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Highland and Shetland Islands

237,570 and 22,800 residents (mid-2024).

Highland is higher than Shetland Islands on 20 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 21 of 22 per resident and 22 of 22 in total.

On 2 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 Shetland Islands on a map of the local authorities of Great Britain
How to count
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 20 of 22 measures, and Shetland Islands on 2. 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 Shetland Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Highland £4,697, Shetland Islands £2,838Shetland Islands: £2,838Highland: £4,697Shetland Islands: £2,850Highland: £4,717Shetland Islands: £2,692Highland: £4,456

    £4,697£4,717£4,456Highland is higher£2,838£2,850£2,692

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £12,409, Shetland Islands £6,727Shetland Islands: £6,727Highland: £12,409Shetland Islands: £6,756Highland: £12,462Shetland Islands: £6,381Highland: £11,771

    £12,409£12,462£11,771Highland is higher£6,727£6,756£6,381

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £1,725, Shetland Islands £1,314Shetland Islands: £1,314Highland: £1,725Shetland Islands: £1,320Highland: £1,732Shetland Islands: £1,247Highland: £1,636

    £1,725£1,732£1,636Highland is higher£1,314£1,320£1,247

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £11,412, Shetland Islands £5,819Shetland Islands: £5,819Highland: £11,412Shetland Islands: £5,844Highland: £11,461Shetland Islands: £5,520Highland: £10,825

    £11,412£11,461£10,825Highland is higher£5,819£5,844£5,520

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Highland £356, Shetland Islands £255Shetland Islands: £255Highland: £356Shetland Islands: £256Highland: £358Shetland Islands: £242Highland: £338

    £356£358£338Highland is higher£255£256£242

  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, Shetland Islands £639Shetland Islands: £639Highland: £621Shetland Islands: £642Highland: £624Shetland Islands: £606Highland: £589

    £621£624£589Shetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count£639£642£606

  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, Shetland Islands £14Shetland Islands: £14Highland: £19Shetland Islands: £14Highland: £20Shetland Islands: £13Highland: £18

    £19£20£18Highland is higher£14£14£13

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £495, Shetland Islands £374Shetland Islands: £374Highland: £495Shetland Islands: £376Highland: £497Shetland Islands: £355Highland: £470

    £495£497£470Highland is higher£374£376£355

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £141, Shetland Islands £132Shetland Islands: £132Highland: £141Shetland Islands: £133Highland: £142Shetland Islands: £125Highland: £134

    £141£142£134Highland is higher£132£133£125

  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, Shetland Islands £60Shetland Islands: £60Highland: £101Shetland Islands: £60Highland: £101Shetland Islands: £57Highland: £96

    £101£101£96Highland is higher£60£60£57

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £1,294, Shetland Islands £936Shetland Islands: £936Highland: £1,294Shetland Islands: £940Highland: £1,300Shetland Islands: £887Highland: £1,228

    £1,294£1,300£1,228Highland is higher£936£940£887

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Highland £147, Shetland Islands £101Shetland Islands: £101Highland: £147Shetland Islands: £101Highland: £148Shetland Islands: £96Highland: £139

    £147£148£139Highland is higher£101£101£96

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £320, Shetland Islands £312Shetland Islands: £312Highland: £320Shetland Islands: £314Highland: £322Shetland Islands: £296Highland: £304

    £320£322£304Highland is higher£312£314£296

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £3.50, Shetland Islands £2.70Shetland Islands: £2.70Highland: £3.50Shetland Islands: £2.71Highland: £3.52Shetland Islands: £2.56Highland: £3.32

    £3.50£3.52£3.32Highland is higher£2.70£2.71£2.56

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Highland £5.55, Shetland Islands £3.93Shetland Islands: £3.93Highland: £5.55Shetland Islands: £3.95Highland: £5.57Shetland Islands: £3.73Highland: £5.26

