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Highland and Orkney Islands

237,570 and 22,000 residents (mid-2024).

Highland is higher than Orkney Islands on 18 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 16 of 22 per resident and 22 of 22 in total.

On 7 of 22 measures, which area is higher depends on whether you count per person or in total. Choose a way of counting below to see each one.

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Highland and Orkney Islands on a map of the local authorities of Great Britain
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Prices

Money in 2026-27 prices, adjusted for inflation so that years can be compared2026-27 prices, using CPI inflation, adjusted for inflation so that years can be comparedcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.

Per person in the age group

Highland is higher on 18 of 22 measures, and Orkney Islands on 4. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Highland Orkney Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Highland £4,697, Orkney Islands £4,381Orkney Islands: £4,381Highland: £4,697Orkney Islands: £4,399Highland: £4,717Orkney Islands: £4,155Highland: £4,456

    £4,697£4,717£4,456Highland is higher£4,381£4,399£4,155

  2. Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £12,409, Orkney Islands £11,866Orkney Islands: £11,866Highland: £12,409Orkney Islands: £11,916Highland: £12,462Orkney Islands: £11,255Highland: £11,771

    £12,409£12,462£11,771Highland is higherDepends on how you count£11,866£11,916£11,255

  3. Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £1,725, Orkney Islands £1,374Orkney Islands: £1,374Highland: £1,725Orkney Islands: £1,380Highland: £1,732Orkney Islands: £1,304Highland: £1,636

    £1,725£1,732£1,636Highland is higher£1,374£1,380£1,304

  4. State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £11,412, Orkney Islands £10,889Orkney Islands: £10,889Highland: £11,412Orkney Islands: £10,936Highland: £11,461Orkney Islands: £10,329Highland: £10,825

    £11,412£11,461£10,825Highland is higherDepends on how you count£10,889£10,936£10,329

  5. Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £356, Orkney Islands £323Orkney Islands: £323Highland: £356Orkney Islands: £324Highland: £358Orkney Islands: £306Highland: £338

    £356£358£338Highland is higher£323£324£306

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £621, Orkney Islands £636Orkney Islands: £636Highland: £621Orkney Islands: £639Highland: £624Orkney Islands: £603Highland: £589

    £621£624£589Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£636£639£603

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £19, Orkney Islands £18Orkney Islands: £18Highland: £19Orkney Islands: £18Highland: £20Orkney Islands: £17Highland: £18

    £19£20£18Highland is higher£18£18£17

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £495, Orkney Islands £426Orkney Islands: £426Highland: £495Orkney Islands: £428Highland: £497Orkney Islands: £404Highland: £470

    £495£497£470Highland is higher£426£428£404

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £141, Orkney Islands £123Orkney Islands: £123Highland: £141Orkney Islands: £124Highland: £142Orkney Islands: £117Highland: £134

    £141£142£134Highland is higher£123£124£117

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £101, Orkney Islands £84Orkney Islands: £84Highland: £101Orkney Islands: £85Highland: £101Orkney Islands: £80Highland: £96

    £101£101£96Highland is higher£84£85£80

  11. Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £1,294, Orkney Islands £956Orkney Islands: £956Highland: £1,294Orkney Islands: £960Highland: £1,300Orkney Islands: £907Highland: £1,228

    £1,294£1,300£1,228Highland is higher£956£960£907

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Highland £147, Orkney Islands £129Orkney Islands: £129Highland: £147Orkney Islands: £130Highland: £148Orkney Islands: £123Highland: £139

    £147£148£139Highland is higher£129£130£123

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £320, Orkney Islands £329Orkney Islands: £329Highland: £320Orkney Islands: £330Highland: £322Orkney Islands: £312Highland: £304

    £320£322£304Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£329£330£312

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £3.50, Orkney Islands £0.97Orkney Islands: £0.97Highland: £3.50Orkney Islands: £0.97Highland: £3.52Orkney Islands: £0.92Highland: £3.32

    £3.50£3.52£3.32Highland is higher£0.97£0.97£0.92

  15. Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £5.55, Orkney Islands £4.01Orkney Islands: £4.01Highland: £5.55Orkney Islands: £4.02Highland: £5.57Orkney Islands: £3.80Highland: £5.26

