Wikipedia:WikiProject Scottish Islands/Islands by population density

This is a list of inhabited islands in Scotland showing the population density of each one.

Data

 * Population data is from the 2001 census save those indicated as below.
 * Area data for offshore islands is from pp. 502-503 or the section tables. Islands marked with an asterisk are those for which he does not provide data. Area data for freshwater islands is from the census.
 * (E) Indicates an estimate - no record provided by Census or Haswell-Smith.
 * F = populated freshwater island.
 * ? Populated but no record provided by Census.

Hoy and South Walls are amalgamated in this list, although an estimate for the latter alone is provided.

Usage
In the absence of an existing reference work that provides all of the information in the density column below, great care must be taken in using the information.

The subject was aired at the No Original Research Noticeboard in 2009 and the comment made there was that "this is the kind of case where you can use your own judgment, certainly if these matters are not disputable or disputed" and the subject is marked as "resolved".

With the exception of the items marked "(E)" the population and area data is not disputed (although there are small discrepancies between authorities for the latter). There is thus no reason not to add the density information to an article or infobox (except perhaps in some of those cases).

However, this should be referenced with the source of both the area and population data. Rankings are another matter and statements such as "this is the third most densely populated island in the Outer Hebrides" should be avoided unless a reliable source corroborates the information. The data for very small islands or those with very low numbers of residents may need interpretation.

Having said that, there follows some headline information.

Key data

 * Most densely populated islands:
 * 1) Easdale
 * 2) Great Cumbrae
 * 3) West Burra


 * Least densely populated islands:
 * 1) Rùm
 * 2) South Rona
 * 3) Shuna, Slate Islands

Density by island Group