List of islands of the British Isles

This page is a list of the larger islands that form the British Isles, listing area and population data. The total area of the islands is 315,134 km². Great Britain and Ireland between them account for 95.6% of this area, leaving 4.4% or an area of 13,950 km² of the remaining islands. The largest of the other islands are to be found in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland to the north, and Anglesey and the Isle of Man between Great Britain and Ireland. Also included are the Channel Islands, not strictly part of the British Isles archipelago as they are positioned off the French coast of Normandy, but traditionally included because of their political connection with the United Kingdom. This inclusion, in part, has resulted in the British Isles naming dispute.

Number of permanently inhabited islands (besides the two main islands):

The Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man are British Crown Dependencies, while Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland are constituent countries of the United Kingdom.

NameArea (km²) Population Country
Great Britain216,77757,000,000[1] United Kingdom (England, Scotland & Wales)
Ireland84,4066,000,000[1]Republic of Ireland & United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
NameArea (km²)Rank (area) Population[2]Rank (pop.)Island Group / LocationCountry
Lewis and Harris[3] 2,17903 19,91811Outer HebridesScotland
Skye[3]1,656049,23217Inner HebridesScotland
Shetland Mainland[3]9690517,55012Shetland IslandsScotland
Mull[3]875062,66722Inner HebridesScotland
Anglesey (including Holy Island) 7140769,000[1]07Irish SeaWales
Islay[3] 620083,45721Inner HebridesScotland
Isle of Man[4] 5720980,05606Irish SeaIsle of Man
Orkney Mainland[3] 5231015,31514Orkney IslandsScotland
Arran[3] 432115,04520Firth of ClydeScotland
Isle of Wight[5] 38112132,73104English ChannelEngland
Jura36713188—Inner HebridesScotland
South Uist[3] 320141,81825Outer HebridesScotland
North Uist[3] 303151,27128Outer HebridesScotland
Yell2121695734Shetland IslandsScotland
Achill Island[6] 147172,62023County MayoRepublic of Ireland
Hoy14318272—Orkney IslandsScotland
Bute[3] 122197,22818Firth of ClydeScotland
Unst1212072037Shetland IslandsScotland
Jersey[7] 1162189,30005Channel IslandsJersey
Rùm1052222—Small IslesScotland
Isle of Sheppey[8] 942337,85209KentEngland
Benbecula[3] 82241,21929Outer HebridesScotland
Tiree782577036Inner HebridesScotland
Coll7726164—Inner HebridesScotland
Guernsey[9] 652759,71008Channel IslandsGuernsey
Raasay6428192—Inner HebridesScotland
Barra[3] 59291,07831Outer HebridesScotland
Sanday503047839Orkney IslandsScotland
South Ronaldsay503145840Orkney IslandsScotland
Rousay4932212—Orkney IslandsScotland
Westray473356338Orkney IslandsScotland
Fetlar413486—Shetland IslandsScotland
Colonsay4135108—Inner HebridesScotland
Holy Island, Anglesey393613,57915AngleseyWales
Stronsay3337343—Orkney IslandsScotland
Inis Mór313882435Aran IslandsRepublic of Ireland
Eigg303967—Small IslesScotland
Shapinsay3040300—Orkney IslandsScotland
Bressay2841384—Shetland IslandsScotland
Eday2742121—Orkney IslandsScotland
Hayling Island[10] 274316,88713HampshireEngland
Foulness Island2644212—EssexEngland
Scalpay254510—Inner HebridesScotland
Gorumna[6] 24461,01033Galway, ConnemaraRepublic of Ireland
Portsea Island2447147,08803HampshireEngland
Lismore2448146—Inner HebridesScotland
Great Bernera2149233—Outer HebridesScotland
Ulva205016—Inner HebridesScotland
Whalsay[3] 20511,03432Shetland IslandsScotland
Canvey Island[11] 195237,47910EssexEngland
Mersea Island[12] 18537,18219EssexEngland
Muckle Roe1854104—Shetland IslandsScotland
Walney Island[13]13—11,38816 FurnessEngland
Great Cumbrae[3] 12—1,43427 Firth of ClydeScotland
Alderney[14] 8—2,29424 Channel IslandsGuernsey
St Mary's[15] 6—1,66626 Isles of ScillyEngland
Lundy4—28—DevonEngland
Thorney Island[16] ——1,07930 West SussexEngland
Bardsey Island[17]2—4—GwyneddWales

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Approximate population figure
  2. ↑ Population figures are from 2001 Census, except: Isle of Portland from 2005; Achill, Gorumna, Isle of Man, Jersey all from 2006.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 General Register Office for Scotland – Statistics for Inhabited Islands
  4. ↑ Isle of Man Census 2006 (excluding the population of 2 living on the Calf of Man)
  5. ↑ National Statistics – Isle of Wight (Local Authority). Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Census 2006 – Table 11 – Population of Inhabited Islands off the Coast (PDF)
  7. ↑ Jersey Statistics Unit
  8. ↑ National Statistics – Leysdown and Warden (Ward), Minster Cliffs (Ward), Queenborough and Halfway (Ward), Sheerness East (Ward), Sheerness West (Ward) and Sheppey Central (Ward)
  9. ↑ States of Guernsey – Facts and Figures Booklet 2007 (excluding the parish of Herm and Jethou)
  10. ↑ National Statistics – Hayling East (Ward) and Hayling West (Ward)
  11. ↑ National Statistics – Canvey Island Central (Ward), East (Ward), North (Ward), South (Ward), West (Ward) and Winter Gardens (Ward)
  12. ↑ National Statistics – West Mersea CP (Parish) and East Mersea CP (Parish)
  13. ↑ National Statistics – Walney North (Ward) and Walney South (Ward)
  14. ↑ Alderney Census Report 2001
  15. ↑ National Statistics – St. Mary's (Ward). Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
  16. ↑ National Statistics – West Thorney CP (Parish). Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
  17. ↑ Article on Bardsey Island residents. Guardian. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.