    £5.55£5.57£5.26Highland is higher£4.01£4.02£3.80

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Highland £7.73, Orkney Islands £8.00Orkney Islands: £8.00Highland: £7.73Orkney Islands: £8.04Highland: £7.76Orkney Islands: £7.59Highland: £7.33

    £7.73£7.76£7.33Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£8.00£8.04£7.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Highland 1,002.6, Orkney Islands 995.3Orkney Islands: 995.3Highland: 1,002.6

    1,002.6Highland is higherDepends on how you count995.3

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Highland 91.3, Orkney Islands 74.3Orkney Islands: 74.3Highland: 91.3

    91.3Highland is higher74.3

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Highland 137.8, Orkney Islands 142.7Orkney Islands: 142.7Highland: 137.8

    137.8Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count142.7

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Highland 77.4, Orkney Islands 63.6Orkney Islands: 63.6Highland: 77.4

    77.4Highland is higher63.6

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Highland 162.8, Orkney Islands 128.7Orkney Islands: 128.7Highland: 162.8

    162.8Highland is higher128.7

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Highland 22.5, Orkney Islands 19.0Orkney Islands: 19.0Highland: 22.5

    22.5Highland is higher19.0

Show the numbers
Highland and Orkney Islands, per person in the age group
MeasureHighlandOrkney IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,697£4,717£4,456Estimated£4,381£4,399£4,155EstimatedHighland
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,409£12,462£11,771Estimated£11,866£11,916£11,255EstimatedHighland
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,725£1,732£1,636Estimated£1,374£1,380£1,304EstimatedHighland
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,412£11,461£10,825£10,889£10,936£10,329Highland
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£356£358£338£323£324£306Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£621£624£589Estimated£636£639£603EstimatedOrkney Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£19£20£18Estimated£18£18£17EstimatedHighland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£495£497£470Estimated£426£428£404EstimatedHighland
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£141£142£134Estimated£123£124£117EstimatedHighland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£101£101£96Estimated£84£85£80EstimatedHighland
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,294£1,300£1,228£956£960£907Highland
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£147£148£139£129£130£123Highland
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£320£322£304£329£330£312Orkney Islands
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£3.50£3.52£3.32£0.97£0.97£0.92Highland
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£5.55£5.57£5.26£4.01£4.02£3.80Highland
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£7.73£7.76£7.33Estimated£8.00£8.04£7.59EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,002.6995.3Highland
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202691.374.3Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026137.8142.7Orkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202677.463.6Highland
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026162.8128.7Highland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202622.5Estimated19.0EstimatedHighland

Per resident

Highland is higher on 16 of 22 measures, and Orkney Islands on 6. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Highland Orkney Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Highland £4,697, Orkney Islands £4,381Orkney Islands: £4,381Highland: £4,697Orkney Islands: £4,399Highland: £4,717Orkney Islands: £4,155Highland: £4,456

    £4,697£4,717£4,456Highland is higher£4,381£4,399£4,155

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Highland £2,872, Orkney Islands £2,891Orkney Islands: £2,891Highland: £2,872Orkney Islands: £2,903Highland: £2,885Orkney Islands: £2,742Highland: £2,725

    £2,872£2,885£2,725Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£2,891£2,903£2,742

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Highland £1,034, Orkney Islands £803Orkney Islands: £803Highland: £1,034Orkney Islands: £806Highland: £1,038Orkney Islands: £761Highland: £981

    £1,034£1,038£981Highland is higher£803£806£761

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Highland £2,642, Orkney Islands £2,653Orkney Islands: £2,653Highland: £2,642Orkney Islands: £2,664Highland: £2,653Orkney Islands: £2,516Highland: £2,506

    £2,642£2,653£2,506Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£2,653£2,664£2,516

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Highland £83, Orkney Islands £79Orkney Islands: £79Highland: £83Orkney Islands: £79Highland: £83Orkney Islands: £75Highland: £78

    £83£83£78Highland is higher£79£79£75

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £144, Orkney Islands £155Orkney Islands: £155Highland: £144Orkney Islands: £156Highland: £144Orkney Islands: £147Highland: £136

    £144£144£136Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£155£156£147

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Highland £4.51, Orkney Islands £4.30Orkney Islands: £4.30Highland: £4.51Orkney Islands: £4.32Highland: £4.53Orkney Islands: £4.08Highland: £4.28

