Quick Facts and Figures about Argyll and Bute

This page has been put together to provide a selection of quick facts and figures about Argyll and Bute.

Our area and its population

Argyll and Bute covers a land area of 690,946 hectares and is the second largest local authority by area in Scotland, after Highland (Census 2022).
Argyll and Bute covers almost 9% of the total Scottish land area (Census 2022).
The population of Argyll and Bute is 87,810 (NRS 2023 Mid-Year Estimates).
Argyll and Bute has an estimated number of 42,610 households (National Records of Scotland's Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2023)
Argyll and Bute has the fifth sparsest population of the 32 Scottish local authorities, with an average population density of 13 persons per square kilometer. This compares to a Scottish average of 70 persons per hectare (NRS Mid Year 2023 Estimates).
The largest settlement in Argyll and Bute is Helensburgh, with a population of 15,160 (Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland).
47.6% of Argyll and Bute’s population live in areas classified by the Scottish Government as ‘rural’ (Scottish Government Urban-Rural Classification 2020).
43.2% of Argyll and Bute’s population live in areas classified as ‘remote rural’; 4.4% live in areas classified as ‘accessible rural’.
79.7% of Argyll and Bute’s population live within 1km of the coast. 96.5% of Argyll and Bute’s population live between 0 and 10km of the coast (Scottish Coastal Forum (2002).

There are 28 inhabited islands in Argyll and Bute (Census 2022). These are: Bute; Coll; Colonsay; Danna; Easdale; Eilean da Mheinn; Erraid; Gigha; Gometra; Inchtavannach; Innischonan; Iona; Islay; Jura; Kerrera; Lismore; Luing; Mull; Oronsay; Seil; Shuna; Tiree; Ulva; Rubha nan Gall; Rubha Fiola; Eilean Buidhe; Eilean Loain; Eriska.
Approximately 17.5% of Argyll and Bute’s population live on islands (Census 2022).

Average gross weekly pay for full-time workers in Argyll and Bute is £653. This compares to a Scottish average of £702 and a British average of £682 (NOMIS 2024) Figures relate to the median earnings for employees living in the area.
75% of Argyll and Bute residents are economically active, on par with the Scottish average of 77.1% (NOMIS 2024)
In 2024 48% of employee jobs in Argyll and Bute are ‘Managers, Professional and Associated Professional Occupations'. This compares to 50% for Scotland and 52% for Great Britain (NOMIS 2024).

Thirteen data zones in Argyll and Bute are included in the 20% most overall deprived data zones in Scotland. These ten are all located in towns Helensburgh, Dunoon, Rothesay, Campbeltown and Oban (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2020).
None of Argyll and Bute’s rural data zones fall into the 20% most overall deprived data zones in Scotland (SIMD 2020).
SIMD 2020 ranked fourteen data zones in Argyll and Bute among the 20% most income deprived data zones in Scotland. These are all located in towns Rothesay, Dunoon, Campbeltown, Helensburgh and Oban.
SIMD 2020 ranked 22 data zones in Argyll and Bute are in the 20% most employment deprived data zones in Scotland. These are all located in towns Rothesay, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Campbeltown, Oban, Lochgilphead and Port Bannatyne.
52 of Argyll and Bute’s 125 data zones (42%) are amongst the 20% most geographically access deprived data zones in Scotland.

The busiest ferry route in Scotland in terms of passengers and vehicles carried is the service between Gourock – Dunoon route. The route is operated by Western Ferries which carried 1.2 million passengers in 2022. There were 610,000 cars carried on this route and 27,8000 commercial vehicles and buses in 2022 (Scottish Transport Statistics 2023).
Ferries operated by Argyll and Bute Council carried 167,000 passengers, and 51,000 vehicles in 2022 (Scottish Transport Statistics 2023).
There are 2,582 km (1,605 miles) of roads in Argyll and Bute, 4.5% of Scotland’s total road network (Scottish Transport Statistics 2023).
There are 14 railway stations in Argyll and Bute: Cardross; Craigendoran; Helensburgh Central; Helensburgh Upper; Garelochhead; Arrochar and Tarbet; Ardlui; Bridge of Orchy; Dalmally; Loch Awe; Falls of Cruachan; Taynuilt; Connel Ferry; Oban.

Data verified: October 2024