SCOTLAND · PEOPLE, PLACES & SERVICES

Shetland · NHS health board

Population, health and care services for Shetland, Scotland, with dated sources and counting notes.

Population and demographics

Mid-2025 population estimate: 22,710 people.

Population by age and sex
Age group	Male	Female	Total
0–5	601 (2.6%)	554 (2.4%)	1,155 (5.1%)
6–23	2,428 (10.7%)	2,134 (9.4%)	4,562 (20.1%)
24–66	6,128 (27.0%)	6,153 (27.1%)	12,281 (54.1%)
67+	2,247 (9.9%)	2,465 (10.9%)	4,712 (20.7%)
All ages	11,404 (50.2%)	11,306 (49.8%)	22,710 (100.0%)

Every percentage is a share of the total area population. Percentages are rounded and may not sum to 100%. Age endpoints are inclusive. Council and health-board figures describe the same population and must not be added together.

Source: NRS population estimates via Public Health Scotland

Population projections, 2022–2047

The 2022-based principal projection is a trend-based scenario, not a prediction. Its 2022 base is separate from the mid-2025 estimates above; the series are not joined. Published 2025-09-30.

Source: National Records of Scotland projections

Projected population: selected years
Year	Male	Female	Total
2022	11,531	11,489	23,020
2030	11,514	11,619	23,133
2035	11,356	11,534	22,890
2040	11,170	11,454	22,624
2047	10,907	11,330	22,237

All annual projections, 2022–2047

2022-based projected population
Year	Male	Female	Total
2022	11,531	11,489	23,020
2023	11,571	11,548	23,119
2024	11,588	11,587	23,175
2025	11,594	11,612	23,206
2026	11,593	11,632	23,225
2027	11,582	11,629	23,211
2028	11,562	11,626	23,188
2029	11,539	11,621	23,160
2030	11,514	11,619	23,133
2031	11,492	11,607	23,099
2032	11,457	11,584	23,041
2033	11,421	11,566	22,987
2034	11,390	11,556	22,946
2035	11,356	11,534	22,890
2036	11,314	11,524	22,838
2037	11,276	11,512	22,788
2038	11,239	11,491	22,730
2039	11,204	11,469	22,673
2040	11,170	11,454	22,624
2041	11,134	11,433	22,567
2042	11,099	11,417	22,516
2043	11,063	11,398	22,461
2044	11,027	11,386	22,413
2045	10,988	11,363	22,351
2046	10,943	11,345	22,288
2047	10,907	11,330	22,237

Health and care services

Counts describe listed practices or services at their recorded locations, not the number of buildings, staff or available appointments. The categories are separate and are not combined into a health-services grand total.

GP practices

Listed records: 9.

Source: Public Health Scotland · 2026-07-01

Original publication

Practices counted once at their published main address; branch surgeries are not separately counted. Registered patients may live outside this council. Types describe the GP contract. Practice websites are not supplied in this release.

Browse GP practices (9)

Bixter Health Centre
2C
Bixter Health Centre, Bixter, Shetland, ZE2 9NA
Brae Medical Practice
2C
Brae Medical Practice, Brae, Shetland, ZE2 9QJ
Hillswick Health Centre
17C
Hillswick Health Centre, West Ayre, Hillswick, Shetland, ZE2 9RW
Lerwick Health Centre
2C
Lerwick Health Centre, South Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0RB
Levenwick Health Centre
2C
Levenwick Health Centre, Gord, Levenwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HX
Scalloway Health Centre LLP
2C
Scalloway Health Centre LLP, Scalloway, Shetland, ZE1 0TN
Unst Health Centre
2C
Unst Health Centre, Baltasound, Unst, ZE2 9DY
Whalsay Health Centre
2C
Whalsay Health Centre, Symbister, Whalsay, Shetland, ZE2 9AE
Yell Health Centre
2C
Yell Health Centre, Reafirth, Mid Yell, Shetland, ZE2 9BX

NHS dental practices

Listed records: 2.

Source: Public Health Scotland · 2026-03-31

Original publication

Active NHS dental practices at the snapshot date; may also offer private care. Counts practices, not individual dentists. Inclusion does not mean the practice is accepting new NHS patients. Registration counts are not council resident counts.

Browse NHS dental practices (2)

4 MARKET STREET
NHS dental practice
LERWICK, SHETLAND, ZE1 0JN
BRAE DENTAL CLINIC
NHS dental practice
BRAE HEALTH CENTRE, BRAE, SHETLAND, ZE2 9QJ

Care homes

Listed records: 14.

Source: Care Inspectorate · 2026-08-31

Original publication

Active registered Care Home Services, including adult and children’s services. Counts are services, not necessarily separate buildings. Registered places are capacity, not occupancy. Contact details withheld by the source remain withheld. Individual website links are not supplied in the export.

Browse Care homes (14)

Children and Young Peoples Residential Services (Stura)
Local Authority · Children & Young People
Contact details withheld by the source.
Children's Residential Services (23 Grodians)
Local Authority · Children & Young People
Contact details withheld by the source.
Edward Thomason & Taing Support Services
Local Authority · Older People
Seafield Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0WZ
Fernlea, The Wishart Anderson (Care Home)
Local Authority · Older People
Marrister, Symbister, Whalsay, Shetland, ZE2 9AE
Isleshavn (Care Home)
Local Authority · Older People
Isleshavn Care Centre, Mid Yell, Shetland, ZE2 9BT
Montfield Support Services
Local Authority · Older People
Burgh Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LA
Newcraigielea
Local Authority · Learning Disabilities
Seafield Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0WZ
Nordalea (Care Home)
Local Authority · Older People
Nordalea Care Centre, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, ZE2 9DX
North Haven (Care Home)
Local Authority · Older People
North Haven Care Centre, Brae, Shetland, ZE2 9TY
Overtonlea (Care Home)
Local Authority · Older People
Overtonlea Care Centre, Levenwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HX
Short Breaks for Children
Local Authority · Children & Young People
Contact details withheld by the source.
Walter & Joan Gray (Care Home)
Voluntary or Not for Profit · Older People
Main Street, Scalloway, Shetland, ZE1 0XJ
Wastview (Care Home)
Local Authority · Older People
Wastview Care Centre, Walls, Shetland, ZE2 9PF
Windybrae
Local Authority · Children & Young People
Contact details withheld by the source.

NHS hospitals

Listed records: 1.

Source: Public Health Scotland · 2026-09-03

Original publication

Current NHS hospital-location records, including non-acute hospitals and specialist/resource centres classified in this reference file. Private hospitals are excluded. Hospital types and individual websites are not supplied in this release.

Browse NHS hospitals (1)

Gilbert Bain Hospital
Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0TB

NHS workforce

Census: 2026-06-30 · Published: 2026-09-01

Board total: 905 staff; 738.78 whole-time equivalents (WTE).

Headcounts are distinct within each group; one person may appear in more than one group. Do not add group headcounts or board headcounts. WTE is rounded for display.

Workforce by staff group
Staff group	Headcount	WTE
Nursing & midwifery	290	237.53
Administrative services	248	207.37
Support services	98	74.83
Medical & dental	80	56.03
Allied health professions	62	52.12
Medical & dental support	50	40.43
Other therapeutic services	39	34.41
Healthcare science	29	24.33
Personal & social care	15	11.72

Directorate data are unavailable in this export; service-delivery location reporting is paused by the publisher. Medical specialties and other staff subgroups remain available in the map and downloadable workforce file.

Source: NHS Education for Scotland / Public Services Delivery Scotland

Constituent councils

Shetland Islands