    £4.51£4.53£4.28Highland is higher£4.30£4.32£4.08

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £495, Orkney Islands £426Orkney Islands: £426Highland: £495Orkney Islands: £428Highland: £497Orkney Islands: £404Highland: £470

    £495£497£470Highland is higher£426£428£404

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £141, Orkney Islands £123Orkney Islands: £123Highland: £141Orkney Islands: £124Highland: £142Orkney Islands: £117Highland: £134

    £141£142£134Highland is higher£123£124£117

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Highland £60, Orkney Islands £49Orkney Islands: £49Highland: £60Orkney Islands: £49Highland: £61Orkney Islands: £47Highland: £57

    £60£61£57Highland is higher£49£49£47

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Highland £776, Orkney Islands £559Orkney Islands: £559Highland: £776Orkney Islands: £561Highland: £779Orkney Islands: £530Highland: £736

    £776£779£736Highland is higher£559£561£530

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Highland £147, Orkney Islands £129Orkney Islands: £129Highland: £147Orkney Islands: £130Highland: £148Orkney Islands: £123Highland: £139

    £147£148£139Highland is higher£129£130£123

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Highland £192, Orkney Islands £192Orkney Islands: £192Highland: £192Orkney Islands: £193Highland: £193Orkney Islands: £182Highland: £182

    £192£193£182Highland is higherDepends on how you count£192£193£182

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Highland £2.10, Orkney Islands £0.57Orkney Islands: £0.57Highland: £2.10Orkney Islands: £0.57Highland: £2.11Orkney Islands: £0.54Highland: £1.99

    £2.10£2.11£1.99Highland is higher£0.57£0.57£0.54

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Highland £3.32, Orkney Islands £2.34Orkney Islands: £2.34Highland: £3.32Orkney Islands: £2.35Highland: £3.34Orkney Islands: £2.22Highland: £3.15

    £3.32£3.34£3.15Highland is higher£2.34£2.35£2.22

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Highland £7.73, Orkney Islands £8.00Orkney Islands: £8.00Highland: £7.73Orkney Islands: £8.04Highland: £7.76Orkney Islands: £7.59Highland: £7.33

    £7.73£7.76£7.33Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£8.00£8.04£7.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Highland 232.1, Orkney Islands 242.5Orkney Islands: 242.5Highland: 232.1

    232.1Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count242.5

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Highland 21.1, Orkney Islands 18.1Orkney Islands: 18.1Highland: 21.1

    21.1Highland is higher18.1

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Highland 31.9, Orkney Islands 34.8Orkney Islands: 34.8Highland: 31.9

    31.9Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count34.8

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Highland 77.4, Orkney Islands 63.6Orkney Islands: 63.6Highland: 77.4

    77.4Highland is higher63.6

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Highland 97.6, Orkney Islands 75.2Orkney Islands: 75.2Highland: 97.6

    97.6Highland is higher75.2

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Highland 13.5, Orkney Islands 11.1Orkney Islands: 11.1Highland: 13.5

    13.5Highland is higher11.1

Show the numbers
Highland and Orkney Islands, per resident
MeasureHighlandOrkney IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,697£4,717£4,456Estimated£4,381£4,399£4,155EstimatedHighland
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,872£2,885£2,725Estimated£2,891£2,903£2,742EstimatedOrkney Islands
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,034£1,038£981Estimated£803£806£761EstimatedHighland
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,642£2,653£2,506£2,653£2,664£2,516Orkney Islands
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£83£83£78£79£79£75Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£144£144£136Estimated£155£156£147EstimatedOrkney Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.51£4.53£4.28Estimated£4.30£4.32£4.08EstimatedHighland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£495£497£470Estimated£426£428£404EstimatedHighland
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£141£142£134Estimated£123£124£117EstimatedHighland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£60£61£57Estimated£49£49£47EstimatedHighland
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£776£779£736£559£561£530Highland
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£147£148£139£129£130£123Highland
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£192£193£182£192£193£182Highland
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£2.10£2.11£1.99£0.57£0.57£0.54Highland
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.32£3.34£3.15£2.34£2.35£2.22Highland
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£7.73£7.76£7.33Estimated£8.00£8.04£7.59EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026232.1242.5Orkney Islands
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202621.118.1Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202631.934.8Orkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202677.463.6Highland
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 202697.675.2Highland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202613.5Estimated11.1EstimatedHighland

