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Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands

22,000 and 22,800 residents (mid-2024).

Orkney Islands is higher than Shetland Islands on 18 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 19 of 21 per resident and 15 of 22 in total.

On 6 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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Orkney Islands 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

Orkney Islands is higher on 18 of 22 measures, and Shetland 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

Orkney Islands Shetland Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Orkney Islands £4,381, Shetland Islands £2,838Shetland Islands: £2,838Orkney Islands: £4,381Shetland Islands: £2,850Orkney Islands: £4,399Shetland Islands: £2,692Orkney Islands: £4,155

    £4,381£4,399£4,155Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £11,866, Shetland Islands £6,727Shetland Islands: £6,727Orkney Islands: £11,866Shetland Islands: £6,756Orkney Islands: £11,916Shetland Islands: £6,381Orkney Islands: £11,255

    £11,866£11,916£11,255Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £1,374, Shetland Islands £1,314Shetland Islands: £1,314Orkney Islands: £1,374Shetland Islands: £1,320Orkney Islands: £1,380Shetland Islands: £1,247Orkney Islands: £1,304

    £1,374£1,380£1,304Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£1,314£1,320£1,247

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Orkney Islands £10,889, Shetland Islands £5,819Shetland Islands: £5,819Orkney Islands: £10,889Shetland Islands: £5,844Orkney Islands: £10,936Shetland Islands: £5,520Orkney Islands: £10,329

    £10,889£10,936£10,329Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £323, Shetland Islands £255Shetland Islands: £255Orkney Islands: £323Shetland Islands: £256Orkney Islands: £324Shetland Islands: £242Orkney Islands: £306

    £323£324£306Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £636, Shetland Islands £639Shetland Islands: £639Orkney Islands: £636Shetland Islands: £642Orkney Islands: £639Shetland Islands: £606Orkney Islands: £603

    £636£639£603Shetland 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: Orkney Islands £18, Shetland Islands £14Shetland Islands: £14Orkney Islands: £18Shetland Islands: £14Orkney Islands: £18Shetland Islands: £13Orkney Islands: £17

    £18£18£17Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £426, Shetland Islands £374Shetland Islands: £374Orkney Islands: £426Shetland Islands: £376Orkney Islands: £428Shetland Islands: £355Orkney Islands: £404

    £426£428£404Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £123, Shetland Islands £132Shetland Islands: £132Orkney Islands: £123Shetland Islands: £133Orkney Islands: £124Shetland Islands: £125Orkney Islands: £117

    £123£124£117Shetland Islands 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: Orkney Islands £84, Shetland Islands £60Shetland Islands: £60Orkney Islands: £84Shetland Islands: £60Orkney Islands: £85Shetland Islands: £57Orkney Islands: £80

    £84£85£80Orkney Islands is higher£60£60£57

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Orkney Islands £956, Shetland Islands £936Shetland Islands: £936Orkney Islands: £956Shetland Islands: £940Orkney Islands: £960Shetland Islands: £887Orkney Islands: £907

    £956£960£907Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£936£940£887

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Orkney Islands £129, Shetland Islands £101Shetland Islands: £101Orkney Islands: £129Shetland Islands: £101Orkney Islands: £130Shetland Islands: £96Orkney Islands: £123

    £129£130£123Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £329, Shetland Islands £312Shetland Islands: £312Orkney Islands: £329Shetland Islands: £314Orkney Islands: £330Shetland Islands: £296Orkney Islands: £312

    £329£330£312Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£312£314£296

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Orkney Islands £0.97, Shetland Islands £2.70Shetland Islands: £2.70Orkney Islands: £0.97Shetland Islands: £2.71Orkney Islands: £0.97Shetland Islands: £2.56Orkney Islands: £0.92

    £0.97£0.97£0.92Shetland Islands 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: Orkney Islands £4.01, Shetland Islands £3.93Shetland Islands: £3.93Orkney Islands: £4.01Shetland Islands: £3.95Orkney Islands: £4.02Shetland Islands: £3.73Orkney Islands: £3.80

    £4.01£4.02£3.80Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£3.93£3.95£3.73

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Orkney Islands £8.00, Shetland Islands £1.16Shetland Islands: £1.16Orkney Islands: £8.00Shetland Islands: £1.16Orkney Islands: £8.04Shetland Islands: £1.10Orkney Islands: £7.59

