Outer Hebrides

• The Outer Hebrides has a population of 27,400 people. Most live on the island of Lewis, one of the chain of 65 islands.
• Despite a small population increase in recent years, there has been an overall decline of more than 50% since 1901 when 46,000 lived on the islands. This decline is mainly due to outward migration. With limited opportunities, younger people have chosen to move away from the area in search of better-paid employment on the mainland.
• Social effects:

  • The number of school children is expected to fall over the next few years which may result in school closures.

  • With many younger people moving away there will be fewer people of

  working age living in the Outer Hebrides.

  • An increasingly ageing population with fewer young people to support then may lead to care issues in the future.
• Economic impacts:

  The UK and Scottish governments provide subsidies towards the costs of operating ferries and the maintenance of essential services. However, it is a struggle to maintain the economy and many of these services such as post offices are closing.
• Farming -

  • The main farming economy is breeding sheep on small farms called crofts.

  • Most crofts can only provide work for up to 2 days per week.
• Fishing –

  • In 1948 there were more than 900 fishing boats registered in the area ,

  by 2013 there were just a handful of boats catching lobsters and prawns.

  • Shellfish production has increased but boats are mainly owned by foreign companies.

  • The developments in fish farming have been limited due to concerns over the environment.
• Tourism –

  • Between 2007 and 2014 there was a 27% increase in visitors to the

  islands.

  • The current infrastructure is unable to support the scale of tourism

  needed to provide an alternative source of income.