Total

Highland is higher on 22 of 22 measures, and Orkney Islands on 0. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Highland Orkney Islands

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Highland £1.1bn, Orkney Islands £96.4mOrkney Islands: £96.4mHighland: £1.1bnOrkney Islands: £96.8mHighland: £1.1bnOrkney Islands: £91.4mHighland: £1.1bn

    £1.1bnHighland is higher£96.4m£96.8m£91.4m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Highland £682.4m, Orkney Islands £63.6mOrkney Islands: £63.6mHighland: £682.4mOrkney Islands: £63.9mHighland: £685.3mOrkney Islands: £60.3mHighland: £647.3m

    £682.4m£685.3m£647.3mHighland is higherDepends on how you count£63.6m£63.9m£60.3m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Highland £245.6m, Orkney Islands £17.7mOrkney Islands: £17.7mHighland: £245.6mOrkney Islands: £17.7mHighland: £246.6mOrkney Islands: £16.8mHighland: £232.9m

    £245.6m£246.6m£232.9mHighland is higher£17.7m£17.7m£16.8m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Highland £627.6m, Orkney Islands £58.4mOrkney Islands: £58.4mHighland: £627.6mOrkney Islands: £58.6mHighland: £630.2mOrkney Islands: £55.4mHighland: £595.3m

    £627.6m£630.2m£595.3mHighland is higherDepends on how you count£58.4m£58.6m£55.4m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Highland £19.6m, Orkney Islands £1.7mOrkney Islands: £1.7mHighland: £19.6mOrkney Islands: £1.7mHighland: £19.7mOrkney Islands: £1.6mHighland: £18.6m

    £19.6m£19.7m£18.6mHighland is higher£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Highland £34.2m, Orkney Islands £3.4mOrkney Islands: £3.4mHighland: £34.2mOrkney Islands: £3.4mHighland: £34.3mOrkney Islands: £3.2mHighland: £32.4m

    £34.2m£34.3m£32.4mHighland is higherDepends on how you count£3.4m£3.4m£3.2m

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Highland £1.1m, Orkney Islands £0.09mOrkney Islands: £0.09mHighland: £1.1mOrkney Islands: £0.10mHighland: £1.1mOrkney Islands: £0.09mHighland: £1.0m

    £1.1m£1.1m£1.0mHighland is higher£0.09m£0.10m£0.09m

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Highland £117.7m, Orkney Islands £9.4mOrkney Islands: £9.4mHighland: £117.7mOrkney Islands: £9.4mHighland: £118.2mOrkney Islands: £8.9mHighland: £111.6m

    £117.7m£118.2m£111.6mHighland is higher£9.4m£9.4m£8.9m

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Highland £33.5m, Orkney Islands £2.7mOrkney Islands: £2.7mHighland: £33.5mOrkney Islands: £2.7mHighland: £33.7mOrkney Islands: £2.6mHighland: £31.8m

    £33.5m£33.7m£31.8mHighland is higher£2.7m£2.7m£2.6m

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Highland £14.4m, Orkney Islands £1.1mOrkney Islands: £1.1mHighland: £14.4mOrkney Islands: £1.1mHighland: £14.4mOrkney Islands: £1.0mHighland: £13.6m

    £14.4m£14.4m£13.6mHighland is higher£1.1m£1.1m£1.0m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Highland £184.3m, Orkney Islands £12.3mOrkney Islands: £12.3mHighland: £184.3mOrkney Islands: £12.3mHighland: £185.1mOrkney Islands: £11.7mHighland: £174.8m

    £184.3m£185.1m£174.8mHighland is higher£12.3m£12.3m£11.7m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Highland £34.9m, Orkney Islands £2.8mOrkney Islands: £2.8mHighland: £34.9mOrkney Islands: £2.9mHighland: £35.0mOrkney Islands: £2.7mHighland: £33.1m

    £34.9m£35.0m£33.1mHighland is higher£2.8m£2.9m£2.7m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Highland £45.6m, Orkney Islands £4.2mOrkney Islands: £4.2mHighland: £45.6mOrkney Islands: £4.2mHighland: £45.8mOrkney Islands: £4.0mHighland: £43.3m

    £45.6m£45.8m£43.3mHighland is higherDepends on how you count£4.2m£4.2m£4.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Highland £0.50m, Orkney Islands £0.01mOrkney Islands: £0.01mHighland: £0.50mOrkney Islands: £0.01mHighland: £0.50mOrkney Islands: £0.01mHighland: £0.47m