    £8.00£8.04£7.59Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 995.3, Shetland Islands 985.3Shetland Islands: 985.3Orkney Islands: 995.3

    995.3Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 74.3, Shetland Islands 64.1Shetland Islands: 64.1Orkney Islands: 74.3

    74.3Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 142.7, Shetland Islands 159.2Shetland Islands: 159.2Orkney Islands: 142.7

    142.7Shetland 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: Orkney Islands 63.6, Shetland Islands 59.4Shetland Islands: 59.4Orkney Islands: 63.6

    63.6Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 128.7, Shetland Islands 119.5Shetland Islands: 119.5Orkney Islands: 128.7

    128.7Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 19.0, Shetland Islands 16.4Shetland Islands: 16.4Orkney Islands: 19.0

    19.0Orkney Islands is higher16.4

Show the numbers
Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, per person in the age group
MeasureOrkney IslandsShetland IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,381£4,399£4,155Estimated£2,838£2,850£2,692EstimatedOrkney Islands
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,866£11,916£11,255Estimated£6,727£6,756£6,381EstimatedOrkney Islands
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,374£1,380£1,304Estimated£1,314£1,320£1,247EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£10,889£10,936£10,329£5,819£5,844£5,520Orkney Islands
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£323£324£306£255£256£242Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£636£639£603Estimated£639£642£606EstimatedShetland Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£18£18£17Estimated£14£14£13EstimatedOrkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£426£428£404Estimated£374£376£355EstimatedOrkney Islands
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£123£124£117Estimated£132£133£125EstimatedShetland Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£84£85£80Estimated£60£60£57EstimatedOrkney Islands
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£956£960£907£936£940£887Orkney Islands
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£129£130£123£101£101£96Orkney Islands
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£329£330£312£312£314£296Orkney Islands
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£0.97£0.97£0.92£2.70£2.71£2.56Shetland Islands
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.01£4.02£3.80£3.93£3.95£3.73Orkney Islands
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£8.00£8.04£7.59Estimated£1.16£1.16£1.10EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026995.3985.3Orkney Islands
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202674.364.1Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026142.7159.2Shetland Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202663.659.4Orkney Islands
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026128.7119.5Orkney Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202619.0Estimated16.4EstimatedOrkney Islands

Per resident

Orkney Islands is higher on 19 of 21 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

Orkney Islands Shetland Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Orkney Islands £4,381, Shetland Islands £2,838Shetland Islands: £2,838Orkney Islands: £4,381Shetland Islands: £2,850Orkney Islands: £4,399Shetland Islands: £2,692Orkney Islands: £4,155

    £4,381£4,399£4,155Orkney Islands is higher£2,838£2,850£2,692

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Orkney Islands £2,891, Shetland Islands £1,446Shetland Islands: £1,446Orkney Islands: £2,891Shetland Islands: £1,452Orkney Islands: £2,903Shetland Islands: £1,371Orkney Islands: £2,742

    £2,891£2,903£2,742Orkney Islands is higher£1,446£1,452£1,371

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Orkney Islands £803, Shetland Islands £784Shetland Islands: £784Orkney Islands: £803Shetland Islands: £787Orkney Islands: £806Shetland Islands: £743Orkney Islands: £761

    £803£806£761Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£784£787£743

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Orkney Islands £2,653, Shetland Islands £1,251Shetland Islands: £1,251Orkney Islands: £2,653Shetland Islands: £1,256Orkney Islands: £2,664Shetland Islands: £1,186Orkney Islands: £2,516

    £2,653£2,664£2,516Orkney Islands is higher£1,251£1,256£1,186

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Orkney Islands £79, Shetland Islands £55Shetland Islands: £55Orkney Islands: £79Shetland Islands: £55Orkney Islands: £79Shetland Islands: £52Orkney Islands: £75

    £79£79£75Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £155, Shetland Islands £137Shetland Islands: £137Orkney Islands: £155Shetland Islands: £138Orkney Islands: £156Shetland Islands: £130Orkney Islands: £147

    £155£156£147Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £4.30, Shetland Islands £3.00Shetland Islands: £3.00Orkney Islands: £4.30Shetland Islands: £3.02Orkney Islands: £4.32Shetland Islands: £2.85Orkney Islands: £4.08