    £5.55£5.57£5.26Highland is higher£3.93£3.95£3.73

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Highland £7.73, Shetland Islands £1.16Shetland Islands: £1.16Highland: £7.73Shetland Islands: £1.16Highland: £7.76Shetland Islands: £1.10Highland: £7.33

    £7.73£7.76£7.33Highland is higher£1.16£1.16£1.10

  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, Shetland Islands 985.3Shetland Islands: 985.3Highland: 1,002.6

    1,002.6Highland is higher985.3

  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, Shetland Islands 64.1Shetland Islands: 64.1Highland: 91.3

    91.3Highland is higher64.1

  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, Shetland Islands 159.2Shetland Islands: 159.2Highland: 137.8

    137.8Shetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count159.2

  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, Shetland Islands 59.4Shetland Islands: 59.4Highland: 77.4

    77.4Highland is higher59.4

  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, Shetland Islands 119.5Shetland Islands: 119.5Highland: 162.8

    162.8Highland is higher119.5

  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, Shetland Islands 16.4Shetland Islands: 16.4Highland: 22.5

    22.5Highland is higher16.4

Show the numbers
Highland and Shetland Islands, per person in the age group
MeasureHighlandShetland IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,697£4,717£4,456Estimated£2,838£2,850£2,692EstimatedHighland
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,409£12,462£11,771Estimated£6,727£6,756£6,381EstimatedHighland
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,725£1,732£1,636Estimated£1,314£1,320£1,247EstimatedHighland
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,412£11,461£10,825£5,819£5,844£5,520Highland
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£356£358£338£255£256£242Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£621£624£589Estimated£639£642£606EstimatedShetland Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£19£20£18Estimated£14£14£13EstimatedHighland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£495£497£470Estimated£374£376£355EstimatedHighland
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£141£142£134Estimated£132£133£125EstimatedHighland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£101£101£96Estimated£60£60£57EstimatedHighland
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,294£1,300£1,228£936£940£887Highland
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£147£148£139£101£101£96Highland
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£320£322£304£312£314£296Highland
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£3.50£3.52£3.32£2.70£2.71£2.56Highland
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£5.55£5.57£5.26£3.93£3.95£3.73Highland
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£7.73£7.76£7.33Estimated£1.16£1.16£1.10EstimatedHighland
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,002.6985.3Highland
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202691.364.1Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026137.8159.2Shetland Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202677.459.4Highland
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026162.8119.5Highland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202622.5Estimated16.4EstimatedHighland

Per resident

Highland is higher on 21 of 22 measures, and Shetland Islands on 1. 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 Shetland Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Highland £4,697, Shetland Islands £2,838Shetland Islands: £2,838Highland: £4,697Shetland Islands: £2,850Highland: £4,717Shetland Islands: £2,692Highland: £4,456

    £4,697£4,717£4,456Highland is higher£2,838£2,850£2,692

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Highland £2,872, Shetland Islands £1,446Shetland Islands: £1,446Highland: £2,872Shetland Islands: £1,452Highland: £2,885Shetland Islands: £1,371Highland: £2,725

    £2,872£2,885£2,725Highland is higher£1,446£1,452£1,371

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Highland £1,034, Shetland Islands £784Shetland Islands: £784Highland: £1,034Shetland Islands: £787Highland: £1,038Shetland Islands: £743Highland: £981

    £1,034£1,038£981Highland is higher£784£787£743

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Highland £2,642, Shetland Islands £1,251Shetland Islands: £1,251Highland: £2,642Shetland Islands: £1,256Highland: £2,653Shetland Islands: £1,186Highland: £2,506

    £2,642£2,653£2,506Highland is higher£1,251£1,256£1,186

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Highland £83, Shetland Islands £55Shetland Islands: £55Highland: £83Shetland Islands: £55Highland: £83Shetland Islands: £52Highland: £78

    £83£83£78Highland is higher£55£55£52

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £144, Shetland Islands £137Shetland Islands: £137Highland: £144Shetland Islands: £138Highland: £144Shetland Islands: £130Highland: £136