    £0.50m£0.50m£0.47mHighland is higher£0.01m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Highland £0.79m, Orkney Islands £0.05mOrkney Islands: £0.05mHighland: £0.79mOrkney Islands: £0.05mHighland: £0.79mOrkney Islands: £0.05mHighland: £0.75m

    £0.79m£0.79m£0.75mHighland is higher£0.05m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Highland £1.8m, Orkney Islands £0.18mOrkney Islands: £0.18mHighland: £1.8mOrkney Islands: £0.18mHighland: £1.8mOrkney Islands: £0.17mHighland: £1.7m

    £1.8m£1.8m£1.7mHighland is higherDepends on how you count£0.18m£0.18m£0.17m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Highland 55,132, Orkney Islands 5,335Orkney Islands: 5,335Highland: 55,132

    55,132Highland is higherDepends on how you count5,335

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Highland 5,020, Orkney Islands 398Orkney Islands: 398Highland: 5,020

    5,020Highland is higher398

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Highland 7,575, Orkney Islands 765Orkney Islands: 765Highland: 7,575

    7,575Highland is higherDepends on how you count765

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Highland 18,395, Orkney Islands 1,400Orkney Islands: 1,400Highland: 18,395

    18,395Highland is higher1,400

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Highland 23,186, Orkney Islands 1,654Orkney Islands: 1,654Highland: 23,186

    23,186Highland is higher1,654

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Highland 3,202, Orkney Islands 244Orkney Islands: 244Highland: 3,202

    3,202Highland is higher244

Show the numbers
Highland and Orkney Islands, total
MeasureHighlandOrkney IslandsHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.1bnEstimated£96.4m£96.8m£91.4mEstimatedHighland
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£682.4m£685.3m£647.3mEstimated£63.6m£63.9m£60.3mEstimatedHighland
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£245.6m£246.6m£232.9mEstimated£17.7m£17.7m£16.8mEstimatedHighland
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£627.6m£630.2m£595.3m£58.4m£58.6m£55.4mHighland
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£19.6m£19.7m£18.6m£1.7m£1.7m£1.6mHighland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£34.2m£34.3m£32.4mEstimated£3.4m£3.4m£3.2mEstimatedHighland
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£1.1m£1.1m£1.0mEstimated£0.09m£0.10m£0.09mEstimatedHighland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£117.7m£118.2m£111.6mEstimated£9.4m£9.4m£8.9mEstimatedHighland
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£33.5m£33.7m£31.8mEstimated£2.7m£2.7m£2.6mEstimatedHighland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£14.4m£14.4m£13.6mEstimated£1.1m£1.1m£1.0mEstimatedHighland
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£184.3m£185.1m£174.8m£12.3m£12.3m£11.7mHighland
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£34.9m£35.0m£33.1m£2.8m£2.9m£2.7mHighland
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m£4.2m£4.2m£4.0mHighland
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.50m£0.50m£0.47m£0.01mHighland
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.79m£0.79m£0.75m£0.05mHighland
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.8m£1.8m£1.7mEstimated£0.18m£0.18m£0.17mEstimatedHighland
State Pensiontotal, March 202655,1325,335Highland
Pension Credittotal, March 20265,020398Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20267,575765Highland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202618,3951,400Highland
Universal Credittotal, May 202623,1861,654Highland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20263,202Estimated244EstimatedHighland

Sources

Each area's page lists the limits of its figures and where each one comes from.

  1. 1Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by local authority, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  2. 2Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by parliamentary constituency, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  3. 3Department for Work and Pensions. Stat-Xplore benefit caseloads and awards. Published 6 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  4. 4Social Security Scotland. Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  5. 5Social Security Scotland. Child Disability Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 17 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  6. 6Social Security Scotland. Pension Age Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  7. 7Social Security Scotland. Carer Support Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 10 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  8. 8Social Security Scotland. Winter heating benefits statistics for winter 2025/26. Published 18 May 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  9. 9Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by local authority (Nomis NM_2002_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  10. 10Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by 2024 parliamentary constituency (Nomis NM_2014_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  11. 11National Records of Scotland. Population estimates for other geographies, mid-2011 to mid-2024. Published 31 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.