Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 2 min4:29 am – 10:31 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 36 min9:09 am – 3:44 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,864 residentsin the Benbecula and North Uist census areaMedian age 51.81,387 households75% of homes owner-occupied55% owned outright16% social rented, 7% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.0% unemployment rate62% of adults are economically active, 1,482 in work, 28% retiredMain industries: health and social work 13%, public administration and defence 11%, farming, forestry and fishing 10%Getting to work: 30% work from home, 62% go by car, 1% take public transport, 5% walk or cycle54% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages31% of adults hold a degree or higher18% have no qualifications, 9% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 89%, Gaelic 9%, other languages 2%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: highs 17°C, lows 11°CColdest month February: highs 8°C, lows 3°C1,376 mm of rain a year, 39 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October21 days of air frost, 1 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Earthquakes7 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 16 Sep 200446 mi away, Island of RaasayMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 29 Oct 201838 mi away, Skye, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.8 · PM2.5 3.0 · PM10 5.2 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband11% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband69% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)3.4% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)1,803 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation11 m36 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -2 to 109 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalUist & Barra Hospital6.1 miGP surgeryOut Of Hours Centre (Uist)6.1 miPharmacyBenbecula Medical Practice6.2 miDentistUist & Barra Dental Hub6.2 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Getting aroundAirportBenbecula Airport BEB5.7 miFerryLochmaddy North Uist Ferry Terminal8.0 miBus stops6 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the HS6 postcode district.