    £144£144£136Highland is higherDepends on how you count£137£138£130

  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, Shetland Islands £3.00Shetland Islands: £3.00Highland: £4.51Shetland Islands: £3.02Highland: £4.53Shetland Islands: £2.85Highland: £4.28

    £4.51£4.53£4.28Highland is higher£3.00£3.02£2.85

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £495, Shetland Islands £374Shetland Islands: £374Highland: £495Shetland Islands: £376Highland: £497Shetland Islands: £355Highland: £470

    £495£497£470Highland is higher£374£376£355

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Highland £141, Shetland Islands £132Shetland Islands: £132Highland: £141Shetland Islands: £133Highland: £142Shetland Islands: £125Highland: £134

    £141£142£134Highland is higher£132£133£125

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Highland £60, Shetland Islands £36Shetland Islands: £36Highland: £60Shetland Islands: £36Highland: £61Shetland Islands: £34Highland: £57

    £60£61£57Highland is higher£36£36£34

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Highland £776, Shetland Islands £558Shetland Islands: £558Highland: £776Shetland Islands: £560Highland: £779Shetland Islands: £529Highland: £736

    £776£779£736Highland is higher£558£560£529

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Highland £147, Shetland Islands £101Shetland Islands: £101Highland: £147Shetland Islands: £101Highland: £148Shetland Islands: £96Highland: £139

    £147£148£139Highland is higher£101£101£96

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Highland £192, Shetland Islands £186Shetland Islands: £186Highland: £192Shetland Islands: £187Highland: £193Shetland Islands: £177Highland: £182

    £192£193£182Highland is higher£186£187£177

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Highland £2.10, Shetland Islands £1.61Shetland Islands: £1.61Highland: £2.10Shetland Islands: £1.62Highland: £2.11Shetland Islands: £1.53Highland: £1.99

    £2.10£2.11£1.99Highland is higher£1.61£1.62£1.53

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Highland £3.32, Shetland Islands £2.34Shetland Islands: £2.34Highland: £3.32Shetland Islands: £2.35Highland: £3.34Shetland 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, Shetland Islands £1.16Shetland Islands: £1.16Highland: £7.73Shetland Islands: £1.16Highland: £7.76Shetland Islands: £1.10Highland: £7.33

    £7.73£7.76£7.33Highland is higher£1.16£1.16£1.10

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Highland 232.1, Shetland Islands 211.8Shetland Islands: 211.8Highland: 232.1

    232.1Highland is higher211.8

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Highland 21.1, Shetland Islands 13.8Shetland Islands: 13.8Highland: 21.1

    21.1Highland is higher13.8

  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, Shetland Islands 34.2Shetland Islands: 34.2Highland: 31.9

    31.9Shetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count34.2

  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, Shetland Islands 59.4Shetland Islands: 59.4Highland: 77.4

    77.4Highland is higher59.4

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Highland 97.6, Shetland Islands 71.2Shetland Islands: 71.2Highland: 97.6

    97.6Highland is higher71.2

  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, Shetland Islands 9.8Shetland Islands: 9.8Highland: 13.5

    13.5Highland is higher9.8

Show the numbers
Highland and Shetland Islands, per resident
MeasureHighlandShetland IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,697£4,717£4,456Estimated£2,838£2,850£2,692EstimatedHighland
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,872£2,885£2,725Estimated£1,446£1,452£1,371EstimatedHighland
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,034£1,038£981Estimated£784£787£743EstimatedHighland
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,642£2,653£2,506£1,251£1,256£1,186Highland
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£83£83£78£55£55£52Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£144£144£136Estimated£137£138£130EstimatedHighland
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.51£4.53£4.28Estimated£3.00£3.02£2.85EstimatedHighland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£495£497£470Estimated£374£376£355EstimatedHighland
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£141£142£134Estimated£132£133£125EstimatedHighland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£60£61£57Estimated£36£36£34EstimatedHighland
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£776£779£736£558£560£529Highland
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£147£148£139£101£101£96Highland
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£192£193£182£186£187£177Highland
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£2.10£2.11£1.99£1.61£1.62£1.53Highland
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£1.16£1.16£1.10EstimatedHighland
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026232.1211.8Highland
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202621.113.8Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202631.934.2Shetland Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202677.459.4Highland
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 202697.671.2Highland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202613.5Estimated9.8EstimatedHighland