    £4.30£4.32£4.08Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £426, Shetland Islands £374Shetland Islands: £374Orkney Islands: £426Shetland Islands: £376Orkney Islands: £428Shetland Islands: £355Orkney Islands: £404

    £426£428£404Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £123, Shetland Islands £132Shetland Islands: £132Orkney Islands: £123Shetland Islands: £133Orkney Islands: £124Shetland Islands: £125Orkney Islands: £117

    £123£124£117Shetland Islands 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: Orkney Islands £49, Shetland Islands £36Shetland Islands: £36Orkney Islands: £49Shetland Islands: £36Orkney Islands: £49Shetland Islands: £34Orkney Islands: £47

    £49£49£47Orkney Islands is higher£36£36£34

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Orkney Islands £559, Shetland Islands £558Shetland Islands: £558Orkney Islands: £559Shetland Islands: £560Orkney Islands: £561Shetland Islands: £529Orkney Islands: £530

    £559£561£530Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£558£560£529

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Orkney Islands £129, Shetland Islands £101Shetland Islands: £101Orkney Islands: £129Shetland Islands: £101Orkney Islands: £130Shetland Islands: £96Orkney Islands: £123

    £129£130£123Orkney Islands is higher£101£101£96

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

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

    £192£193£182Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£186£187£177

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Orkney Islands £0.57, Shetland Islands £1.61Shetland Islands: £1.61Orkney Islands: £0.57Shetland Islands: £1.62Orkney Islands: £0.57Shetland Islands: £1.53Orkney Islands: £0.54

    £0.57£0.57£0.54Shetland Islands is higher£1.61£1.62£1.53

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Orkney Islands £2.34, Shetland Islands £2.34Shetland Islands: £2.34Orkney Islands: £2.34Shetland Islands: £2.35Orkney Islands: £2.35Shetland Islands: £2.22Orkney Islands: £2.22

    £2.34£2.35£2.22No difference to showDepends on how you count£2.34£2.35£2.22

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Orkney Islands £8.00, Shetland Islands £1.16Shetland Islands: £1.16Orkney Islands: £8.00Shetland Islands: £1.16Orkney Islands: £8.04Shetland Islands: £1.10Orkney Islands: £7.59

    £8.00£8.04£7.59Orkney Islands is higher£1.16£1.16£1.10

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Orkney Islands 242.5, Shetland Islands 211.8Shetland Islands: 211.8Orkney Islands: 242.5

    242.5Orkney Islands is higher211.8

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Orkney Islands 18.1, Shetland Islands 13.8Shetland Islands: 13.8Orkney Islands: 18.1

    18.1Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 34.8, Shetland Islands 34.2Shetland Islands: 34.2Orkney Islands: 34.8

    34.8Orkney 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: Orkney Islands 63.6, Shetland Islands 59.4Shetland Islands: 59.4Orkney Islands: 63.6

    63.6Orkney Islands is higher59.4

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Orkney Islands 75.2, Shetland Islands 71.2Shetland Islands: 71.2Orkney Islands: 75.2

    75.2Orkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands 11.1, Shetland Islands 9.8Shetland Islands: 9.8Orkney Islands: 11.1

    11.1Orkney Islands is higher9.8

Show the numbers
Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, per resident
MeasureOrkney IslandsShetland IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,381£4,399£4,155Estimated£2,838£2,850£2,692EstimatedOrkney Islands
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,891£2,903£2,742Estimated£1,446£1,452£1,371EstimatedOrkney Islands
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£803£806£761Estimated£784£787£743EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,653£2,664£2,516£1,251£1,256£1,186Orkney Islands
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£79£79£75£55£55£52Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£155£156£147Estimated£137£138£130EstimatedOrkney Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.30£4.32£4.08Estimated£3.00£3.02£2.85EstimatedOrkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£426£428£404Estimated£374£376£355EstimatedOrkney Islands
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£123£124£117Estimated£132£133£125EstimatedShetland Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£49£49£47Estimated£36£36£34EstimatedOrkney Islands
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£559£561£530£558£560£529Orkney Islands
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£129£130£123£101£101£96Orkney Islands
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£192£193£182£186£187£177Orkney Islands
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£0.57£0.57£0.54£1.61£1.62£1.53Shetland Islands
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.34£2.35£2.22£2.34£2.35£2.22
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£8.00£8.04£7.59Estimated£1.16£1.16£1.10EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026242.5211.8Orkney Islands
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202618.113.8Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202634.834.2Orkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202663.659.4Orkney Islands
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 202675.271.2Orkney Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.1Estimated9.8EstimatedOrkney Islands

