture, forestry & fishing (LQ 19.17) and Mining & quarrying (LQ 9.24). Agriculture, forestry & fishing shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Administrative & support services underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Agriculture, forestry & fishing

England: LQ 19.17

Fastest Growing

Agriculture, forestry & fishing

Specialised Sectors

7

England: LQ > 1.25

Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for Orkney Islands vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £264,315 is below the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.

Median Price

£264,315

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

12-Month Change

1.8%

Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026

Benchmark to national figures

Comparing Orkney Islands to Scotland and Great Britain averages.

Orkney Islands's median earnings of £31,737 are in line with the Scotland average. The claimant rate of 1.9% is lower than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£31,737

Scotland: £32,365(2% below)
GB: £32,401(2% below)

Median house price

£264,315

Scotland: £269,541(2% below)
GB: £269,841(2% below)

Claimant rate

1.9%

Scotland: 2.8%(0.9pp lower)
GB: 3.5%(1.6pp lower)

GVA per job

£57,152

Scotland: £61,363(7% below)
GB: £61,125(6% below)

Working-age population

58.6%

Scotland: 61.4%(2.8pp lower)
GB: 61.9%(3.3pp lower)

Population change (5yr)

3.8%

Scotland: 4.0%
GB: 10.3%(6.5pp lower)

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (Scotland: 32 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.