Total

Highland is higher on 22 of 22 measures, and Shetland 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 Shetland Islands

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Highland £1.1bn, Shetland Islands £64.7mShetland Islands: £64.7mHighland: £1.1bnShetland Islands: £65.0mHighland: £1.1bnShetland Islands: £61.4mHighland: £1.1bn

    £1.1bnHighland is higher£64.7m£65.0m£61.4m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Highland £682.4m, Shetland Islands £33.0mShetland Islands: £33.0mHighland: £682.4mShetland Islands: £33.1mHighland: £685.3mShetland Islands: £31.3mHighland: £647.3m

    £682.4m£685.3m£647.3mHighland is higher£33.0m£33.1m£31.3m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Highland £245.6m, Shetland Islands £17.9mShetland Islands: £17.9mHighland: £245.6mShetland Islands: £17.9mHighland: £246.6mShetland Islands: £16.9mHighland: £232.9m

    £245.6m£246.6m£232.9mHighland is higher£17.9m£17.9m£16.9m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Highland £627.6m, Shetland Islands £28.5mShetland Islands: £28.5mHighland: £627.6mShetland Islands: £28.6mHighland: £630.2mShetland Islands: £27.0mHighland: £595.3m

    £627.6m£630.2m£595.3mHighland is higher£28.5m£28.6m£27.0m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Highland £19.6m, Shetland Islands £1.3mShetland Islands: £1.3mHighland: £19.6mShetland Islands: £1.3mHighland: £19.7mShetland Islands: £1.2mHighland: £18.6m

    £19.6m£19.7m£18.6mHighland is higher£1.3m£1.3m£1.2m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Highland £34.2m, Shetland Islands £3.1mShetland Islands: £3.1mHighland: £34.2mShetland Islands: £3.1mHighland: £34.3mShetland Islands: £3.0mHighland: £32.4m

    £34.2m£34.3m£32.4mHighland is higherDepends on how you count£3.1m£3.1m£3.0m

  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, Shetland Islands £0.07mShetland Islands: £0.07mHighland: £1.1mShetland Islands: £0.07mHighland: £1.1mShetland Islands: £0.06mHighland: £1.0m

    £1.1m£1.1m£1.0mHighland is higher£0.07m£0.07m£0.06m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Highland £117.7m, Shetland Islands £8.5mShetland Islands: £8.5mHighland: £117.7mShetland Islands: £8.6mHighland: £118.2mShetland Islands: £8.1mHighland: £111.6m

    £117.7m£118.2m£111.6mHighland is higher£8.5m£8.6m£8.1m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Highland £33.5m, Shetland Islands £3.0mShetland Islands: £3.0mHighland: £33.5mShetland Islands: £3.0mHighland: £33.7mShetland Islands: £2.9mHighland: £31.8m

    £33.5m£33.7m£31.8mHighland is higher£3.0m£3.0m£2.9m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Highland £14.4m, Shetland Islands £0.81mShetland Islands: £0.81mHighland: £14.4mShetland Islands: £0.82mHighland: £14.4mShetland Islands: £0.77mHighland: £13.6m

    £14.4m£14.4m£13.6mHighland is higher£0.81m£0.82m£0.77m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Highland £184.3m, Shetland Islands £12.7mShetland Islands: £12.7mHighland: £184.3mShetland Islands: £12.8mHighland: £185.1mShetland Islands: £12.1mHighland: £174.8m

    £184.3m£185.1m£174.8mHighland is higher£12.7m£12.8m£12.1m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Highland £34.9m, Shetland Islands £2.3mShetland Islands: £2.3mHighland: £34.9mShetland Islands: £2.3mHighland: £35.0mShetland Islands: £2.2mHighland: £33.1m

