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 87,920 (NRS 2022 Mid-Year Estimates).
Argyll and Bute has an estimated number of 42,664 households (National Records of Scotland's Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2022)
Argyll and Bute has the third 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 (Mid Year 2022 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 23 inhabited islands in Argyll and Bute (Census 2011). 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 (Luing); Tiree; Ulva.
Approximately 17.1% of Argyll and Bute’s population live on islands (Census 2011).

Average gross weekly pay for full-time workers in Argyll and Bute is £586. This compares to a Scottish average of £640 and a British average of £658 (NOMIS 2024) Figures relate to the median earnings for employees living in the area.
74.7% of Argyll and Bute residents are economically active, on par with the Scottish average of 77.9% (NOMIS 2024)
In 2023 32.9% of employee jobs in Argyll and Bute are in ‘public administration, retail and health’. This compares to 31.2% for Scotland and 27.1% for Great Britain (NOMIS 2023).

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 849,700 passengers in 2020. There were 438,500 cars carried on this route and 26,000 commercial vehicles and buses in 2020 (Scottish Transport Statistics 2021).
Ferries operated by Argyll and Bute Council carried 90,300 passengers, and 31,850 vehicles in 2020 (Scottish Transport Statistics 2021).
There are 2,583 km (1,617 miles) of roads in Argyll and Bute, 4.5% of Scotland’s total road network (Scottish Transport Statistics 2021).
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: March 2024