Scottish Islands Typology: overview 2024

Primary Author or Creator:
Kirsten Gow
Publisher:
Scottish Government
Alternative Published Date
2024
Type of Resource:
Report
Fast Facts

A Typology of Scottish islands to improve data and policy formation

More details

The Scottish Government Scottish Islands Typology (2024) illustrates the diverse nature of Scotland’s islands and provides a new classification system which policy makers may wish to use when considering the impact of their work on island communities. The development of this typology supports the commitment in the National Islands Plan (Scottish Government, 2019) to improve available data about islands to help inform action and policy to support the needs of islands.

The typology identifies ten island types, based on comparisons of population, local amenities, and access to mainland Scotland via ferry:

  • Connected Independent Islands
  • Independent Hub Islands
  • Independent Outer Isles
  • Reliant Inner Isles
  • Reliant Outer Isles
  • Semi-Reliant Isles
  • Outpost Islands
  • Mainland-Connected Islands
  • Unserviced Islands
  • Previously Inhabited Islands
Keywords
English