    £34.9m£35.0m£33.1mHighland is higher£2.3m£2.3m£2.2m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Highland £45.6m, Shetland Islands £4.2mShetland Islands: £4.2mHighland: £45.6mShetland Islands: £4.3mHighland: £45.8mShetland Islands: £4.0mHighland: £43.3m

    £45.6m£45.8m£43.3mHighland is higher£4.2m£4.3m£4.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Highland £0.50m, Shetland Islands £0.04mShetland Islands: £0.04mHighland: £0.50mShetland Islands: £0.04mHighland: £0.50mShetland Islands: £0.03mHighland: £0.47m

    £0.50m£0.50m£0.47mHighland is higher£0.04m£0.04m£0.03m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Highland £0.79m, Shetland Islands £0.05mShetland Islands: £0.05mHighland: £0.79mShetland Islands: £0.05mHighland: £0.79mShetland 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, Shetland Islands £0.03mShetland Islands: £0.03mHighland: £1.8mShetland Islands: £0.03mHighland: £1.8mShetland Islands: £0.03mHighland: £1.7m

    £1.8m£1.8m£1.7mHighland is higher£0.03m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Highland 55,132, Shetland Islands 4,828Shetland Islands: 4,828Highland: 55,132

    55,132Highland is higher4,828

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Highland 5,020, Shetland Islands 314Shetland Islands: 314Highland: 5,020

    5,020Highland is higher314

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Highland 7,575, Shetland Islands 780Shetland Islands: 780Highland: 7,575

    7,575Highland is higherDepends on how you count780

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Highland 18,395, Shetland Islands 1,355Shetland Islands: 1,355Highland: 18,395

    18,395Highland is higher1,355

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Highland 23,186, Shetland Islands 1,624Shetland Islands: 1,624Highland: 23,186

    23,186Highland is higher1,624

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Highland 3,202, Shetland Islands 223Shetland Islands: 223Highland: 3,202

    3,202Highland is higher223

Show the numbers
Highland and Shetland Islands, total
MeasureHighlandShetland IslandsHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.1bnEstimated£64.7m£65.0m£61.4mEstimatedHighland
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£682.4m£685.3m£647.3mEstimated£33.0m£33.1m£31.3mEstimatedHighland
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£245.6m£246.6m£232.9mEstimated£17.9m£17.9m£16.9mEstimatedHighland
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£627.6m£630.2m£595.3m£28.5m£28.6m£27.0mHighland
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£19.6m£19.7m£18.6m£1.3m£1.3m£1.2mHighland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£34.2m£34.3m£32.4mEstimated£3.1m£3.1m£3.0mEstimatedHighland
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£1.1m£1.1m£1.0mEstimated£0.07m£0.07m£0.06mEstimatedHighland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£117.7m£118.2m£111.6mEstimated£8.5m£8.6m£8.1mEstimatedHighland
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£33.5m£33.7m£31.8mEstimated£3.0m£3.0m£2.9mEstimatedHighland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£14.4m£14.4m£13.6mEstimated£0.81m£0.82m£0.77mEstimatedHighland
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£184.3m£185.1m£174.8m£12.7m£12.8m£12.1mHighland
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£34.9m£35.0m£33.1m£2.3m£2.3m£2.2mHighland
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m£4.2m£4.3m£4.0mHighland
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.50m£0.50m£0.47m£0.04m£0.04m£0.03mHighland
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.79m£0.79m£0.75m£0.05mHighland
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.8m£1.8m£1.7mEstimated£0.03mEstimatedHighland
State Pensiontotal, March 202655,1324,828Highland
Pension Credittotal, March 20265,020314Highland
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20267,575780Highland
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202618,3951,355Highland
Universal Credittotal, May 202623,1861,624Highland
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20263,202Estimated223EstimatedHighland

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.