Total

Orkney Islands is higher on 15 of 22 measures, and Shetland Islands on 7. 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

Orkney Islands Shetland Islands

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Orkney Islands £96.4m, Shetland Islands £64.7mShetland Islands: £64.7mOrkney Islands: £96.4mShetland Islands: £65.0mOrkney Islands: £96.8mShetland Islands: £61.4mOrkney Islands: £91.4m

    £96.4m£96.8m£91.4mOrkney Islands is higher£64.7m£65.0m£61.4m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Orkney Islands £63.6m, Shetland Islands £33.0mShetland Islands: £33.0mOrkney Islands: £63.6mShetland Islands: £33.1mOrkney Islands: £63.9mShetland Islands: £31.3mOrkney Islands: £60.3m

    £63.6m£63.9m£60.3mOrkney Islands is higher£33.0m£33.1m£31.3m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Orkney Islands £17.7m, Shetland Islands £17.9mShetland Islands: £17.9mOrkney Islands: £17.7mShetland Islands: £17.9mOrkney Islands: £17.7mShetland Islands: £16.9mOrkney Islands: £16.8m

    £17.7m£17.7m£16.8mShetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count£17.9m£17.9m£16.9m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Orkney Islands £58.4m, Shetland Islands £28.5mShetland Islands: £28.5mOrkney Islands: £58.4mShetland Islands: £28.6mOrkney Islands: £58.6mShetland Islands: £27.0mOrkney Islands: £55.4m

    £58.4m£58.6m£55.4mOrkney Islands is higher£28.5m£28.6m£27.0m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Orkney Islands £1.7m, Shetland Islands £1.3mShetland Islands: £1.3mOrkney Islands: £1.7mShetland Islands: £1.3mOrkney Islands: £1.7mShetland Islands: £1.2mOrkney Islands: £1.6m

    £1.7m£1.7m£1.6mOrkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £3.4m, Shetland Islands £3.1mShetland Islands: £3.1mOrkney Islands: £3.4mShetland Islands: £3.1mOrkney Islands: £3.4mShetland Islands: £3.0mOrkney Islands: £3.2m

    £3.4m£3.4m£3.2mOrkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £0.09m, Shetland Islands £0.07mShetland Islands: £0.07mOrkney Islands: £0.09mShetland Islands: £0.07mOrkney Islands: £0.10mShetland Islands: £0.06mOrkney Islands: £0.09m

    £0.09m£0.10m£0.09mOrkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £9.4m, Shetland Islands £8.5mShetland Islands: £8.5mOrkney Islands: £9.4mShetland Islands: £8.6mOrkney Islands: £9.4mShetland Islands: £8.1mOrkney Islands: £8.9m

    £9.4m£9.4m£8.9mOrkney Islands 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: Orkney Islands £2.7m, Shetland Islands £3.0mShetland Islands: £3.0mOrkney Islands: £2.7mShetland Islands: £3.0mOrkney Islands: £2.7mShetland Islands: £2.9mOrkney Islands: £2.6m

    £2.7m£2.7m£2.6mShetland Islands 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: Orkney Islands £1.1m, Shetland Islands £0.81mShetland Islands: £0.81mOrkney Islands: £1.1mShetland Islands: £0.82mOrkney Islands: £1.1mShetland Islands: £0.77mOrkney Islands: £1.0m

    £1.1m£1.1m£1.0mOrkney Islands is higher£0.81m£0.82m£0.77m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Orkney Islands £12.3m, Shetland Islands £12.7mShetland Islands: £12.7mOrkney Islands: £12.3mShetland Islands: £12.8mOrkney Islands: £12.3mShetland Islands: £12.1mOrkney Islands: £11.7m

    £12.3m£12.3m£11.7mShetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count£12.7m£12.8m£12.1m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Orkney Islands £2.8m, Shetland Islands £2.3mShetland Islands: £2.3mOrkney Islands: £2.8mShetland Islands: £2.3mOrkney Islands: £2.9mShetland Islands: £2.2mOrkney Islands: £2.7m

    £2.8m£2.9m£2.7mOrkney Islands is higher£2.3m£2.3m£2.2m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Orkney Islands £4.2m, Shetland Islands £4.2mShetland Islands: £4.2mOrkney Islands: £4.2mShetland Islands: £4.3mOrkney Islands: £4.2mShetland Islands: £4.0mOrkney Islands: £4.0m

    £4.2m£4.2m£4.0mShetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count£4.2m£4.3m£4.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Orkney Islands £0.01m, Shetland Islands £0.04mShetland Islands: £0.04mOrkney Islands: £0.01mShetland Islands: £0.04mOrkney Islands: £0.01mShetland Islands: £0.03mOrkney Islands: £0.01m

    £0.01mShetland Islands is higher£0.04m£0.04m£0.03m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Orkney Islands £0.05m, Shetland Islands £0.05mShetland Islands: £0.05mOrkney Islands: £0.05mShetland Islands: £0.05mOrkney Islands: £0.05mShetland Islands: £0.05mOrkney Islands: £0.05m

    £0.05mShetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count£0.05m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Orkney Islands £0.18m, Shetland Islands £0.03mShetland Islands: £0.03mOrkney Islands: £0.18mShetland Islands: £0.03mOrkney Islands: £0.18mShetland Islands: £0.03mOrkney Islands: £0.17m

    £0.18m£0.18m£0.17mOrkney Islands is higher£0.03m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Orkney Islands 5,335, Shetland Islands 4,828Shetland Islands: 4,828Orkney Islands: 5,335

    5,335Orkney Islands is higher4,828

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Orkney Islands 398, Shetland Islands 314Shetland Islands: 314Orkney Islands: 398

    398Orkney Islands is higher314

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Orkney Islands 765, Shetland Islands 780Shetland Islands: 780Orkney Islands: 765

    765Shetland Islands is higherDepends on how you count780

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Orkney Islands 1,400, Shetland Islands 1,355Shetland Islands: 1,355Orkney Islands: 1,400

    1,400Orkney Islands is higher1,355

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Orkney Islands 1,654, Shetland Islands 1,624Shetland Islands: 1,624Orkney Islands: 1,654

    1,654Orkney Islands is higher1,624

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Orkney Islands 244, Shetland Islands 223Shetland Islands: 223Orkney Islands: 244

    244Orkney Islands is higher223

Show the numbers
Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, total
MeasureOrkney IslandsShetland IslandsHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£96.4m£96.8m£91.4mEstimated£64.7m£65.0m£61.4mEstimatedOrkney Islands
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£63.6m£63.9m£60.3mEstimated£33.0m£33.1m£31.3mEstimatedOrkney Islands
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£17.7m£17.7m£16.8mEstimated£17.9m£17.9m£16.9mEstimatedShetland Islands
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£58.4m£58.6m£55.4m£28.5m£28.6m£27.0mOrkney Islands
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m£1.3m£1.3m£1.2mOrkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£3.4m£3.4m£3.2mEstimated£3.1m£3.1m£3.0mEstimatedOrkney Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.09m£0.10m£0.09mEstimated£0.07m£0.07m£0.06mEstimatedOrkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.4m£9.4m£8.9mEstimated£8.5m£8.6m£8.1mEstimatedOrkney Islands
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£2.7m£2.7m£2.6mEstimated£3.0m£3.0m£2.9mEstimatedShetland Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£1.1m£1.1m£1.0mEstimated£0.81m£0.82m£0.77mEstimatedOrkney Islands
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£12.3m£12.3m£11.7m£12.7m£12.8m£12.1mShetland Islands
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£2.8m£2.9m£2.7m£2.3m£2.3m£2.2mOrkney Islands
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£4.2m£4.2m£4.0m£4.2m£4.3m£4.0mShetland Islands
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.01m£0.04m£0.04m£0.03mShetland Islands
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.05m£0.05mShetland Islands
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.18m£0.18m£0.17mEstimated£0.03mEstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensiontotal, March 20265,3354,828Orkney Islands
Pension Credittotal, March 2026398314Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026765780Shetland Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20261,4001,355Orkney Islands
Universal Credittotal, May 20261,6541,624Orkney Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026244Estimated223EstimatedOrkney Islands

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.